I am replacing my water heater and I have 2 ground wires and only one will fit under the screw. Is it appropriate to take the uncoded copper wire,cut it short and wrap electrical tape around it?

How were the grounds connected on your old one.

No, the heater has to be properly grounded. You should have two wires

First is this a 110 vt or a 220 vt water heater, But there will be two grounding wires, one "wraped" and one normally bare coper that goes to the scew.

You should be connecting them back exactly like the old one came out

How d you end up with two ground wires? One from the feeder cable and another at the heater? In any case, splice all ground together with a short pigtail that can be connected with the ground screw.

Cut both wires to the sane length.take a piece of green #12 wire and splice all 3 wires together.then put the other end of the new green wire under the screw

Its me43 please refrain from answering questions older than a few months.

This question is from Oct 2007.

Thread closed.