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Water heater is tripping breaker

1" wide Circuit breaker for residential homes

1" wide 120Volt, 2" wide 240Volt
Push down type breaker

Buy:
Siemens circuit breakers at Amazon
Square D breaker
Schneider breaker
Resource:
How to replace circuit breaker
Common causes for water heater tripping breaker:
-Bad Breaker: Breaker might not reset, or will not stay set. Move wires to different, same-size circuit breaker, for example breaker for dryer is usually 30 amp. How to replace circuit breaker
-Undersized breaker: Breaker usually resets, but trips after period of time. Use 30 amp breaker and 10 gauge wire for residential water heater. Figure volts amps watts for residential water heater
-Loose breaker: Breaker comes loose on busbar because of damaged busbar. Usually electrical smell inside fuse box, or fizzing sound when breaker is jiggled. Move breaker to another slot. Move wires to different, same-size circuit breaker.
-Loose wire at breaker or somewhere on circuit. Breaker resets but trips after period of time. Loose wires, loose wire connectors, etc can cause overheating. Breaker trips because of heat on wire.
-Bad connection at top of water heater or inside water heater. Loose wires or incorrect wiring. Breaker usually trips immediately. Basic house wiring
-Bad part inside water heater is shorting to ground: Breaker trips and will not reset because free flow of electricity going to ground will causewire to overheat. Why you need ground wire
-Incorrect wiring: Hot wire is touching ground wire somewhere in circuit. Breaker trips and will not reset.
   Basic tools needed:
Non-contract voltage tester.
Multimeter

-Non contact voltage tester tests if there is Power at water heater. It will blink continuously when power is present. It will blink once if power is not present.

-Multimeter is used to 1) test element ohms. 2) test wires and 3) test electric voltage
Buy:
Buy non-contact voltage tester at Amazon
Electric testers at Amazon
Tape tester leads to wood sticks when working with LIVE power
water heater safety

Safety rules
1)  Do not touch wet water heater or heater that was wet
2) Always stand on dry surface, such as dry boards.
3) NEVER stand on bare ground or wet surface and touch electrical equipment. Wear dry clothes.
4)  Do not touch or lean into anything metal.
5) Do not touch any wires inside electric box or water heater until power if OFF.
6) Make sure main breaker panel has cover, make sure each electrical connection has cover firmly installed over wires until you are ready to replace breaker or change wires.
7) Tape tester leads to wood sticks to keep hands away from LIVE power
8) Use non-contact voltage tester to make sure power is OFF before touching heater
9) Knock the person loose with a 2x4. Do not touch person who is getting shocked.
Resource:
What causes electrocution
Water heater cover
Larger image
DO NOT touch water heater that was flooded or got wet 
/ Electrocution danger !!!/ replace water heater


Flooded water heater must be taken out of service and replaced.
The wet insulation located between outer shell and inner tank must be dry... or it will conduct electricity.
The insulation must cover the thermostat or the thermostat will be exposed to room air temperatures causing thermostat to misread tank temperature.
circuit breaker

DO NOT INSTALL LARGER CIRCUIT BREAKER TO SOLVE PROBLEM: absolute fire risk
Quick answer for blowing breaker: 

1) Reset breaker fully off and then back ON. 
Listen if water heater begins to heat, this will say if unit is getting power. 

2) If breaker will not reset, then turn breaker fully off.
Use non-contact voltage tester to check there is no power at heater

3) Inspect outside water heater for signs of leaking/ do not touch wet water heater
Look for leaking element, water dripping on electric wires, water at bottom or top of tank
                     Causes leaking water heater

4) Open panels and connection on top of heater to inspect for shorted, burned wires and parts. Replace damaged parts.

