Search waterheatertimer.org /
all results
Search using 
Do not touch electric water heater that is wet. Turn Power OFF.
|
Search waterheatertimer.org /
all results
Search using
|
How
to test water heater wires Do not touch electric water heater that is wet. Turn Power OFF. |
| 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 |
 Avoid
electrocution/Tape multimeter leads to wood Stand on dry boards Do not touch metal Wear dry clothes Do not touch wet water heater Buy: Non-contact voltage tester at Amazon Analog multimeter Multimeters at Amazon Klein multimeter Electric testers at Amazon Clampmeter for testing amp flow on line Outlet tester Circuit breaker finder Electric usage monitor |
|
 |
Power is ON Test for 240Volt across top two screws on upper thermostat. Turn Power OFF to conduct rest of tests If tank is not receiving 240Volts, test electricity to water heater |
 Larger image |
Turn
power OFF Open covers on water heater Remove insulation and plastic protectors Foam insulation might need to be cut back Buy: Non-contact voltage tester |
 |
Power
is OFF Tighten all screws very tight against copper wire Look for signs of high heat and burning. Look for melted insulation on wires. Look for burned or blackened wires. Use nose and smell for burning. |
 Look for burned or melted wire Replace part Cut back wire Test continuity of wire/ or replace wire |
✔Inspection
of water heater finds burned wire: Power is OFF Action: Replace part that burned wire is connected to. Test continuity of wire that has been burned. Replace wire that has no continuity. Resources How to test element. How to replace element How to test thermostat. (it is easier to replace both thermostats) How to replace thermostat How to wire thermostats |
 Multimeters at Amazon Analog and digital multimeter |
How
to test continuity of wire: When burned wire is discovered/ or bad wire is suspect Power is OFF Set multimeter to read ohms. Disconnect wires from each tank part. For example disconnect wire from thermostat and disconnect other end of wire from element. Test #1: Put tester leads on both ends of wire. If test reads ohms, then wire is good. Test #2: Test each end of wire to bare metal part of tank. If test reads ohms, then wire is shorted and must be replaced. Tanks with foam insulation may need to be replaced. Test wire between water heater and breaker box Turn off breaker. Remove wires from top of heater. Re-test wires on tank. Test wire from breaker with breaker off. A wire from breaker can have continuity but still be shorted to ground or be partially melted. Test for continuity between each wire and each wire to ground. There should be no current flowing between any of the wires. Read Buy: Multimeters Electrical testers |
|
If
wire is too
short / use
push-on wire connector
 Do
not use wire connectors inside water heater
Do not put stranded wire under screw plate... fire hazard from wires getting loose Maximum 2 wires under screw plate Buy: Push on wire connectors Amazon 3 Port for 10-14 wire/ 50 pcs 6 port for 12-18 / 50 pcs Lever nuts for stranded wire at Amazon |
 |
Check
if wire insulation is under screw
plate. Loose wires cause high heat and fire Only copper wire should be under screw plate. Check that wires are tight. |
 Melted wire will pass continuity test. If ECO keeps tripping, and thermostat is good, and water is not overheated, then replace wires inside tank. |
✔Breaker
tripped, and now ECO is tripping: ✔Water heater had leak, and now ECO is tripping: Quick answer: Replace thermostats and test elements Inspect for burned parts and and loose wires: Replace burned part.  ECO trips when wire is partially melted due to short or electrical overheat. Wire can no longer carry element wattage, causing heat that trips ECO. This happens if water heater leak caused short. Or if circuit breaker tripped. Or if water heater had a fire. Replace wires. Resource: Water heater is tripping breaker |
 This voids product warranty |
How
to change wiring / foam-insulated tank Rewire foam insulated tank If wire is bad/ replace wire If tank has foam insulation, then replace tank if warranty is current.  If tank is beyond warranty, and has foam insulation, then drill hole and drop new wire down into heater, or drill holes and install conduit on outside of tank. Start with 3/8" standard drill bit to drill through steel top. Then use 36" drill bit to drill through foam Drill through top of tank near wiring cavities Keep drill bit near outer edge of tank shell Drill horizontally as needed to run wire into wiring cavities Buy: 36" drill bit Fish bit Resource: How to test water heater wires |
 |
Undersized
wire can cause melted parts. ✔If you installed new element, and now ECO is tripping: Quick answer: Replace thermostats and test elements Inspect for burned parts and and loose wires: Replace burned part. ECO can trip when wire gauge is too small for element wattage, causing heat that trips ECO. This happens if replacement element has greater wattage than shows on label on side of tank. Compare rating label on side of tank with wattage rating printed on end of each element. Select correct wire and breaker size |
 |
Transfer
switch Use twist lock plug for extension cord that plugs into compressor Install 20 or 30 amp as needed. X Y terminals go to either Hot, W is always Neutral G is ground These are standard markings for 240 volt plugs and outlets. Connect X to one hot busbar inside the transfer switch, connect Y to other hot busbar, ground and Neutral to respective terminals Buy: Leviton 2711/ 125-250 volt/ 20-30 amp/ 3 pole Resources How to wire subpanel How to wire transfer switch How to wire twist lock plugs |
|
All
brands of thermostats are interchangeable New water heaters have high density elements. Low density elements can last longer |
|||
Low density elements for
problem water and frequent burnout Buy LOW density kit: Apcom plumbers pack Amazon 110°-160° Resource How to replace elements How to replace thermostats How to wire thermostats |
High density, same heating power as low density  Buy HIGH density kit: Apcom plumbers pack Amazon 110°-160° Resource How to replace elements |
Low density elements for
problem water and frequent burnout Buy LOW density kit: Therm-O-disc low density plumbers pack 90°-150° Resource How to replace elements |
Low density elements for
problem water Buy HIGH density kit: Therm-O-disc high density plumbers pack Therm-O-disc high density Therm-o-disc high density / copper element 90°-150° Resource How to replace elements |
 |
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 |
|
|
|
||||||
 Contactors/ relays |
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
 |
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 |
 |
Resource: Compare box timers DPDT timers Intermatic Control water heater w/ Z-wave |
 |
Resource: Intermatic control centers: and parts Digital control centers and parts Tork control centers and parts Subpanels All control centers and parts Enclosures |
 |
Resource: Programmable timers Countdown timers Off delay timers On delay timers Timer modules Din rail Twin & one-shot Woods Intermatic Tork |
 |
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 E-mail: geno03245w@gmail.com My response might end up in spam folder, check email folders Waterheatertimer on Twitter Message thru facebook |
