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Thermostat Outlet

1781 Views 12 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  jmd87
In my garage, I have a heater plugged into an outlet(that I installed) however it does not have a thermostat, and I bought a electric baseboard heater thermostat. I want to be able to wire the thermostat so that it controls the outlet, essentially turning the heater off and on.

I have both the lead power coming in from panel, and the wire to the outlet both in a wall box already, on the opposite side of the garage. My thermostat has 2 black wires. I tried connecting one black from thermostat to hot coming in, and the other black wire on thermostat to hot on outlet and tied whites together, and grounds together. My thermostat displays nothing, and outlet is on all the time.

Can someone please help? :confused1:

Here are what I am working with:
Heater - http://www.build.com/comfort-zone-czqtv5m-ceiling-mounted-quartz-heater-with-light/p1716415
Thermostat - http://www.lowes.com/pd_225238-7449...rrentURL=?Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1&facetInfo
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
Not many can help you with the links you posted. A wiring diagram for both components will be needed.
Here's the wiring for the thermostat:

http://pdf.lowes.com/operatingguides/085267264501_oper.pdf

The heater, is simply a 3 prong plug, that I want to plug into an outlet.
Here's the wiring for the thermostat:

http://pdf.lowes.com/operatingguides/085267264501_oper.pdf

The heater, is simply a 3 prong plug, that I want to plug into an outlet.
Did you press the temperature adjustment buttons on the front of the T-stat? (Instructions Step 3)
What kind of heater is this? This thermostat needs a resistive load to work.
Did you press the temperature adjustment buttons on the front of the T-stat? (Instructions Step 3)
Yes, tried both buttons, and nothing displays. And outlet/heater is on all the time.
What kind of heater is this? This thermostat needs a resistive load to work.
It is a quartz heater. Here's a better link to it:
http://www.hayneedle.com/product/co...i_sku=JEN107&gclid=CJj_-dGOgbQCFQyk4Aodk3AA0w
Your thermostat link isn't working for me for some reason, but it sounds like what you're doing is correct (negating any electrical codes).

You should be able to get a simple line-voltage thermostat specifically made for electric baseboard heaters to work with this situation, assuming your wiring is correct:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/BR...5EFR9&ef_id=UHQUbAAAGm92WiLf:20121204155651:s
Sounds like the t-stat is bad. Your wiring as described is correct.
If your thermostat is like this one: http://pdf.lowes.com/operatingguides/085267264501_oper.pdf

It sounds like you are hooking up the black (line) and the black (load) to your thermostat black wires, but the diagram shows black & white being hooked up to your thermostat. You are not powering your thermostat because you're not completing the circuit.

The line-thermostat I put in the link in my previous post would do what you want though (break the hot like a light switch)
If your thermostat is like this one: http://pdf.lowes.com/operatingguides/085267264501_oper.pdf

It sounds like you are hooking up the black (line) and the black (load) to your thermostat black wires, but the diagram shows black & white being hooked up to your thermostat. You are not powering your thermostat because you're not completing the circuit.

The line-thermostat I put in the link in my previous post would do what you want though (break the hot like a light switch)
It's a simple 2-wire hookup, just like a light switch. The circuit is completed via the resistive load in the heater.

Bypass the thermostat and see if the heater works. If it does, then the thermostat must be bad.
you need a licensed electrician to do that job for you call me
You're assuming the heater he's using has a resistive load within the tolerances required by the thermostat:

"The thermostat cannot be used with the following:
• a resistive load under 2 A
• a resistive load over 12.5 A"

This is a unique installation and I think an analog (non-digital) line-thermostat would be more appropriate for this application.

I do agree the thermostat might be bad, but I personally wouldn't jump to that conclusion.
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
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