Just relaying an experience in case someone else happens across it. I swap= ped a 500W baseboard heater for a new 300W unit as part of a circuit balanc= ing act.
Heater refused to turn on, but the digital thermostat seemed just fine. Me= asured voltage at heater, only getting 200. S*IT, did I puncture/damage wi= ring when finishing the room? Even at a lowly 200V I figured the heater wo= uld turn on (just a simple resistor).
I guess 200V is too low, as it turns out the thermostat was rated for a min= imum of 2A (300W is only 1.25A). Bypassing the thermostat temporarily, the= heater (now face-down on the floor) is producing heat.
Off to store, purchase a thermostat that is compatible with lower loads. M= ake the connections, all looks good until I'm screwing the thermostat face = plate on. Without warning, the thermostat display goes blank. S*IT! Di= d I short something out when screwing in the plate? Try again, seems ok bu= t the same thing happens. Can't believe I bought a bad thermostat.
Then it dawns on me...thermal cutoff is activating. Didn't think I'd ever = see it, particularly with a little 300W heater. Problem resolved simply by= orienting heater in 'normal' position.
This calls for a cold beer....