Wire gauge
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Bernie Brewer
Grouchy Old Fart
No. You need a 20 amp circuit, so you need #12.
microbusbrewery
Senior Member
As two of the previous posts mentioned, you also want to make sure you use a 20 amp circuit. Electricians, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you don't want to exceed about 80% of your amperage rating, so that would be around 16 amps on a 20 amp circuit. Just something to keep in mind in case you have additional things plugged in on the same circuit.
I have a HERMS using two 1500 watt elements (one in heat exchanger, one in HLT) each plugged into a dedicated circuit. The only 12 AWG cords I could find at Lowe's were the ones intended for window AC units. I can't remember how much I paid, but I want to say they were around $12 each.
I have a HERMS using two 1500 watt elements (one in heat exchanger, one in HLT) each plugged into a dedicated circuit. The only 12 AWG cords I could find at Lowe's were the ones intended for window AC units. I can't remember how much I paid, but I want to say they were around $12 each.
12/2 INCLUDES the copper ground. 12/3 will have a red wire that is generally used as an extra hot wire for a total of 4 wires (white, black, red, bare copper or green)
nostalgia
Well-Known Member
It will, but Romex shouldn't be used as a power cord. It's very stiff and the jacket isn't designed for flexing and abrasion.
You want an SJ (Service Jacketed) cord. Take a look in your big box store's appliance section for replacement appliance cords. You should be able to pick up a 12 gauge one easily and fairly cheaply.
-Joe
You want an SJ (Service Jacketed) cord. Take a look in your big box store's appliance section for replacement appliance cords. You should be able to pick up a 12 gauge one easily and fairly cheaply.
-Joe
Bernie Brewer
Grouchy Old Fart
The 80% rule is for continuous loads. A continuous load is defined as one that is expected to be energized for three hours at a time or more. It certainly wouldn't hurt if you were to follow that rule all the time. Err on the side of caution, as it were.
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