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Water heater element tests for 120 Volts |
| Use only 600 volt wire. Lamp cord, extension cords are not rated 600 volt. Use copper wire only. Aluminum wire is fire risk and should be avoided or installed by professional. 30 amp breaker use 10 gauge / 120-240 volt 30 amp outlet can be installed on 30 amp breaker only/ use 10 gauge wire ... cannot be connected to 15-20-40 amp breaker.  Orange/ #10 gauge wire, with ground ... 30 amp capacity. Safe maximum: 30 x 80% = 24 amps. Buy: 10-2 gauge/ 30 amp 10-3/ 30 amp Southwire electric tools |
Yellow
12 gauge 20 amp 120 volt 20 amp outlet can be installed on 20 amp breaker, but not 15 amp breaker/ use 12 ga wire. ... cannot be connected to 30-40 amp breaker. 1  Yellow/ #12 gauge wire, with ground ... 20 amp capacity. Safe maximum 16 amps. Buy: 12-2 gauge/ 20 amp 12-3/ 20 amp NMB is house wiring UF is underground Rolls of stranded wire HOOK UP Wires |
White
14 gauge 15 amp 120 volt 15 amp outlet, AFCI, GFCI, timer, switch etc can be installed on 15 or 20 amp breaker. Never connect 15 gauge wire to 20-30-40 amp breaker.  White/ #14 gauge wire, with ground ... 15 amp capacity. Safe maximum 12 amps. Buy: 14-2 gauge/ 15 amp 14-3/ 15 amp NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
| 50-60
amp breaker use 6 gauge / 240 volt 50 outlet can be installed on 50 amp breaker only  Buy: 6-2 wire Southwire electric tools NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
40-50
amp breaker use 8 gauge / 240 volt 40 amp outlet can be installed on 40 or 50 amp breaker only  Buy: 8-2 wire Southwire electric tools NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
  Copper ground wire. Every device, load, metal enclosure etc must be grounded. Ground wire must be continuous throughout installation, never switched on-off, never used as a Neutral wire. Generally ... use same size as other wire in circuit Buy: 12 gauge copper ground wire Ground wire Green ground wire Ground pigtails Ground rods/ ground clamps at Amazon |
 Non metallic flexible cables must carry ground wire, but do not have hazard of short circuit causing injury from shock. Armored steel cable can be used as a grounded connection, and will protect wires from damage. Metal can be energized from an insulation failure. All conduit ...metal, plastic ... flexible and rigid ... must be attached to structure, and attached to enclosures, boxes. Movement, damage and deterioration are major cause of electrical failure. Buy: Non-metallic flexible conduit Power whip Armored cable Southwire armored cable cutter Pull boxes |
 Electrical tools must be insulated. Always best to disconnect power, but insulation failure, lack of proper grounding, grounded neutral, lack of GFCI, out-of-code wiring, generator operating without transfer switch, and other problems still pose a risk to anyone working on electric power ... even when breaker is off. Buy: Electrician tools kits KLEIN TOOLS Tools kits IRWIN tools KNIPEX Telephone cable knife Low Voltage Mounting Bracket for Telephone |
Push-on wire connectors in place of twist-on connectorsBuy:Push on wire connectors Amazon Red 3P connector for 10-14 gauge wire Lever connectors for stranded wire at Amazon HOOK UP Wires |
 Protect wiring from damage Use nipper instead of pliers or screwdriver for removing staples (and nails). Do not damage cable or wires inside cable. -Code says: Cable SHALL BE secured without damage to the outer covering. NEC sec. 336-15 Buy End cutting nippers at Amazon |
  Electrically insulated tools When removing insulation from wire, do NOT score or put cuts on surface of copper wire. Doing so increases resistance and heat on wire and creates possible weak point. Buy tools: KLEIN TOOLS Wire strippers at Amazon Electric Wire Stripping Machine Linesman pliers Utility knife at Amazon |
 Multimeters Voltage is tested across two separate wires. Ohms or resistance is tested across both ends of same wire. Amperage is tested along one or two points on same wire. Buy: Analog multimeter Multimeters at Amazon Klein multimeter Electric testers at Amazon Clampmeter for testing amp flow on line |
 GFCI circuit breaker A GFCI circuit breaker will protect all boxes on circuit. Circuit must be grounded. Ground wire must be continuous and connected to each piece of equipment. White wire on circuit breaker must be connected to Neutral busbar inside the breaker panel. Buy GFCI circuit breakers |
Push down 1" wide Push down breaker Plug-in breaker Buy single-pole: Choose from 15 to 60 amp Eaton CL series Siemens 15-60 amp Single-pole tandem breaker Tandem breakers |
Push down 2" wide Push down breaker Plug-in breakers Buy double-pole: Choose from 15 to 125 amp Choose from 15 amp to 200 amp Eaton CL series circuit breaker Siemens circuit breaker Double pole GFCI |
