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Electrical Wire and Cable


How to Wire a 220 Volt Electric Furnace


How Do I Wire an Electric Furnace? Wiring Connections for 220 Volt Electric Heater and How to Connect the Electrical Circuit Wiring for a Furnace.



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220Volt Furnace Wiring Connections
Electrical Question: How Do I Wire an Electric Furnace with Heating Elements?

This electrical wiring question came from: Tony, a Handyman from Bloomfield, New Mexico.

Additional Comments: Good Questions and Good Answers.

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Tony.

How to Connect the Electrical Circuit Wiring for a 220Volt Furnace

Application: Wiring an Electric Furnace.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced. This electrical project is best performed by a Licensed Electrician, or by a Licensed HVAC Furnace Technician or Contractor.
Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch Hand Tools, electric drill, auger bits and extension cord.
Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience, ability to work with tools and install electrical circuit wiring.
Notice: Installing additional furnace wiring should be done according to local and national electrical codes, with a permit, and be inspected.

Wiring Connections for 220 Volt Electric Heater

Example of Wiring a 220 Volt Electric Heater:

The Installation Manual for Proper Wiring and Connections

Electric Furnace Instruction Manual

Example of an Electric Furnace Wiring Diagram

electric furnace wiring diagram
Electrical Circuit Wiring for an Electric Furnace

More about 220Volt Electrical Wiring

2-pole-circuit-breaker

220 Volt Wiring Diagram


The following may also be helpful for you:

Dave's Guide to Home Electrical Wiring:

» You Can Avoid Costly Mistakes! «

Here's How to Do It:
Wire It Right with the help of my Illustrated Wiring Book

Great for any Home Wiring Project.
  electrical wiring  

Complete Guide to Home Electrical Wiring

Perfect for Homeowners, Students,
Handyman, Handy Women, and Electricians
Includes:
Wiring GFCI Outlets
Wiring Home Electric Circuits
120 Volt and 240 Volt Outlet Circuits
Wiring Light Switches
Wiring 3-Wire and 4-Wire Electric Range
Wiring 3-Wire and 4-Wire Dryer Cord and Dryer Outlet
How to Troubleshoot and Repair Electrical Wiring
Wiring Methods for Upgrading Electrical Wiring
NEC Codes for Home Electrical Wiring
....and much more.


Learn more about Home Electrical Wiring
with my Online Video Course:
Basic Home Electrical Wiring by Example


Be Careful and Be Safe - Never Work on Energized Circuits!
Consult your Local Building Department about Permits and Inspections for all Electric Wiring Projects.

Electrical Tips to Help You Wire it Right

The Safest Way to Test Electrical Devices and Identify Electric Wires!

The Non-Contact Electrical Tester
This is a testing tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and is the first test tool I grab to help identify electrical wiring. It is a Non-contact tester that I use to easily Detect Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Simply insert the end of the tester into an outlet, lamp socket, or hold the end of the tester against the wire you wish to test. Very handy and easy to use.

The Quickest Way to Check for Faulty Electrical Wiring!

The Plug-In Outlet Tester
This is the first tool I grab to troubleshoot a problem with outlet circuit wiring. This popular tester is also used by most inspectors to test for power and check the polarity of circuit wiring.
It detects probable improper wiring conditions in standard 110-125 VAC outlets Provides 6 probable wiring conditions that are quick and easy to read for ultimate efficiency Lights indicate if wiring is correct and indicator light chart is included Tests standard 3-wire outlets UL Listed Light indicates if wiring is incorrect Very handy and easy to use.

Strip Off Wire Insulation without Nicking and Damaging the Electric Wire!

The Wire Stripper and Wire Cutter
My absolute favorite wire stripping tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and this is the tool I use to safely strip electrical wires.
This handy tool has multiple uses:
The wire gauges are shown on the side of the tool so you know which slot to use for stripping insulation.
The end of the tool can be used to grip and bend wire which is handy for attaching wire onto the screw terminals of switches and outlets..

