A 1,500-watt electric heater can be a good heating option to keep your bedroom, office, or living room warm and comfortable during the cold months.
Besides using the size of space you want to heat (sq. ft) to select the heater power rating, there are some important considerations you should know to use the heater safely and that have an implication on the costs to use the heater.
So, in this post, I have compiled 7 key answers to commonly asked questions about suitable space for the 1,500-watt heater, cabling information, how to maintain it, and indicative costs of running the heater to help you decide the 1,500-watt heater is the right fit for your heating needs.
#1. What Size of Breaker for a 1,500-Watt Heater?
A 1,500 watt, 120V heater should be connected to a 20A circuit breaker to be code compliant. Consult the heater manufacturer user manual too.
It may work with a lower 15A circuit breaker, but the NEC guidelines recommend that the protection device’s rating is 125% of the continuous appliance’s current rating.
Using the lower 15A circuit breaker can result in the frequent tripping of the circuit breaker when the electric heater is operating at maximum power.
Continous current rating of heater at maximum power = 1500W/120V =12.5A.
125% x 12.5 =15.6 which is approximately16A. The next available circuit breaker is 20A.
The heater should be connected to a dedicated circuit to avoid the risk of overloading it in the event that additional appliances are plugged into it whose combined current draw exceeds the 20A circuit breaker rating.
#2. What Wire gauge for 1,500 watt heater?
You should use 12- gauge cable or lower with your 1,500 watts, 120V heater.
This cable size can handle 20 amps and corresponds with the selected 20A circuit breaker.
Selecting an appropriately sized cable avoids the dangers associated with the cable heating up at maximum power.
#3. How many amps Does a 1,500-Watt Electric Heater Draw?
A 1,500-watt heater draws about 12.5 amps at 120V when operating at full power.
Some heaters have multiple power settings that you can select when it is sufficient for the heater to operate at a lower power setting and save on electricity bills.
As an example, a heater may have 3 power modes – low, economical, and high that correspond to 600W, 1200W, and 1500W power.
When operating at the low power mode, the heater draws a lower current. At 900W for example, the heater draws a maximum current of 10 A compared to the 12.5A at full power.
Note: this is not a continuous current drawn by the heater during its operation as the heater will cycle on and off automatically when the set temperature is attained and on when the surrounding temperature falls below the set temperature.
#4. How many sq. ft a 1,500 watt Space Heater is suited to?
1,500-watt heaters are generally suited to heating spaces of about 160 – 200 sq. ft (15 sq. m), depending on the design of the heater – radiator, ceramic heater element with or without a fan option.
Consult the user manual for your specific heater model. It is possible that with some enhanced features – a fan and others, that it is able to heat up a larger space than specified above.
Beyond the design enhancements, the actual space it is suitably heat depends on additional factors such as whether the space to heat is insulated or not, the number of windows, and the surrounding temperature.
In general, insulated spaces, spaces with few windows, and locations with warmer climates need less heating.
#5. How Much Electricity (kWh) Does a 1,500 watt Heater Use?
The 1,500-watt heater consumes roughly 1,500 watts of electricity.
The estimated annual consumption for this heater works out to about 5,400 kWh.
Your heater’s annual consumption may differ depending:
- on the mode you set – high power, maximum energy consumption versus a low power-economic mode.
- how high or low the temperature the heater should heat the room to. Selecting higher temperatures increases the energy consumption.
- How well insulated the space to heat is. Opening the door to a room the heater is supposed to heat increases your energy consumption.
and finally, the prevailing climate of the area – overall consumption will be lower in warmer winters as an example.
What Is the Cost per Hour of Running a 1,500-Watt Heater?
Assuming an estimated daily energy consumption of 14.8kWh and an electricity tariff of $0.133, a 1,500-watt heater will cost approximately ¢ 8.2.
This is calculated using the formula, the heater’s estimated hourly energy consumption (kWh) x the electricity tariffs for your location.
What Is the monthly cost of Running a 1,500-Watt Heater?
Assuming an estimated monthly energy consumption of 444kWh and an electricity tariff of $0.133, a 1,500-watt heater will cost approximately USD 59.
This is calculated using the formula, the heater’s estimated hourly energy consumption (kWh) x the electricity tariffs for your location.
How much does it cost to run a 1,500-watt heater for 24 hours?
Assuming an estimated daily energy consumption of 14.8kWh and an electricity tariff of $0.133, a 1,500-watt heater will cost approximately USD 2.
This is calculated using the formula, the heater’s estimated hourly energy consumption (kWh) x the electricity tariffs for your location.
#6. How many BTU is a 1,500-watt heater?
A 1,500-watt heater has an estimated BTU/hr of 5,120.
This can be calculated using the ratio, 1 W = 3.41 BTU/hr. 1,500 watts is 1,500 x 3.41 = 5,120 BTU/hr.
#7. How Do You Maintain the Electric Heater Safely?
Here are a few tips you can follow so that your electric heater continues performing efficiently and safely. Wipe off the dust from the heater vents periodically.
To do this safely and effectively,
- Switch off the electric heater first and allow it to cool.
- Wipe with a damp cloth any dust builld up on the vents and wipe the vents dry.
- Only reconnect the heater to the grid after it has dried properly to prevent electric shocks!
- You may use a vacuum cleaner to suck out interior dust.
Summary
A 1,500-watt heater rated 120V draws a maximum current of 12.5 amps when running.
This heater may have two or more operating modes that you can select with lower power consumption that is useful when you do not need to operate the heater at maximum power.
The 1,500-watt heater has a BTU/hr of about 5,120. To operate safely and reliably, the 1,500-watt heater should be connected to a 12 AWG cable and protected with a 20A circuit breaker.
Related Topics