| Larger image Element tests 120 volt to ground at all times Element will test for 120 volt to ground at all times because water heater thermostat only turns off 1 Hot leg of the 2 Hot legs needed for 240 volt circuit. The second leg stays Hot at all times. The second leg stays Hot and is connected to both elements, so both screws on both elements will always test for 120 volt to ground. Exception, if breaker is tripped off, breaker is tripped off on second leg, wire or wire connector not connected, or if the red reset button (ECO) is tripped off. Under normal conditions when water heater is receiving 240 volts, ECO is not tripped, and thermostats are functioning and within calibration ... the thermostat turns ON, current from the first leg combines with the second leg and completes 240 volt circuit to one of the elements (but never both elements at same time). Current flows across the element, and element heats water. When this happens, each screw still tests 120 volt to ground, but test across both screws on the energized element shows 240 volt. Only one element at a time will be energized on ordinary non-simultaneous residential electric water heater. Resource How electric water heaters work Figure volts amps watts for water heater  Why does it work like this? Answer: Basic 120 volt and 240 volt circuits. All household wiring is single phase. That means two wires are needed to complete any circuit. With 120 volt there is 1 Hot and 1 Neutral. With 240 volt there are 2 'out-of-phase' Hot wires. Hot wires are commonly called legs. Each Hot comes from a separate busbar. Two Hot wires from same busbar yield no voltage. Resources See inside main breaker box Alternating current and 'out of phase' All single phase circuits can be turned on-off by controlling one of the two wires. So 120 volt can be turned off by one wire, and 240 volt can be turned off by one wire. By code, the 120 volt switch must turn off the Hot wire, and not the Neutral. By code, it is allowable to turn off 240 volt by turning off 1 Hot wire, while other Hot remains Hot. It is also code to turn off both Hot wires. Water heater thermostats only turn off 1 Hot wire. The other Hot wire stays Hot and is connected to each element. In 240 volt circuit, there are 2 hot legs and each leg has 120 volt potential to ground.... each 120 volt leg is 'out of phase' with the other. Out of phase generally means each wire has voltage potential against the other. If two legs are not out of phase, then there is no voltage potential. Read about out of phase When water heater thermostat turns off one leg, it turns off one of the two Hot 120 volt lines... and the circuit is off... because single-phase circuits need two wires... So one 120 volt Hot leg is off The other 120 volt Hot leg is on at all time, and it is connected to both the elements... and so each element will test 120 volt to ground at all times. Resources: See inside main breaker box How to wire thermostats How to wire 240 volt outlets |
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Never assume power if OFF Test using non-contact voltage tester. This test only shows if power is ON or OFF It does not show if you have 240 volt Use non-contact tester Buy: Non-contact voltage tester Amazon Electric testers at Amazon Resources: How to test electric power is off |
 Precautions
before testing live electricity:Tape multimeter leads to wood sticks to keep hands away from power.... paint stick does fine. Do not touch anything made of metal. Be sure to stand on dry non-conductive surface such as boards. Remove metal objects from pockets. Tape tester leads to wood sticks  |
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Correct
test for
240 volt at water heater Test for 240 volt across top two screws of upper thermostat... not the element ... at the upper thermostat. Use multimeter for best result, but ordinary tester will work If no voltage, fully reset circuit breaker and test again. If still no voltage, then breaker is suspect, move wires to a different same-size breaker, and try again. If there is 240 at top two screws of upper thermostat, then push reset button. If elements are still not working, then replace thermostats. How to replace thermostats There is no valid test for thermostats. After new thermostats are in, then push reset button. Test for 240 volt across top two screws on upper thermostat. If still no hot water after replacing thermostats, then replace elements. Replace elements |
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Correct
test for 240 volt on element Set multimeter to read volts AC Test across both screws If test is 0 volts, then element is off If test is 240 volts, then element is on If individual screw is tested to ground or metal tank, it will show 120 volt at all times, no matter if element is on or off Buy: Multimeters at Amazon> Electric testers at Amazon Resources: How to test and replace element How to test thermocouple How to test wire |
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Results of test across both screws Set dial to 240 volts... analog multi-meter is easiest for occasional use. When element is OFF ... test across both screws on element On 120 volt water heater, test shows 0 volts On 240 volt water heater, test shows 0 volts When element is ON .... test across both screws on element On 120 volt water heater, this test shows 120 volts On 240 volt water heater, this test shows 240 volts Buy: Multimeters at Amazon Electric testers at Amazon Resources: How to test elements How to replace elements |
