Latest Discussions : Electrical & Lighting

04:10PM | 01/02/10

Member Since: 01/01/10
2 lifetime posts

Central Electric Furnace

Hello Bob;

I'm lost but have a great idea..! I'm 60 years old, retired and own a 14' X 52'(728sqft) 1983 mobile home. I replaced all the windows with 5/8" thermopane insulated, replaced the gray poly pipes, and removed the 3/16" wood paneling and put up drywall in all the rooms. The present furnace is Intertherm Gas installed at MFG in 1983. It works but I hate Gas and the odors!

Recently I was given a Central Electric Furnace EB17B swapped out of double wide trailer for a gas unit. I've been through it and its okay. My present Electrical service I believe at the pole is only 60 Amps. That what the disconnect is rated, however the mobile home has a 100 amp, breaker/distribution panel. The Electric Furnace is 240vac, amps by the MFG label: 16/66.9 and it contains 2 Square "D" 60 amp double-pole breakers, its a 56,000 BTUH, 17kw, 240vac.

I'd like to remove the Gas furnace and install this Electric Furnace in my mobile home. What would I have to do to change or upgrade the Electrical Service disconnect, and the breaker/distribution panel to accommodate this furnace...? All questions welcome....

James

TimBonham

03:17AM | 01/03/10

Member Since: 01/09/07
199 lifetime posts

Basics:

1. replace the wires coming into your box with once capable of carrying 200A. (Probably #00, if a short drop). This might require upgrading the transformer on the pole, but that is the electric companies job.

2. replace the box in your trailer with a 200A main breaker box. Get the same brand & model, so you can reuse the existing breakers.

3. Replace the old breakers in the new main panel, and connect up the 2 new 60A breakers for the furnace.

4. Run wiring through the trailer to the new furnace location.

P.S. Here in Minnesota, we would _never_ consider replacing gas heat with electric. The high cost of electric heat compared to gas would bankrupt you the first winter.

jimlp12

04:20AM | 01/03/10

Member Since: 01/01/10
2 lifetime posts

Thanks for the reply thats somewhat I had in mind.

I downloaded the install manual off the Internet, for this EB17B Furnace its quite informative as it gives the details. The furnace comes with the 2 60 Amp Square "D" breakers, it allows one to connect the furnace by 2 different Options, 1 being a single branch circuit, or 2 branch circuits. It gives wire sizes recommended etc... this will help in deciding my situation....

James.

philbeck

06:35PM | 02/01/13

Member Since: 02/01/13
2 lifetime posts

how do i wire a replacement blower motor on central electric furnace model eb17b

BV009424

05:23PM | 11/04/15

no help whatsoever

BV014911

11:28PM | 10/13/17

Attn: TimBonham, you are correct on that strip heat furnace bankrupting vs gas. Can you suggest a low-cost, energy efficient, portable electric heater to keep y bedroom warm to cut back on relying on the main strip heater in my "aluminium box????