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Electrical Wiring

Need help with a rocker switch

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

I need to replace it in our SunHeat radiant room heater. The faulty switch is a simple 3-pin, On/Off rocker switch and is listed as 16A 125V/250VAC, which I seem to be having trouble finding that specific one.

Closest I've seen is 15A/250VAC / 20A/125 VAC switch. Will this one work?

Or since we only use this in our TV room and unplug it always before bed, can I just bypass the switch altogether and if so, how would that be wired? If I'm correct, pin 1 (black) is power, pin 2 (red) is the fan, and pin 3 goes to ground.

Thanks!

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Comments (6)

Curt D'Onofrio
11 years ago
If your house voltage is at 125VAC or lower then yes the new switch will work. But if your house voltage is at 250VAC then no because it's rated at 15 amps instead of 16 amps
Ron Natalie
11 years ago
What is the rating (WATTS) on the heater?

I suspect 15A is likely to be close enough even at 120V.
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bold_as_love
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks all. Ron, the rating is 120V and 1500 Watts, so that's 12.5A right?
Ron Natalie
11 years ago
Yeah, even if you throw in a little extra for the fan (assuming the 1500W is just the heating element).
bold_as_love
Original Author
11 years ago
Ah makes sense. Probably better to go with the 20A 125V then?
toxcrusadr
11 years ago
That should work.

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