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meljac0719 · Jul 4, 2008, 12:41 PM

I have a failry new electric water heater and the circuit breaker keeps popping. It is a whirlpool model that was installed about 7 months ago. Of course it is a holiday weekend and I need water so I can take care of my kids and laundry. Please help. I am not sure what other information is needed but if you can tell me where to look I will gladly provide it.

Milo Dolezal · Jul 4, 2008, 12:46 PM

What size heater do you have ? What is the size of your breaker ?

meljac0719 · Jul 4, 2008, 12:52 PM

I am not sure what to call it, it is two breakers together and each one has a 20 on it. The water heater says 50 gal.

hkstroud · Jul 4, 2008, 01:00 PM

Can you see enough of the electric cable to read its size? Who install this heater?

Milo Dolezal · Jul 4, 2008, 01:01 PM

It seems like the breaker is too weak. 50gln electric heater should have about 40 Amps breaker if not larger. But, I am not an electrician. Post this question in "Electrical" section of this Website. I am sure they can confirm, or deny, this detail in a second.

Otherwise, your wires are either overheating or there is a short. Both occurrences make your breaker trip.

Also, w/h heater should have dedicated circuit. Make sure there isn't anything else connected to that run.

afaroo · Jul 4, 2008, 01:26 PM

Please check if it wired 220 volts AC or 120 volts AC, in any case a minimum of 30 amps C/B is requried, Thanks
John

caibuadday · Jul 4, 2008, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by meljac0719

I have a failry new electric water heater and the circuit breaker keeps popping. It is a whirlpool model that was installed about 7 months ago. Of course it is a holiday weekend and I need water so I can take care of my kids and laundry. Please help. I am not sure what other information is needed but if you can tell me where to look I will gladly provide it.

Don't resett CB, like others said it is way too small for the heater, the installation booket should tell what size of CB required

meljac0719 · Jul 4, 2008, 01:57 PM

The water heater has been working fine for since it was installed in November and has only started acting up in the last week. If the breaker was too small would it have become apparent before now? What else could cause this issue?

afaroo · Jul 4, 2008, 02:09 PM

It appears that you have a loose connection or a short circuit, sorry you need to call an electrician or a qualified plumber, and I would not recommend resetting the C/B as Caibuadday stated, Thanks.

hkstroud · Jul 4, 2008, 03:09 PM

All most all residential water heaters require a 30amp 240 volt circuit. That means a 30 double breaker and 10/2 cable. The amperage draw of an electrical appliance is determined by the appliance at a specific voltage. The available voltage is determined by the power company. The power company is permitted to vary the voltage by as much as 10%. There is an inverse relationship between amperage and voltage.

If in the past months the power company has been providing the full 240 volts, the water heater might very well have pulled less than 20 amps. If the power company has reduced you voltage as they often do during high use summer months, the amperage draw of the water heater would increase, thereby tripping the breaker.

The 30 amp sizing of the water heater circuit takes all of this into account. You cannot however just change the breaker. You must insure that the wiring is the proper size.

What size is the wiring and who installed the heater?

meljac0719 · Jul 4, 2008, 03:13 PM

The previous owner of the house installed the water heater and I have no idea about the wire size. Where would I look?

hkstroud · Jul 4, 2008, 03:20 PM

The cable will be marked. The size may be printed on the sheathing (outer covering) or it may be embosed. It will read something like this "10/2 w ground", it will have other markings such as Romex, may even have manufactures name. It will have the size (10) and number of conductors (2) on it.

meljac0719 · Jul 4, 2008, 07:05 PM

Essex 12-2 g

hkstroud · Jul 4, 2008, 07:30 PM

You have 12 gauge wire. That is limited to 20 amps. You must replace the wiring in order to increase the amperage to the required 30 amps. You need an electrician or some one that know enough about electrical wiring to replace the wiring and the circuit breakers

meljac0719 · Jul 4, 2008, 07:44 PM

Is it unusual that the problem did not surface for six months? This is the first problem I have had since the installation.

hkstroud · Jul 4, 2008, 07:55 PM

Read the tag on the water heater and see what the required amperage is.

letmetellu · Jul 4, 2008, 08:04 PM

Here is just one more idea about what could cause you breaker to turn off. You have a 240 volt heating element in your heater (possibily two), these elements have a tendency to burn our in water that is high in minerals. When this happens it is possible that one part of the element got moved to the point that it is touching the steel tank causing a short that will cause your breaker to open. This can me checked out with an ohm meter which you may our may not have but if you are not familiar with the workings of electricity I would not advise you to do any testing, and do not keep resetting the breaker.

jlisenbe · Jul 4, 2008, 08:13 PM

20 amp breakers on 12 gauge wire is probably not correct for your water heater. Who did the install for this unit? If it was a licensed electrician (for the electrical side), you need to call that person and ask for an explanation. OR, simply call the company who made the unit and ask them what is recommended.

One last comment. Circuit breakers sometimes develop problems with the screws that hold the wire loosening up due to heat changes. Make sure (with the breakers off) that the screw holding the wire is good and snug.

speedball1 · Jul 5, 2008, 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

You have 12 gauge wire. That is limited to 20 amps. You must replace the wiring in order to increase the amperage to the required 30 amps. You need an electrician or some one that know enough about electrical wiring to replace the wiring and the circuit breakers

I think Harold nailed it. Your heater pulls 19 amps and a 20 amp breaker's just too small. A 10 gauge service and 30 amp breakers are called for. Good luck, Tom

Txmanzilla · Jun 9, 2010, 07:48 PM

More then likely it's a heating element which is a $10.00 part at your local hardware store. Also check your T-stat this could also cause your breaker to trip . Open both panels on your water heater of course with complete power to unit turned off then proceed to ohm elements . When replacing elements or element turn water off! This will be a valve before your water heater , remember to release pressure from your tp release valve . If your lost just YOUTUBE it, I'm pretty sure there's some lonely or bored guy posting a video of himself replacing an element