How to Install a Line Voltage Electric Thermostat

By Elizabeth Knoll, eHow Contributor , last updated March 11, 2013

 
 
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How to Install a Line Voltage Electric Thermostat

Line voltage electric thermostats are used for heating applications that usually use electricity as the energy source for the heat. Electric baseboard or wall-mounted electric heaters are two examples of this. A line voltage thermostat will be installed in almost the same fashion as a low voltage thermostat, except the wiring going to the thermostat will carry 120 or 240 volts of power instead of 24 volts. Extra caution must be used when you install a line voltage electric thermostat because of this differential in power.

Things You'll Need

• Switch box
• Line voltage thermostat
• Electrical wire

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Instructions

1. • 1
     Turn off power to the electric heater by turning the corresponding breaker off in the circuit breaker panel.
   • 2
     Install a switch box in the wall between four and five feet off the floor. Locate the box in an area that is not prone to drafts, out of direct sunlight, and not near any concealed warm or cold air ducts.
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   • 3
     Remove the cover from the thermostat by gently grasping the cover at the top and pulling off the thermostat body.
   • 4
     Connect the black lead from the heater to the red lead from the thermostat. Connect the white (or sometimes red) lead from the heater to the black lead from the thermostat. Connect the ground lead from the heater to the ground terminal on the switch box.
   • 5
     Fasten the thermostat body to your switch box with the provided screws. Push the thermostat cover on to the thermostat body.
   • 6
     Check the thermostat by turning the power back on to the electric heater. Turn the thermostat control knob clockwise and the electric heater element should warm up. Turn the thermostat control knob counterclockwise all the way and the electric heater element should no longer heat.

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