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Portable and whole-house
How to connect water heater to transfer switch
Resource: safe electric wiring
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electric water heater to generator Portable and whole-house How to connect water heater to transfer switch Resource: safe electric wiring |
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Any AC voltage can work
with electric water heater: 120V
277V 208V 230V 240V 250V ... 480V
3-phase non-balanced etc Elements need to be changed if voltage is higher than tank rating. Connect 120 volt to 240 volt heater is no problem, but connecting 240 volt to 120 volt heater will burn out element. Thermostats will work with any AC voltage, but thermostats can burn out with DC voltage. AC element will work with DC. To connect portable generator to water heater: Do not rewire inside water heater Disconnect household wires from heater. Connect either wire from generator to either wire on water heater Do not exceed 30 amps, 4500 watts for typical residential water heater. Resources: Figure volts amps watts for water heater Single phase generator feeding 3 phase panel Direct connect water heater to solar panels |
Danger |
Do NOT touch wet
water heater or water heater that was
flooded Resources: Flooded water heater |
Danger |
Turn off main
breaker
If main breaker is ON, the generator will energize power company wires... this will delay power company repairs and make it dangerous to be around downed power wires Remember power company wire are bare metal.... they can appear totally harmless until you touch or step on the line... then you can get killed or badly burned Resources: Flooded water heater |
Danger |
When working with electricity: Stand on dry boards, never assume power is off, keep hands away from electric wires, use insulated tools, do not stand in water, do not use oxygen. |
| Alyson Ward's portable generator
safety tips: 1) 3,000- 4,000-watt generator will power some lights, the refrigerator and maybe the microwave — but don’t expect to plug it in and power up the entire household. This means you can temporarily connect portable generator to water heater, heat some water, then connect to lights etc 2) Buy extra gas for your generator before a storm — but store it properly in approved containers. Afterwards, don’t store gas in your generator. If there’s gas left in your generator, you’ll probably need to clean it out before putting generator into storage. 3) Don’t let generator run out of gas while operating. When the gas gets low, turn off unit and let it cool before refueling. Spilling a little gas on a hot engine can cause a fire. 4) Don’t use extension cords. 5) Don’t plug generator into a wall outlet. That’s called backfeeding, and you can electrocute yourself or a lineman who comes to work on the power outage. It’s also an easy way to kill your appliances. 6) Unless you’re an electrician, don’t try to connect your generator to your home’s wiring system. If you have a large generator (at least 5,000 watts), consider having a transfer switch installed. How to connect water heater to transfer switch A cheaper alternative is an interlock kit, which keeps the main breaker and generator from operating at the same time. Or simply turn off main breaker 7) Carbon monoxide poison. Don’t put your generator indoors or in an enclosed space, including the garage. It can produce enough carbon monoxide to kill you in as little as 5 minutes. Install a carbon monoxide detector. Symptoms of CO poisioning: headaches and lethargy that disappear when you go outside. Remove affected people from area immediately, and lay on side. Never lay on back. Call emergency help. |
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Twist-lock plug will not pull out of receptacle |
 Twist
lock plug for extension cord that plugs into generatorInstall 20 or 30 amp as needed. X Y terminals go to either Hot wire. W is always Neutral. G is always 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 240 volt outlets, plugs, switches Difference between single-phase and 3-phase |
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For 20 amp, use 12
gauge wire For 30 amp, use 10 gauge wire Any voltage will work 240 volt water heater works with any AC voltage/ 120 or 240 etc. Voltage must be less than rating printed on end of each element. For example 240 volt element will work fine with 120 volts... ... but 120 volt element connected to 240 volt will burn out element 240Volt 4500 watt heats 21-42 gallons per hour 240Volt 3500 watt heats 16-33 gallons per hour Smaller voltage, smaller watt output = fewer gallons per hour. Most generators want loads balanced across all outlets. balanced means each outlet draws same amount of wattage. Unbalanced loads can affect power generation, and life of product.. If you connect generator to whole house power, then turn main breaker OFF |
 Element wattage and voltage printed on end of each element How to identify and replace element |
If you connect 120 volt to 240
volt water heater, then element will heat 1/4 as fast... Resources: See water heater label showing difference between 208V - 240V Resistive loads such as light bulbs and elements will burn less hot when voltage is reduced. Examples: ordinary household dimmer for incandescent bulbs, or power brown-out when household voltage is reduced Formula for 240-to-120V:  .25 x 4500 watts = 1125 watts |
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Question:
Is it OK to use Low Wattage water heater elements for heating water