3) At main breaker box: Use hand and touch circuit breaker. Does breaker feel warm? Touch main breaker and see if it is warm to touch. Observe safety rules above. Make sure breaker panel has cover installed over wires until you are ready to replace breaker or change wires.
                    Does circuit breaker feel warm?
                    Do stress test if main breaker feels warm
4) Use nose and smell for burned electric smell
                    Does anything smell burned to indicate overheating?
5) Use ears, and jiggle breaker to listen for crackling sound
                     Do you hear crackling sound when jiggling breaker? Then breaker is loose on busbar
6) Move wires to another same-size breaker, for example the clothes dryer breaker

Actions to take:
Action 1: Check if wires are tightly screwed to circuit breaker 
Action 2: Replace circuit breaker
Action 3: Move wires to another same-size breaker and see if problem continues:
                         How to replace circuit breaker
1" wide Circuit breaker for residential homes

1" wide 120Volt, 2" wide 240Volt
Push down type breaker

Buy:
Siemens circuit breakers at Amazon
Schneider breaker
Resource:
How to replace circuit breaker
circuit breakers are warm
DO NOT INSTALL LARGER CIRCUIT BREAKER TO SOLVE PROBLEM: absolute fire risk
Circuit breaker trips because of Heat 

Undersized wire, loose wires, undersized breaker, bad breaker, loose breaker, or electrical short to ground:
Breakers do not trip immediately when heat is detected. 
This allows heavy-amp motors to start with surge of amp-draw without tripping breaker.
However breaker trips immediately if there is a short.
Tripping breaker protects full length of wire from damage, but does not prevent damage at location of shorted wires.

A short is caused when electricity from breaker comes into contact with grounded surface. 
Causes for short vary. Loose connections, re-used wire connectors, water leak, failed part inside tank, under-sized wire, under-sized breaker, bad circuit breaker, burned bus busbar inside breaker box, rats chewed through wire etc.
How to reset circuit breaker
DO NOT INSTALL LARGER CIRCUIT BREAKER TO SOLVE PROBLEM: absolute fire risk
How to reset circuit breaker

Circuit breaker can look ok, but still be tripped.
Push circuit breaker all the way OFF, and then all the way back ON.
Resource:
How to wire tankless electric water heater
How to replace circuit breaker
Choose correct wire and breaker size
See inside main breaker box
bad thermostat Melted parts or wires 
Usually breaker will NOT reset

Melted or burned parts inside water heater can also cause breaker to trip
Inspection:

1) Turn power OFF
2) Open side covers on tank
3) Inspect for leak or presence of any water. Tank must be completely DRY
Diagnose leaking water heater
3) Use nose and eyes to inspect for burned wires, parts and evidence of high heat
4) Check each screw connection for loose wire. Tighten all screws very tight against copper wire

Action 1: Replace any burned part
How to replace thermostats
How to replace element
How to test elements
Action 2: Cut back any melted wire, and re-strip and reattach
Action 3: Test melted wires if present
How-to-test-water-heater-wires.html
Action 4: Tighten all screws
Action 5: put back insulation and factory covers
10-3-wire
10-3-wire  
12 Ga
Undersized wire 
10 gauge or 12 gauge?


10 gauge is larger/ for 30 amp breaker. 12 gauge is smaller/ for 20 amp breaker
10 gauge wire can have black-white or black-red
12 gauge will have black and white wires

Buy short pieces 10 and 12 gauge wire at local box store
Compare with your wire.
Resource:
Match color code and amp rating for wire
Circuit breakerALWAYS MATCH CIRCUIT BREAKER TO WIRE SIZE: avoid fire risk Undersized breaker/ use 30 amp breaker and 10 gauge wire

20 amp breaker, and 12 gauge wire: maximum 3800 watt element
30 amp breaker, and 10 gauge wire: maximum 5760 watt element
Buy short lengths of 12 ga and 10 ga wire at local home store to compare with your wire to determine wire gauge
            Resource:
Figure volts amps watts for water heater
Wire and breaker sizes

Element wattage is printed on side of each element
Action: Replace element with lower wattage
                       Resource:
                       How to replace element
DO NOT INSTALL LARGER CIRCUIT BREAKER TO SOLVE PROBLEM: absolute fire risk
Busbar is burned Burned busbar will cause breaker to trip

Over heated breaker can get loose and overheat on busbar . 
Use nose and ears to find burned breaker

Often this condition exists when breaker box is old, or breaker is undersized.
Action 1: Move breaker to different slot. Resource:
                             How to replace circuit breaker
Action 2: Call electrician to upgrade service box
 