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Circuit
breaker resources Water heater is tripping breaker How to replace circuit breaker How to wire gfci Can AC breaker be used for DC breaker How to reset circuit breaker Not enough space for circuit breakers/ use tandem Circuit breakers How to install subpanel Why you need ground wire See inside breaker box How to wire safety switch How to wire whole house surge protector Figure volts amps and watts Figure correct wire and breaker Types of surge protection |
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Elements
on 240 volt water
heaters test for live 120 Volts all all times. Thermostats turn off one hot wire in 240 volt circuit One wire stays hot all the time/ Other wire is turned on-off But wait... both screws on element test for 120 volt... not just one screw like the illustration shows Yes... true... because the element is a coiled wire, so the element will let voltage pass through to both screws... and all the way back to thermostat Remember voltage is a potential to ground. Voltage potential can sit on a wire and do nothing... until the circuit is completed by turning on a switch When switch is turned ON (thermostat switch turns on), then the circuit is complete. With 120 and 277 volt circuit, there is 1 Hot and 1 neutral needed to complete circuit With 208 and 240 volt circuit, there are 2 hot wires needed to complete circuit You can turn a circuit on-off by turning off only 1 wire... you do not need to turn off both wires... just one wire OK so thermostat turns on... now the circuit is complete. Both hot wires in the 240 volt circuit are on, If you just turn on the circuit without a load (element is example load), then there is a short circuit and breaker trips. Element is a resistive load (like a light bulb) The two hot wires collide head-on at the element.... and the amperage and voltage cause the element to heat Buy: Multimeters at Amazon Electric testers at Amazon Resources: How to test elements How to replace elements See inside main breaker box What is amperage How to wire thermostats How to replace thermostats Add another thermostat |
| Explanation. | Thermostats only turn off
one leg of 240 volt circuit 240 Volt circuit requires two legs to complete circuit. Each leg is 120 volts Thermostat turns one leg off, and other leg remains hot... so element will test hot 120 volts at all times |
| What is a leg for electric wiring? | Each household circuit
requires two wires to complete circuit. Each wire in circuit is called a leg. So each household circuit requires two legs. |
| 2 legs for 120 volt circuit | With 120 volt circuit, one leg is Hot wire, and one leg is Neutral wire. When Hot and Neutral come together at a light bulb, then bulb turns ON If you turn off the Hot leg, then bulb goes OFF. Light switch is used to turn off hot leg. The neutral wire is never connected to light switch... just the Hot wire is switched ON-OFF. |
| 2 legs for 240 volt circuit | 240 Volt is same, except
circuit has 2 Hot legs With 240 volt circuit, both legs are Hot, and each leg carries 120 volts. When both Hot wires come together at water heater element, the element turns ON and begins to heat. With 240 Volt, you can switch the circuit ON-OFF by switching one leg. Turn off one Hot leg, and the element turns OFF. |
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Water heater thermostats turn OFF one Hot leg in 240 Volt water heater. The other leg remains Hot Illustration shows BLACK Leg2 and RED Leg1 wires... 2 Hot legs in 240 volt water heater circuit. Thermostat is OFF, so Black Leg2 is OFF Illustration shows Red leg1 is ON at all times. Even when Black Leg2 is OFF. Result is that test on element shows 120 volts. But element is not heating because thermostat is OFF Remember, each Hot leg in 240 Volt circuit carries 120 Volt. Thermostats act like a light switch and turn off one leg in the circuit. Hot Leg1 RED wire is standing ready at the element.... waiting for the thermostat to switch the other Hot leg ON So when element is not heating, 120 Volt is still available at the element at all times, and the element test shows 120 Volt |
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When water heater thermostat turns on the Black Hot leg2 ... both 120 volt Hot legs come together. If there was no element present, the circuit would short out with a flash and pop, and breaker would trip. Same thing with 120 Volt or 240 Volt circuit... when both legs come together, resistance must consume energy or the breaker will trip. With element present, the two Hot legs meet and the resistance element consumes energy by heating water When element is heating, and you test across both screws, then test shows 240 Volt When you test each element screw to metal tank, it still tests for 120 Volt... because you are testing one Hot leg to ground |
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Basic
parts: Part
