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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  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 |
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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. |
 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. | |||||
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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 |
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 Meter on water heaterUse 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 |
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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 |
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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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Recirculation systems |
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