Main lug wiring
Larger image
Main breaker wires are HOT at all times

Do not remove metal cover over breakers, or the wires and connections will be HOT
Main breaker wires are HOT even when main breaker is OFF.
Be careful when checking if main breaker feels warm to touch
Resource:
Do stress test if main breaker feels warm

Advanced DIY

Advanced information on wire size and amp loads:

Resource:
Wire and breaker sizes
Figure volts amps watts for water heater
Advanced breaker box diagnosis:

Feel if breaker is hot or loose or smells burned. 
Conduct stress test on electric panel  
Resource:
Stress test service panel 
water heater circuit breaker
Use 30 amp breaker and 10 gauge wire on 240Volt water heaters

More causes
Cause 1: Water heater element is shorted to ground. Action: Turn off power and test elements.
Water heater is leaking down electrical parts: Do not touch wet or leaking water heater. Turn power OFF, open covers and inspect for wet parts and use nose to smell for melt and burning,  and inspect for leak
Element is cracked and/or touching anode rod. Action: Turn off power and test elements
Shorted wire or burned part. Action: Open covers, and use nose and eyes to inspect for burned parts and test wires
Prevent electrocution: Do not touch wet water heater or leaking water heater. At water heater, electrically ground both pipes together and connect ground wire to ground screw on tank. See image

Cause 2: If water heater is tripping breaker, the breaker and wire may be too small   See wire and breaker size chart
Action: Feel if circuit breaker is warm. Jiggle breaker and listen for crackling sound. Smell if there is burning. Check breaker size: should be 30 amp, with 10 gauge wire, for wattage over 3800W. Wattage printed on end of each element. See wire and breaker size chart
30 amp breaker and 10 gauge wire is suitable for 4500 watt and 5500 watt residential water heaters
30 amp circuit runs cooler = less heat loss = more efficient use of electricity = service panel lasts longer
Undersized breaker and wire will cause heat damage to circuit breaker and breaker box, leading to tripped breakers and loose breakers and damage to busbar.
Wire size and amp chart
Figure volts amps for water heater

Cause 3:
Breaker is bad. Move wires to another same-size breaker and see if problem continues.
How to replace circuit breaker
9-ways to save with water heater

See larger
Residential dual-element water heater wiring
Wire colors vary
Connection to bottom thermostat can be either illustration shown.

Both elements are never 'on' at same time unless tank is wired for other purpose (see owners manual). This is called 'non-simultaneous operation' since both elements are not 'on' at same time.
Either upper element is 'on' or lower element is 'on,' or both are off.

Resource:
How to replace thermostats
How to test elements
How to wire electric water heaters for various functions
How residential water heater works
Troubleshoot electric water heater
Test upper thermostat
Adjust temperature using screwdriver
How to adjust temperature/ gas and electric water heaters
How to increase amount of hot water

water heater element
Basic electric testers: multimeter and non-contact voltage tester
Buy:
Multimeters at Amazon
Buy non-contact voltage tester at Amazon
Electric testers at Amazon

Basic safety:
Use non-contact voltage tester to test if voltage is present
Use multimeter to test for voltage and continuity
NEVER touch wet water heater or water heater that was wet
NEVER assume power is OFF... always test
Do not stand on wet surface or bare ground.
Always stand on dry boards
Never lean into metal or carry metal objects in pocket when working around electricity

Match wire and breaker size

Gallon of water heater does not matter/ only element wattage


12 gauge wire and 20 amp breaker... Up to 3800 watt element
10 gauge wire and 30 amp breaker... Up to 5760 watt element
Ordinary residential 240Volt non-simultaneous water heater with 4500 watt element should have 30 amp breaker and 10 gauge wire

Install smaller watt elements so circuit breaker runs cooler How to replace elements,
Conduct main service panel stress test stress test service panel
Convert water heater to 120Volts How to convert water heater to 120Volts
mm
Resource:
See inside main breaker box
Add a pilot light to show when water heater is ON
Add eclectic meter to water heater
3-phase water heaters
Convert 3-phase water heater to single-phase
Support the economy:
Buy water heaters from my associate links:

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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:
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Icon gas valve

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


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