[GoodCode]

I'm putting a 240V baseboard heater in my son's bedroom. Conveniently, the heater will be 4' under the electrical panel, so running a 240V cable should be relatively simple.

That being said, it would be very convenient if we could also run a 120V outlet on the same circuit.

Is the following legal/safe/to code? (I'm in Alberta/Canada)
- Install a 240V 15A breaker. (the heater is 1000W, so this should be enough)
- Run 4-wire 14AWG or 12AWG wire to the heater.
- The 4-wire would be +120V, -120V (180 deg out of phase), neutral and a ground
- Use the +120V and -120V and ground for 240V
- Use 3 wires (+120, neutral, ground) for the outlet.

Is this legal/safe? Can I use standard 14AWG cable even though it's a 240V circuit? What am I missing here?

Everywhere I've read indicates a subpanel is needed, but its typically when adding a 120V outlet to a 30A circuit. If the breaker is only 15A, can I just use "half" the circuit for a standard 120V outlet?

 

[joed]

It's against code. See (a) below.

62-108 Branch circuits
(1) Branch circuit conductors used for the supply of energy to heating equipment shall
(a) be used solely for such equipment;
(b) have an ampacity not less than that of the connected load supplied; and
(c) for branch circuits supplying a heating unit, have insulation suitable for the temperatures
encountered.

You need a double pole breaker for the heater. The amperage depends on the heater.
No sub panel is required.
If the heater needs 15 amps then you can use 14/2 and colour the white red with a marker or tape. Or you can buy the cable 14/2 that has red and black wires. I believe it is called HEATEX cable and is made for 240 volt installs. For 4 feet I would just use some regular 14/2.

 

[Bondo]

Nope,.... Not at all legal,....

If ya want an outlet, ya gotta pull another separate wire, 'n run it from another separate circuit breaker,...

 

[Jim Port]

Sounds like it would be in the workspace of the panel also.

 

[psgama]

Not true. Buy a baseboard heater with integral outlet. Cadet makes them.

 

[rjniles]

Not true. Buy a baseboard heater with integral outlet. Cadet makes them.

Nope.

120-volt receptacle for baseboard heatersInstalls conveniently on either end of an electric baseboard heaterRequires 120-volt supply wire separate from the heater supply (not included)Matches to almond powder-coated baseboard finishesRequires 120 Volt supply wire separate from heater supply.

 

[GoodCode]

It's against code. See (a) below.



You need a double pole breaker for the heater. The amperage depends on the heater.
No sub panel is required.
If the heater needs 15 amps then you can use 14/2 and colour the white red with a marker or tape. Or you can buy the cable 14/2 that has red and black wires. I believe it is called HEATEX cable and is made for 240 volt installs. For 4 feet I would just use some regular 14/2.

Thanks! As it's right under the panel, I can probably just add a plug on an existing 120V circuit. Just seemed a waste to use up two slots for one device that'll draw well under half the amps

That also answers whether I should have bought a 120v heater and added it to an existing line.

At least the heater will be an easy wiring job! I'll likely use 14/2 and make sure I mark the neutral as hot.