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    notsorusty's Avatar
    notsorusty Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Nov 5, 2010, 02:30 PM
    Water heater: Should may bottom element be getting only 120volts?
    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's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #2

    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/plumbi...er-425399.html
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