The wire stripper will work on both solid and stranded wire. This tool is Very Handy and Easy to Use.


More articles about Electrical Wiring, Furnace and Home Electrical Wiring:
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FAQs Frequently Asked Questions and Comments

33 Responses to “How to Wire a 220 Volt Electric Furnace”
  1. Glenn says:

    I have a Dayton 2yu58 Electric heater.This unit can run on 208v or 240v. I have 220.What do I do?
    The specs on the unit say it requires 12 amps.The unit itself says it requires .25 amps(is that a misprint maybe?)
    The unit installation instructions say I only need 5/16 threaded rod to mount and install the unit. Does this mean I can wire it directly to the line voltage?
    I am wiring it for single-phase operation.

  2. Alex Leclerq says:

    I was thinking about buying a Coleman electric furnace but I’m not too sure these instructions would be compatible.

  3. RICK says:

    HAVE AN OLD MCRA 2315 INTERTHERM ELECTRIC FURNACE I AM PUTTING IN MY GARAGE. WHEN I CONNECT THE POWER TO IT 240 VOLT USING #6 WIRE I HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM. IT CONNECTS INTO A FUSE BLOCK WITH TWO 30 AMP AND TWO 60 AMP FUSES. I HOOK THE 2 LEADS TO THE MAIN LUGS AND 1 GROUND. WHEN I TURN IT ON THE FAN COMES ON AND RUNS GREAT BUT THE COILS WONT ENERGIZE I CAN UNHOOK THE BLOWER MOTOR AND 1 SET OF COILS WILL COME ON AND START CYCLING. HOOK THE FAN BACK UP AND THEY GO OUT. ANY IDEAS?

  4. Dave Rongey says:

    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

  5. Dave Rongey says:

    Hi Alex,
    The instructions on this page about 220 volt furnace wiring may apply if the Coleman furnace you are referring to has the same specifications. Consult the installation manual which comes with the furnace to be sure of the circuit requirements and the wiring connections.
    Dave

  6. lisa says:

    I need the wiring schematics to wire a Coleman Tappan Speedmatic Model 731 Electric Furnace.

  7. richard lee says:

    We installed a new furnace with a Duroguard electric heat kit. I am having problem with the wiring. The air kicks on but there is no heat. What do you suggest? It is all new, and there is a new Honeywell thermostat.

  8. Dave Rongey says:

    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

  9. paul says:

    I have installed a GE electric furnace which has two 220 volt circuit beakers in the front section. Are both of these circuit breakers only for the heating coils? The blower motor just turns really slow and the coils will not heat up.

  10. Dave Rongey says:

    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

  11. Hubert says:

    I have a new York electric furnace and to wire it up for 220 volt I only see L1 and L2, that are the black and red wires. I also hooked up the ground wire.
    But, in my cat 3 wire (required), there’s also a white neutral wire that as no place for it to be connected in the furnace.
    There is a 2nd ground screw in the furnace where I can hook a ground to, so I am wondering if I can hook the white (neutral) wire to the 2nd Ground screw in the furnace ? Or should I leave the white (neutral) wire unplugged with the pigtail? Thanks.

  12. Dave Rongey says:

    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

  13. Nelson says:

    We are installing a Goodman electrical furnace model ARUF 14 or ARPT 14 which has three heat elements that are supplied by a 60 amp and a 30 amp breakers. It has L1 and L2 on the 60 amp and L3 and L4 on the 30 amp. We only ran a # 6/2 with ground from the panel with a 60 amp breaker. Were we supposed to run another wire or a 6/3 ? Thanks for your help

  14. Dave Rongey says:

    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

  15. Ken says:

    I am installing a new 65000 BTU Winchester electric furnace and a 100000 BTU US Stove wood burning furnace. Is it possible to wire them so that the electric furnace blower comes on when the wood burner thermostat calls for heat? How would I do that. Do I need a limit switch or thermodisk on the electric furnace plenum? The wood burner is ducted into the electric furnace plenum but has it’s own limit switch on it’s cabinet. Is there any way to wire two furnaces to one thermostat to be set at different temperatures?

