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View Full Version : Water heater: Should may bottom element be getting only 120volts?


notsorusty
Nov 5, 2010, 02:30 PM
Was getting very little hot water out my dual element 240volt WH... drained it, clean out sentiment, inspected elements I had put in a year ago - OK. When refilled & plugged in I put a tester on the elements & noticed only 120 volts on bottom element. Is this normal or should the bottom element be rated for 120volts? Or is this a miss wiring issue?

tkrussell
Nov 6, 2010, 04:04 AM
Your only reading 120 volts at the heating element because there is a thermostat above it that only switches one leg of the 240 volts.

Here is a thread I found in Plumbing that has various wiring diagrams showing how a thermostat and element is wired.

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/plumbing/show-me-diagram-electric-hot-water-heater-425399.html