using a generator? For example, I live in Florida and have a 5500 watt generator. During hurricane season I would like to replace the two 4500 watt elements in my water heater with two 1500 watt elements. Answer yes. But .... Might be easier to connect water heater to 120 volt and leave elements in place 240 volt 4500 watt element heats 21 gallons per hour Connect 120 volt and elements run cooler... they run at 1/4 wattage or 1125 watt... same 4500 240 volt element, connected to 120 Volt... will produce 1125 watts and heat 5.25 gallons per hour Elements are resistive load... just like a light bulb When there is a brown out, or less voltage, then light bulbs dims. Less light when voltage drops. Less heating on element when voltage drops. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ My understanding is that it is important to balance loads on generator when using 120 volt on a 240 volt generator. Read generator manual. So if 120 volt outlet is pulling 1125 watts, then other loads on generator should equal same 1125 watt **************** Important: If your generator only produces 240 volt, or you do not want to mess with balanced loads... then install 1500 watt elements. Important: buy elements rated 240 volt 1500 watt.... and that will heat about 7 gallons per hour. Voltage and wattage is printed on end of each element. Following link shows a few 1500 watt 240 volt elements. http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-water-heater-element.html#element MOST 1500 watt elements are rated 120 volt... to fit into small under-sink tank Caution:... If element rated for 1500 watt 120Volt is plugged into 240 volt, the element would run at 4x the wattage or 6000 watts... and in theory it should burn out quickly. Same if you connect ordinary 120 volt 100 watt light bulb to 240 volts... it will burn very bright for a few moments before burning out. &&&&&&&&&&& Footnote: 4500 watt element heating 21 gallons per hour is based on 60 degree rise in temperature... For example incoming water temperature is 60 degrees F, and thermostat is set to 120 degrees... requiring 60 degree rise in temperature. ... except incoming water temperature in Florida is about 67-77 degrees F... so if your thermostat is set to 120 degrees, your water heater would heat more than 21 gallons per hour. Resources: http://waterheatertimer.org/images/average-groundwater-tempera.jpg http://waterheatertimer.org/Average-temperature-of-shallow-ground-water.html http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Whirlpool-buying-guide-1200.jpg |
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below shows how to toggle
water heater from 240 volt to 120 volt Works any time, not just when the generator is on. If your transfer switch does not have 30 amp breaker it is a problem UNLESS you change elements to 3500 watt, in which case water heater will work fine with 20 amp. The math: Volts x amps = watts. 4500 watt element divided by 240 volt = 18.75 amp So technically a 20 amp breaker is sufficient for 4500 watt water heater, except when applying the 80% safe maximum used to calculate loads today. 20 amp breaker x 80% = 16 amp maximum ...; which means 20 amp breaker is undersized slightly. 30-amp 3-way switch (SPDT switch) can be added to the circuit so you can toggle 240 volt water heater to 120 volt. Works for ordinary residential water heater, but not heaters with electronic circuit board, electronic thermostat, This means the diagram will not work for tankless, heat pump, energy smart etc. Reducing to 120 volt reduces heat time by a factor of 4, so typical tank will heat 4+ gallons per hour at 120 volt .... gives you some hot water and more generator capacity to run lights, water well pump, grandpa's oxygen machine etc. Adding a 30 amp SPST switch to either wire going to water heater will let you turn off heater completely. Caution: You can toggle any time when generator is running as long as generator loads are relatively balanced. Balanced load: a residential generator produces two out-of-phase 120 volt legs, with 240V potential across both legs. If you draw too much power off one leg, it causes disturbance in the magnetic field around the generator, and alters the waveform of electricity ... which can affect electronic devices inside house, and overheat generator. All 240 volt loads are automatically balanced because they draw from both legs, but imbalance occurs when pulling power off 1 leg. If you want to use the 120 volt strategy, set up your balanced generator loads to accommodate the change, usually within a range of 80% watt rating of generator. Buy SPST: Leviton 3032 30 amp switch at Amazon Leviton 30 amp switch at Amazon 30 amp switches at Amazon Resource How to connect water heater to transfer switch | |
 How to connect water heater to transfer switch | |
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120 and 240 volt
generators are used for homes
and
construction businesses etc Check the total wattage output, portability vs need If you are connecting generator to your household electric panel, you MUST turn off main breaker and disconnect from power company service ... or use a transfer switch. Buy Generators at Amazon Resource: Generator manual How to wire twist-lock plug for generators How to wire transfer switch |
