. Servicing an electric Fireplace seeing if it's wired correctly
Can two 12/2 cables be used to wire a 240 electric Fireplace
fireplace
Related Topic
- Burn in fireplace to minimize smoke
- Is it possible to convert a single-sided wood-burning fireplace into a two-sided one
- How to fit a door to the 28″ wide fireplace
- Cost effectiveness of fireplace with insert vs electric furnace
- Tile – install porcelain tile without grout joints on a fireplace
- Fireplace – How to Repair a Crack in Fireplace with Fire Clay or Cement
- How to DIY this fireplace refurbishing project
Best Answer
Sure, if it's actually 240V and not 240/120 split-phase. Difference is, the latter needs a neutral to power loads internal to the machine which need 120V. The former does not.
240/120 example: an electric oven with an oven light, where the light is a common off-the-shelf 120V incandescent. To make this oven pure-240V would require the owner to find oddball 240V bulbs, or have an internal transformer to knock down 240 to 120 for the bulb.
240V example: hot water heater or baseboard heater. They simply do not need 120V for anything.
All conductors must be in the same physical cable.
For a straight 240V service on a 20A circuit, 12/2 is fine. There's one small gotcha: 12/2 is only made with black and white conductors. Thus the white conductor needs to be painted or taped a band of color, to indicate that it is a "hot". Previously, the law did not require this if the usage was "obvious", and as a result, many electricans fell into the habit of not ever marking anything.