replacement and wiring diagrams 1: Elements and wiring Test water heater elements How to replace element and clean tank How to remove stuck, rusted element Wiring diagrams for elements/ residential single-phase, commercial 3-phase Wiring diagrams Figure volts amps watts for water heater 2: Thermostats and wiring How to replace thermostats Test thermostats Wire water heater thermostats Change temperature Test wires 3: Anode rod and dip tube and TP valve Anode rod/ replacement, odor etc Dip tube How to test and replace TP valve Review all types water heater valves Resources: How electric water heater works Water heater manufacturers Find age of water heater |
| Use only 600 volt wire. Lamp cord, extension cords are not rated 600 volt. Use copper wire only. Aluminum wire is fire risk and should be avoided or installed by professional. 30 amp breaker use 10 gauge / 120-240 volt 30 amp outlet can be installed on 30 amp breaker only/ use 10 gauge wire ... cannot be connected to 15-20-40 amp breaker. Orange/ #10 gauge wire, with ground ... 30 amp capacity. Safe maximum: 30 x 80% = 24 amps. Buy: 10-2 gauge/ 30 amp 10-3/ 30 amp Southwire electric tools |
Yellow
12 gauge 20 amp 120 volt 20 amp outlet can be installed on 20 amp breaker, but not 15 amp breaker/ use 12 ga wire. ... cannot be connected to 30-40 amp breaker. Yellow/ #12 gauge wire, with ground ... 20 amp capacity. Safe maximum 16 amps. Buy: 12-2 gauge/ 20 amp 12-3/ 20 amp NMB is house wiring UF is underground Rolls of stranded wire |
White
14 gauge 15 amp 120 volt 15 amp outlet, AFCI, GFCI, timer, switch etc can be installed on 15 or 20 amp breaker. Never connect 15 gauge wire to 20-30-40 amp breaker. White/ #14 gauge wire, with ground ... 15 amp capacity. Safe maximum 12 amps. Buy: 14-2 gauge/ 15 amp 14-3/ 15 amp NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
| 50-60
amp breaker use 6 gauge / 240 volt 50 outlet can be installed on 50 amp breaker only Buy: 6-2 wire Southwire electric tools NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
40-50
amp breaker use 8 gauge / 240 volt 40 amp outlet can be installed on 40 or 50 amp breaker only Buy: 8-2 wire Southwire electric tools NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
Copper ground wire. Every device, load, metal enclosure etc must be grounded. Ground wire must be continuous throughout installation, never switched on-off, never used as a Neutral wire. Generally ... use same size as other wire in circuit Buy: 12 gauge copper ground wire Ground wire Green ground wire Ground pigtails Ground rods/ ground clamps at Amazon |
 Armored cable can be used as a grounded connection, and will protect wires from damage. Metal can be energized from an insulation failure. Non metallic flexible cables must carry ground wire, but does not have hazard of short circuit causing injury from shock. All conduit ...metal, plastic ... flexible and rigid ... must be attached to structure, and attached to enclosures, boxes. Movement, damage and deterioration are major cause of electrical failure. Buy: Armored cable Southwire armored cable cutter Non-metallic flexible conduit Power whip Pull boxes |
Electrical tools must be insulated. Always best to disconnect power, but issues of insulation failure, lack of proper grounding, lack of GFCI, out-of-code wiring, generator operating without transfer switch, and other problems pose a risk to anyone working on electric power. Buy: Electrician tools kits Klein tools Tools kits |
 12 ga Stranded wire is good for conduit with multiple wires ... but stranded cannot be installed under screw terminals on outlets, switches, timers etc without risk ... of heat causing splayed strands ....that come loose ... and begin to arc. Connect stranded to short piece of solid copper wire, and attach solid to screw terminal. Do not solder residential or commercial wiring. Buy: Rolls of stranded wire |
Protect wiring from damage Use nipper instead of pliers or screwdriver for removing staples (and nails). Do not damage cable or wires inside cable. -Code says: Cable SHALL BE secured without damage to the outer covering. NEC sec. 336-15 Buy End cutting nippers at Amazon |
Electrically insulated tools When removing insulation from wire, do NOT score or put cuts on surface of copper wire. Doing so increases resistances and heat on wire and creates possible weak point. Buy tools: Wire strippers at Amazon Linesman pliers Utility knife at Amazon |
Multimeters Voltage is tested across two separate wires. Ohms or resistance is tested across both ends of same wire. Amperage is tested along one or two points on same wire. Buy: Analog multimeter Multimeters at Amazon Klein multimeter Electric testers at Amazon Clampmeter for testing amp flow on line |
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Resource: Intermatic control centers: and parts Digital control centers and parts Tork control centers and parts Subpanels All control centers and parts Enclosures |
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Resource: Programmable timers Countdown timers Off delay timers On delay timers Timer modules Din rail Twin & one-shot Woods Intermatic Tork |
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