Good Quality 240 volt Heater
Written: Mar 30 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to install, thermostat or wiring connections on either side
Cons: none
The Bottom Line: The Cadet 8F2500 is a high quality baseboard heater that provides a full 2500 watts of heating power in a smaller than average package.
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| cowboyind's Full Review: Cadet The Cadet Electric Baseboard Heater 8F2500 |
The Cadet 8F2500 is a good quality baseboard heating unit which offer the advantage of a higher watt density than most units, allowing more flexible installation. It allows for making wiring connections at either side of the unit and can accommodate a thermostat on either end as well. It operates nearly silently, with the only noise being occasional faint "click" or "pop" as the unit warms or cools.
This is a permanently installed baseboard unit requiring a 240 volt circuit. It is not a portable heater and it cannot be plugged into a standard wall outlet. This heater should be wired with AWG 12 cable and placed on its own 20 amp circuit, or on a 20 amp circuit with another baseboard heater, so long as the total wattage of all heaters on that circuit does not exceed 3840.
The high watt density of this heater means that 2500 watts are possible in a heater of only 8 ft. length. Typically baseboard units have a watt density of 250 w per foot, which means that 2500 w would require 10 feet. The reduced length of this model allows for more flexible placement in the room, and permits use along walls that might be too short for a 10 ft. heater.
Before choosing this or any other permanently-installed heater, be sure to calculate the size of heater required for the size of area you're intending to heat. As a very general rule, figure on about 10 watts per square foot of living space. This assumes average insulation, window area, and ceiling height. Rooms with many windows, or with elevated ceilings, may require more wattage. Those who live in warm climate areas, or those in homes that are exceptionally well insulated, may be able to get by with less.
Cadet offers a 120 volt receptacle which can be installed in either end of the heater. This is a very useful feature because the electrical code states that receptacles located above baseboard heaters should not be used. This is because the continual flow of heat from the baseboard unit can cause electrical cords draped above them to become brittle, possibly leading to cracked insulation and a fire or shock hazard. The electrical outlet Cadet offers can be used to substitute any receptacle thus rendered unusable by its location above the baseboard unit.
A thermostat can be installed in either end of the heater. Whether to use a heater-mounted thermostat or not is a separate issue. While this is the easiest type of installation, thermostats mounted on the heater might not be as accurate as those mounted on the wall. This could lead to increased energy consumption if the thermostat is not regulated properly and the room frequently becomes overheated. In addition, there are many very nice wall thermostats currently available for baseboard heaters which allow for automatic setback during the night or unoccupied periods. (Baseboard heater thermostats are different from those intended for furnaces and other central heating systems because they operate on full line voltage rather than a special 24-volt circuit.)
People who should consider the use of this heater are those who are retrofitting electric heating to an existing home, or who have added a room or rooms which need an economical-to-install heating system. Whether electric resistance heating is a viable heating option in your area will depend upon how much electricity costs where you live. While electric heating offers many advantages, including safety, easy of installation, lack of fumes and flames, and no need for a chimney, it may not be the least expensive heating option.
Baseboard heaters provide a high level of comfort because they heat through natural convection, eliminating hot spots and cold spots in the room, effectively wrapping it in a blanket of even heat. For this reason they work well in rooms with large glass areas, since they counter the drafts that this glass can create.
Since this heater needs to be hard wired on a separate circuit, installing it is a job for someone with experience working with electricity, or a professional electrician. Be sure to contact a professional if in doubt about any details of the installation.
Recommended:
Yes
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cowboyind
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Location: Indiana
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