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Control water heater with Z-wave switch
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
6-2 wire
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
6-2 wire
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
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
Southwire armored cable cutter
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

Push-on wire connectors in place of twist-on connectors

Buy:
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
multimeter
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
single-pole breaker
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
double-pole breaker
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
Finished project with zwave switch.
Image courtesy D Rodriquez from his project, based on  step-by-step shown following link: zwave install ... he did the work while we exchanged email.

Picture shows 6x6x4 metal enclosure with a contactor, indicator light to signal when water heater has power, flexible conduit with 10 gauge wire, Energy Smart water heater, zwave switch, and 120 volt power source for zwave switch...
.... the 120 volt power source is an ordinary wall box (like a light switch or wall plug) containing 120 volt hot, neutral and ground wires and is where Mr Rodriquez pulled power for the 120 volt zwave switch and contactor ....
... the 24 volt transformer located on top of 120 volt power source is for another circuit, possibly a doorbell or security system, and has nothing to do with the zwave switch or water heater installation.

How it works: The zwave switch is powered by 120 volt and stands ready to receive zwave command from phone or other zwave controller. When the zwave switch receives signal, it turns on the 120 volt circuit that goes to the 2-pole contactor located inside the metal enclosure. The contactor then 'closes' the 30 amp 240 volt circuit going to water heater and water heater receives power.
With electric circuits: closed 'circuit' is ON, and 'open' circuit is OFF.

Buy project materials from my affiliate links
Zwave switch
6 x 6 x 4 enclosure
240Volt coil contactor
120 volt led indicator light
Southwire
Control 240 volt with z-wave
Larger image
Control and amp 240 volt with z-wave switch
240 Volt Z-wave switch
Requires Neutral wire. Use ground wire as temporary neutral to check connection. Bring white neutral wire from any nearby light switch or outlet box

Resource
Materials list and detailed wiring instructions
GE z-wave contactor Zwave contactor
Use the preassembled unit for zwave or wifi, instead of building from parts.
I prefer using parts as shown above, instead of preassembled unit because of price, flexibility, and repairability. The preassembled unit is easier to install, and comes in Nema 3R indoor-outdoor enclosure.
Buy
Zwave contactor
Intermatic zwave contactor
Wifi contactor
Woods WiOn wifi contactor
DEWENWILS brand wifi
Resource
How to control water heater with zwave switch
How to control water heater with zwave contactor

Wifi contactor
Buy:
DEWENWILS brand wifi
Wifi power switch
Wifi contactor
Resource
How to wire wifi contactor
How to wire GE contactor
How to wire Intermatic contactor

3-pole contactor              2-pole contactor
Contactors
Used when building zwave or wifi control from parts.
Buy 2-Pole 40A resistive
120Volt coil At Amazon
240Volt coil At Amazon
24 volt coil at Amazon
Mars 2-pole and 3-pole contactors at Amazon
Resource
2-pole contactors
3-pole contactors for 3-phase control
Control high voltage DC with contactor
High voltage DC electricty has issue with arc extinction, and will burn out switchgear that is not rated for DC power.
In large commercial solar arrays, the switching contactors have 3 disconnect points for + positive side and 1 disconnect point for - negative side.
The instant disconnection of several points dampens the arc and stops electrons from jumping across the points and burning up the switchgear.
The same principle is shown in the 3-pole contactor illustration, with 3 contact points on a single wire.

Resource
How to set up solar array
Arc extinction
High voltage DC water heater
3-pole contactors for 3-phase control
Insteon 2477SA1 X10 load controller  
Larger image
X10 for electric water heater
Insteon X10 relay for water heater 
30 amp resistive loads
Relay handles resistive load only:
Water heater, incandescent light bulb... yes
Motor, CFL, LED.... no
2 year warranty
Buy: $120
Insteon 240v / 30 amp X10 load controller for resistive loads only
Insteon remote control products at Amazon
Resource:
Insteon load controller manual
Whole house automation module
Z-wave for gas water heater
X10 for gas water heater

Resource:
Control gas water heater with X10, Zwave, or ordinary remote control
Control box
Enclosure with multiple contactors and relays

Buy:
Magnecraft box and cover
Magnecraft w199 relays
Siemens power relays
Schneider W199 relay
NTE open frame relays
Contactors/ reliable for heavy amp loads
15 amp Relays for loads up to 10 amps

Resource:
Enclosures
Contactors
How to wire open frame relay

Larger image
Control water heater remotely
Compare ways to control Gas and Electric heaters
Control gas water heater with remote control
Off-peak water heater strategies
Compare water heater timers
Support the economy:
Buy water heaters from my associate links:

50 gallon Gas water heaters at Amazon
40 gallon gas water heaters at Amazon
50 gallon Electric water heaters at Amazon
40 gallon electric water heaters at Amazon
Hybrid / heat pump/ water heaters at Amazon

Resources:
How to install gas water heater
How to install electric water heater
Troubleshoot gas water heater
Troubleshoot electric water heater
Point of use water heaters
Resources:
Troubleshoot Gas valves with manuals
Icon gas valve

How to replace water heater element Waste King disposal
How to wire tankless electric


Install point of use water heater
Titan tankless

Contactors/ relays
Type 1 and type 2 surge protection surge protection
Programmable timers

Woods timers
surge protection
Anode rods anode rods
Recirculation system

Tankless recirculation
Point of use water heater
Install and troubleshoot garbage disposal Waste King disposal
Buy
Electronic parts

Industrial supplies

Tools and home improvement

Home and garden

Hayward pool
Pentair pool

Southwire electric
Buy
Tools

DEWALT
Black and Decker
Stanley
SKIL
Makita
Porter-Cable
Bosch

Irwin Hand tools
Klein hand tools
Fluke electrical testing
Dremel hobby tools

Campbell Hausfeld air powered
Tekton automotive

Powerbuilt automotive
Saws and saw blades
box timers Resource:
Compare box timers
DPDT timers
Intermatic
Control water heater w/ Z-wave
Intermatic control centers Resource:
Intermatic control centers: and parts
Digital control centers and parts
Tork control centers and parts
Subpanels
All control centers and parts
Enclosures
programmable timer Resource:
Programmable timers
Countdown timers
Off delay timers
On delay timers
Timer modules
Din rail
Twin & one-shot
Woods
Intermatic
Tork
Low voltage power packs Recirculation systems
Buy from my affiliate links every time/ thanks:
Amazon
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Enter Amazon from any link on my site, fill cart with any item ... purchases pay small commission

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