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for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.

A purely resistive 240 volt heater [baseboard unit] with no fan will operate when connected to a 120 volt source.

Either of the two "hots" in the heater can be connected to the 120 volt grounded circuit conductor [neutral].

The wattage output will be only one quarter of the rated watts, so it won't get mad hot, but it will work.

A 2000 watt 240 volt baseboard heater unit [typically 8 foot] will only allow enough current to generate 500 watts at 120 volts.

If the heater has a fan, then it won't work, because the fan motor won't operate correctly at the lower voltage.

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As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

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8y ago
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10y ago

208 volt heater on 240 volts

No, the heater will operate higher than its given specified nameplate wattage. A 208 volt heater run off of 240 volt will have an output increase. Ohms law stated that current is directly proportional to the applied voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance of the circuit. A 240 volt heater can be run off of 208 but the wattage will be reduced.

For example if the heater is 5000 watts at 208 volts, the current is I = W/E 5000/208 = 24 amps. The resistance of the heater is R = W/I (squared) = 5000/24 x 24 (576) = 8.68 ohms. Applying 240 volts on the same heater whose resistance is 8.68 ohms results in this new heater wattage rating. W = E (squared)/R = 240 x 240 (57600)/8.68 = 6636 watts. This is 1636 watts higher than the manufacturer's safety rating.

W = watts, I = amperage, R = resistance in ohms and E = voltage.

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14y ago

Yes, but you will only get one quarter of the wattage from the heater.

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13y ago

If it is a 240 volt baseboard heater then the answer is no.

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Q: Can a 240V baseboard heater work on a 120V outlet?
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