SERVICES
Appliance circuit
installation
Unlike the typical 15 and 20 amp circuits that small appliances, electronics, and lights can run off of, larger appliances such as furnaces, stoves, or air conditioners need circuits that are capable of carrying more current than those smaller circuits.
Often times, a circuit must draw on both hot wires that are coming into the service box. Therefore, these circuits are called dedicated circuits because the entire circuit serves only 1 appliance. These appliances will have double pole breakers, which are circuit breakers that take up two slots in a service panel and are rated for 240 volts. Additionally, they will have a connection between the 2 breaker switches so they can only be turned on or off at the same time.
Installing a 240 volt circuit
One of the most common reasons for installing a new 240 volt circuit is a new appliance that is replacing an old one that needs more electricity. Furnaces and water heaters that run on natural gas or oil typically only need a 120 volt circuit at 20 amps or less. However, a heat pump, electric furnace or electric water heater always require 240 volt circuits. This is mitigated by the fact that they no longer directly use fossil fuels to heat from a cost savings perspective. If you ever decide to convert from a fossil fuel based heating system to a purely electric one you need to have a spare 240 volt circuit.
If for any reason some of your major appliances are continuously tripping a circuit breaker it may mean that you need to upgrade your electrical service. This could happen if you have recently had old appliances replaced by new ones or if any part of the branch circuit that serves the appliance has been damaged in any way.