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Whole house generator 30 Amp Generator Transfer Switch Kit/ 7500 watt When generator comes on, then transfer switch automatically disconnects power from main breaker. If generator is connected directly to breaker box during power outage, then power can exit wires leaving house and energize power lines outside. The live wires can slow repair work by power company. Can also create danger power on neighbor's wires, which they may think have no power. So bulbs at neighbors house glow very dimly as if there is still power available. Always turn off main breaker when connecting generator to breaker box Buy: 30 amp transfer switch at Amazon 50 amp automatic transfer switch at Amazon Resources: Reliance 31406CRK manual/pdf |
| Generator interlock Buy: Generator interlock |
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TCA series: Reliance
transfer switch/ manual
operation Purpose of transfer switch: Keep generator isolated from the utility at all times. 100 amp Up to 15000 watt generator Unit is ON when utility power is ON Unit has two breakers that are interlocked... neither breaker can be ON at same time Buy: Reliance transfer switch/ 100 amp indoor/ at Amazon Reliance transfer switch/ 60 amp indoor/ at Amazon Resources: Reliance TC series transfer switch manual: Why ground wire is needed |
 120-240 volt
generator120-240 volt generator has 3 coils. A center coil that rotates. Two outer coils that sit 180° across from each other. The center coil is electromagnet with North and South poles that rotates 60 times per second. Each time the center coil passes Coil 1, it creates a pulse of electricity on Line 1. Electricity is the flow of electrons across the surface of a conductor. Wire is one type of conductor. Each time the North pole of center magnet passes Coil 1, the flow of electrons on Line 1 goes one direction. Then when the South pole of magnet passes Coil 1, the flow of electrons on Line 1 reverses and goes the other direction. This is called AC or alternating current. Up and down the electrons continually move on Line 1. The voltage on Line 1 rises and falls as the magnet passes and the electrons slow down, stop and then reverse direction. When the electrons come to a stop the voltage is zero. And then the electrons reverse direction and voltage goes up. At two points in each cycle, the voltage drops down to zero, and then the voltage goes up again. Up and down the voltage rises and falls.. However the average voltage is above 0, and the generator rotates so quickly that the up-and-down voltage is not seen... and Line 1 tests120 volt to ground at all times. Line 2 also tests 120 volt to ground at all times. Testing Line 1 to Line 2 shows 240 volt potential. Grounding for the generator is supplied by connection to the ground busbar located in main breaker box, or by installing a ground rod and making a ground connection from water heater. Grounds and Neutrals are separate, but must be bonded (connected) together. Coil 1 and Coil 2 are out of phase with each other, so Coil 1 and Coil 2 produce a reverse flow of electrons from each other. When electrons on Line 1 are flowing away from Coil 1 toward the house, at the same time, electrons on Line 2 are flowing toward Coil 2 and toward the generator. Generator must have a balanced Load. What that means is that Line 1 and Line 2 must supply the amount of wattage as each other. So if you have 100 watt bulb connected to Line 1, then you need 100 watt bulb connected to Line 2. You cannot run 1000 watts on Line 1 and 0 watts on Line 2, or the generator will overheat. Calculate the wattage of each circuit by looking at appliance labels, and using the basic formula Volts x Amps = Watts. Balanced loads apply only to the 120 volt circuits. When connecting 240 volt, the load is aromatically balanced, because the same wattage is pulled from each Line. If 120/240V generator is rated for 5000 watts, then Line 1 carries 2500 watts and Line 2 carries 2500 watts. |
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Generator
outlet box wiring: 4-prong generator outlet wiring: All 4 prongs are locking. all 4 prongs are rounded 1 prong is rounded with upturn.... this it the ground connection Prong located opposite the ground connection is Neutral connection If there is no neutral wire, then do not connect any wire to neutral connection Other two prongs are for hot wires 3-prong generator outlet wiring: All 4 prongs are locking. all 3 prongs are rounded 1 prong is rounded with upturn.... this it the ground connection Other two prongs are for hot wires There is no neutral connection Buy: Twist lock plug / 30 amp/ at Amazon Twist lock outlet / 30 amp/ at Amazon 4-prong 30 amp generator outlet Generator outlet boxes at Amazon 4-prong 30 amp generator outlet/ 7500 watt at Amazon 3-prong 50 amp generator outlet / 12,500 watt at Amazon |
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Cook and stay warm
with charcoal briquettes if you have
no power Heat well house or pump house with briquettes Use metal pan, galvanized bucket. Set bricks in circle on concrete step stone. Do NOT use gasoline. Never use gasoline as accelerants. Use charcoal lighter fluid. Use newspaper, cardboard, old book to get fire started. Use WD40.... as last resort... but ONLY small amount on dry briquettes before fire is added... can of WD40 will explode in face. Smoke will aggravate asthma CO2 will be put into air and can cause death if no ventilation Be damn careful now. |
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Resource: Electricity: The grid is defined by three parts: transmission, distribution and end user. The following links show how it works Power plant to end user power pole Power pole to residential breaker box Power pole to commercial breaker box How to wire residential electric How to wire commercial 3-phase Why you need ground wire How to wire 3-phase timer 3-phase water heater |
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