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Test water heater circuit

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
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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
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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.
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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.

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Tools kits
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Telephone cable knife
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Push on wire connectors

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

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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
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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.
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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.
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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.

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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
A) This information is for ordinary tank-type electric water heater.

B) Steps assume you have 
electric wiring knowledge and can safeguard from electric shock.
Do not stand on bare ground, put down dry boards, do not lean into metal or touch metal, do not touch water heater that is wet or was wet unless power is confimed OFF.
Tape tester leads to wood sticks to keep hands away from power, wear dry clothes, do not sweat.

See basic circuit
Dry fire
Energy Smart has dry fire protection
Dry Fire prevention is not 100% sure.
If water is not covering elements, then upper element will dry-fire and instantly burn out.
C. Water heater must be full of water before electricity is turned ON, or element instantly burn out. So if element is 'dry' and electricity is turned ON, then element burns out.
          If upper element is burned out, then tank will have NO hot water.
          If lower element is burned out, but upper element is good, then tank will have some hot water.
To prevent dry fire: 
Fill tank completely with water, until water is coming out of tub spout, then open Tp valve to release last of air from inside tank, as lastly, turn power ON.
How electric water heaters work
Test elements if you suspect dry fire is causing water heater not to work: 
How to test elements
               How-to-test-water-heater-elements
               How-electric-water-heater-works
               How-to-troubleshoot-electric-water-heater
D) If tank is in working order, that leaves ELECTRICITY as main suspect.

240 Volt breaker
Thermostat ECO reset button

2-element tank is 240Volts
Top screws test 240Volts

Test Black to ground
Test White to ground
Test Black to White

How to test circuit breaker and electricity to water heater:
1) Open upper cover located on side of tank: Push in ECO red reset button on upper thermostat.
If ECO is tripped out, then that cuts power to water heater and heater will not work.
If ECO will not reset and stay pushed-in, then replace upper thermostat.         
After pushing in reset, put ear against tank to hear if tank is heating. If no sound, move to next step.
          How water heater thermostats work
          How-to-replace-thermostats

2) Look at circuit breaker:
Push circuit breaker lever all the way one direction and then back other direction to make sure breaker is latched.
If circuit breaker is tripped and will not reset, then move to step 5, test breaker.
If circuit breaker was tripped, and is now reset, then be wary of possible electrical-short at tank, move to next step.
If breaker resets but still no hot water, move to next step.

3) If tank has 2 elements, then water heater is 240volt.
- If 1 leg of 240Volt circuit is not working, then 240V appliance will not work.
- 240Volt circuit needs both hot wires to complete the circuit:
- Ground wire is not needed for 240Volt circuit to work.
          How 120 Volt and 240 Volt circuits work

      -Buy analog multimeter and set dial to 240-250 VAC
      -Tape tester leads to woods sticks to keep hands away from power.
      -Stand on dry boards, touch no metal, wear dry clothes.
      -Power is ON
      -On water heater: Test across top 2 screws on upper thermostat should read 220-240 volts.
      -If you have 240 at top two screws, and water heater still not working, then skip to step 6 at bottom.
      -If top two screws do not read 220-240V, move to next step.

4) Open cover located on top of heater where electric wires first connect to water heater.
- Turn circuit breaker OFF while you remove wire nuts, and separate wires for testing.
- Turn circuit breaker ON, and test across both insulated wires that come from breaker, should read 220-240 volts.
- If you test each wire to bare ground wire, it should read 120V.
- If testing across both insulated wires does not read 220-240V, move to next step.
- Re-install wire nuts very tight, and close cover. Make sure bare ground wire is connected to green screw.

5) Test circuit breaker:
-Mark water heater circuit breaker before removing panel cover.
-Turn off all breakers except water heater breaker, main breaker, and breaker to light-fixture so you can see
-Use adequate light.
-Do not hold or touch or lean against anything metal.
-Stand on dry boards and wear dry clothes.
-Caution: No matter if main breaker is ON or OFF, the big wires that connect to main breaker are still HOT.
-Stay away from main breaker no matter if main is ON or OFF

        -Remove circuit breaker box cover so you have access to wiring at each breaker.
        -Find water heater breaker: Notice that 240Volt circuit breaker has 2 wires connected with screws.
            See basic water heater circuit
        -Using multi-meter, test across both screws for 240Volt.
        -Turn water heater circuit breaker OFF and check if wires are loose. These wires should be very tight.
        -If testing across both screws does not read 220-240, then breaker is not working.
             How to replace circuit breaker
        -To double check, move water heater wires to another same-amp 240V breaker. Turn breaker ON.
        -Put ear against water heater to listen for bubbly-fizzing sound.
        -If water heater is still not ON when wires are on another breaker, then wire between breaker and heater is suspect.

6) If you are getting 240 to water heater, but heater is not working, then wire inside tank could be loose.
      -Do 30 minute troubleshoot:
How to test wire
      How-to-troubleshoot-electric-water-heater
Meter on water heater
Use Kwh hour meter to record usage of water heater.
This is most accurate way to determine what percentage of bill is going to water heater over a full month. Take only showers for a week see what it costs per shower vrs bath ... observe hot water usage for laundry etc.
To connect meter: Temporarily disconnect wires from top of heater. Install meter on two jumper wires. Use jumpers to temporarily reconnect power to water heater. Cover with tape to secure temporary connection. Add conduit and junction box if meter is to be installed for any length of time.
Buy
240 volt pass through Kwh  meter

Resource:
How many kilowatts to heat water
Water heater causing high electric bill

Electricity from pole to breaker box

See basic 120V and 240V water heater circuits

Compare all water heater timers
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