How to Wire a 220 Volt Electric Furnace

Rick,
I would look for a control circuit that may be starting the fan first then a circuit that would start and stop the heating coils. You may be attempting to wire the furnace direct, but instead you may need to wire in a control circuit. Basically something has to regulate and control the heating coils properly. With a typical furnace a thermostat sends control voltage which starts the unit, the fan starts, a sensor checks to make sure there is air flow, then if there is air flow the heating source is activated. The same process in reverse basically occurs after the desired temp is reached. The point is to not activate the coils unless there is air flow, and to make sure the unit is cooled off even after the heat has stopped.
Look for the control circuit wiring diagram which should basically show a control circuit loop, where the control circuit is provided from a transformer or power supply.
This should help get you going.
Dave

Hi Richard,
Double check the connections to the thermostat as compared to the furnace and the electric heat kit. It sounds like the thermostat is wired so the blower is being told to start instead of the heating unit. The thermostat should have a manual switch for the blower and the heat setting for the furnace. The wiring for these two functions may need to be reversed. You may be able to reference the old thermostat for the wiring configurations as well.
Dave

Hi Paul,
This would depend on the exact model electric furnace you have. If the heating coils are large, then they may require separate circuit breakers. Keep in mind that the power for blower motor for the furnace is most likely provided from a separate circuit or receptacle. If the blower is not powered, and there is no air flow through the unit then the heating coils will not heat up. The heating coils will be controlled by safety devices such as high temp switches and air flow switches. For complete information consult the installation manual or owners manual for your specific electric furnace unit.
I hope this helps you,
Dave

Hi Hubert,
The cat 3 wire that you are describing has nothing to do with the circuit power which is required for the electric furnace. In this case, the cat 3 cable may be intended for the thermostat and the control process of the furnace unit.
The electrical circuit requirement(s) will specifically state if the unit requires a 3-wire or 4-wire circuit, and if the circuit requires a dedicated neutral wire, and if so then there will be a termination point provided specifically for the neutral wire. If your circuit wiring has a spare white neutral wire and your furnace specifications does not require a neutral wire then cap off the white neutral wire as a spare wire and do not attach it to the ground terminal. With equipment such as this ground terminals are for ground wires only. Please consult your electric furnace Installation Manual for specific detailed instructions.
I hope this helps you,
Dave

Hi Nelson,
From what you have described the Goodman electric furnace may require two separate 240 volt circuits, one 60 amp 240volt circuit and one 30 amp 240volt circuit. However, I would advise you to consult the installation manual of the specific Goodman furnace that you have being careful to identify the exact model numbers for both the furnace and blower unit, and the heating elements, both of which will have their specific circuit requirements. The number of 240 volt circuits required for the heating elements will depend on the quantity of heating elements that are installed and how they are configured or prewired from the factory.
I hope this helps,
Dave

Hi Ken,
Installing an Electric Furnace
Because you are installing a new electric furnace, and it no doubt is part of a system, I would recommend that you consult the installation and operation manual which came with this specific system. The controls and operations you have described should all be prewired as part of the system which ensure safety and efficiency.

I will admit that I am interested in the wood burning furnace as described, and I will be doing some research on this topic.

I hope this helps you, enjoy your new furnace system.
Dave

Hi John, Very good question!
Because of the lower amperage rating of the 30 amp circuit of the new furnace, the existing 60 amp circuit that will be connected to the 30 amp circuit should be changed to the 30 amp rating. This will provide the necessary overload protection for the circuit wiring and internal furnace components that are part of that 30 amp circuit.
Be Safe and Stay Warm and Cozy!
Dave
PS: I Love the Ranch – GOOD for You!

Hi John,
Check the installation manual that came with the Miller furnace to see what the circuit power requirements are concerning the amperage and voltage for each circuit.
Identify the existing circuit power that was connected to the Colman furnace.
Compare the circuit requirements.
You may find that you need an additional separate circuit either for the heating elements, or a separate circuit for the furnace blower motor and controls.
The existing circuit may not be used if it is rated smaller than either of the new required circuits.
The circuit requirements will depend on the specific model furnace that you have.
I hope this helps,
Dave

Hi Roy,
There are several factors that would affect a high heating bill, however I think it would be a good idea to compare the new electric furnace to the old one to see how they compare. Special attention should be given to the efficiency ratings of each unit.

You may consider contacting the installation company and explain your experiences to see if they can provide an explanation which would account for the higher electric bill. Perhaps the company will offer to come out and check the unit and the installation to make sure everything is performing properly, and examine the air ducts to make sure they are intact and not leaking. If the thermostat has been replaced with the new electric furnace make sure it is programmed properly for optimal performance and efficiency.

I hope this helps you,
Dave

Hi Kent,
If you are trying to add a 110volt fan to a 220 volt heater, the heater must have a 120/240 volt circuit which includes a separate neutral wire, and the heater must provide the ability for the fan to be added. It is important to understand that the additional fan must have proper circuit overload protection. If the furnace does not have the provision for the 110volt fan then a separate circuit may be required. Be sure the additional fan is properly integrated into the furnace system for proper control and operation which is permissible as an optional part of the furnace system.
I hope this helps,
Dave

Circuit Wires for a Furnace Blower Motor

Hi SMO,
To determine which wires the furnace blower motor connect to the circuit you would have to refer to the wiring diagram of the furnace where the blower motor was originally installed. The wiring diagram will most likely show that the wiring configuration may be altered for optional speed variations for the blower motor. The furnace nameplate information and the wiring diagram will also provide the voltage of the blower motor.
Dave

Hi Melinda,
Electrical wires should always be spliced inside an approved electrical junction box using the proper cable fittings and wire connectors. This is done after the circuit has been identified and the power has been turned off. If there is any doubt or you are unsure about the wiring then it would be best to consult a qualified electrician who may be able to see the entire project and make the proper connections to get your furnace operational and working safe for you.
Be Safe,
Dave