  16. Dave Rongey says:

    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

  17. John Kaminski says:

    My old electric furnace had 2 60 amp breakers in the unit and 2 60 amp breakers in the breaker panel of the house. Now the new furnace has a 30 amp and a 60 amp breaker. Do I need to change out one of the 60 amp breakers to a 30 amp breaker in the breaker panel?

  18. Dave Rongey says:

    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!

  19. John says:

    I had a Coleman 3400 electric furnace. I replaced it with a newer Miller model e2eb -017hb. There are two main power lines in and a ground. The new furnace has two breakers instead of fuses. What needs to be changed to make this work? There is 3 heavy gauge wires ran in but it has two breakers that takes 4 wires to connect

  20. Dave Rongey says:

    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

  21. Roy Bermea says:

    I had new furnace installed and ever since we started using the heater our electric bill has been sky high. I’m not even sure what brand it is, I tried to check but all I found was a sticker with model# serial # and just your basic info on furnace but could not see a brand or name. I know that it is connected by 2 60 amp breakers, our old unit only had 1 circuit breaker connected to it. I guess what I am trying to find out is how can I minimize how much electricity is used when the heater is on. I’m not sure if its wired correctly or if both 60 amp breakers are supposed to be used. It’s a big difference on how much electricity is used on this unit compared to our old unit. International comfort products, Model#Fem4p4800a volts 208/230.

  22. Dave Rongey says:

    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

  23. kent says:

    How can a 110volt fan circuit become energized with 220 on a Intertherm Ultraflex electric furnace?

  24. Dave Rongey says:

    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

  25. smo says:

    Wiring for a Furnace Blower

    I have a 5 year old furnace blower motor that I want to use as a stand alone fan. I am trying to put a longer cord on it. The fan has six wires coming out of it, 1 purple, 1 brown, 1 red, 1 blue, 1 black, and 1 green. The motor does not have a white wire. The purple and brown wires are connected to the capacitor. My question is which wires are the hot wires?

  26. Dave Rongey says:

    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

  27. Melinda says:

    I’m splicing wires on a Central Electric Furnace model # eb15d. What is the easiest way to do this? There are 2 large wires coming out of floor. I am not sure where they connect to on the furnace.

  28. fred says:

    I have a new Goodman Electric Furnace going in and the old line was a Carrier. The new unit has a heat strip rated at 7.3kw max and the blower is rated max 1.6kw. The current wire is AWG 10/2 with a dual 35A breaker.
    The carrier also had a separate dual 15a AWG 12 line, both lines deliver 246volt I would like to connect the blower to the 15 and the heat strip to the 35 but Goodman only has a single port.
    The label reads 208/240v 35/40a 10/8. Is it safe to give it a try on the 35a circuit or am I pressing my luck?
    To run a new awg8 wire in this condo is NOT easy.
    Thanks

  29. Dave Rongey says:

    Hi Fred,
    Don’t press your luck. As stated with the Goodman Furnace label you will need a new dedicated circuit.
    Be Safe,
    Dave

  30. Dave Rongey says:

    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

  31. fred blumberg says:

    Thanks Dave that’s exactly what I did.. new wire dual 40.

  32. Daniel Schaefer says:

    I installed a Goodman electric furnace that required 4 lines each at 120 volts. I did that and it works fine until I connect a ground from the ground lug in the unit to the ground bar in the electric supply panel. When I do the blower motor turns on at a low speed and never shuts off. I don’t get it.

  33. Dave Rongey says:

    Hi Daniel,
    Yes, that does sound interesting. It could be that the ground connection is some how triggering a control circuit. My suggestion is to contact Goodman support, provide the Model #, and describe the furnace problem that you are experiencing.
    Dave