Electric Water Heater Tripping Breaker In Electrical Panel

If the water heater has two elements as most electric water heaters do both elements remaining on at the same time can overload the circuit.

Electric water heater tripping breaker in electrical panel.

The thermostats can be tested with a multimeter. An electrical circuit breaker is a switching device that can be operated automatically or manually for controlling and protecting the electrical power system and the electrical devices connected to it. Now in order to choose an electric breaker multiply the current draw of the water heater with 125 per cent in order to determine the size of the breaker you will need. So you go and reset the circuit breaker.

Water dripping on the electrical lines a problem with the unit s thermostat or a problem with the breaker. To test for circuit overload the next time the breaker trips go to the electrical panel and turn off all the switches in the affected area and unplug all appliances lamps and other devices. One on top and one on the bottom. There service areas of panel and water heater can overlap of course.

Make sure the power to the water heater is off. In this following article we shall talk about the issues which cause the electric water heater circuit breaker to keep tripping and how to troubleshoot these said issues. Okay with that out of the way let s look at the possible problems that are causing your electric water heater to trip your breaker. Multiply the current rating of the water heater with 125.

The circuit will then draw too much current and get hot causing the breaker in the breaker box to trip. Most electric water heaters have 2 heating elements. The heating element is the part of your water heater that heats the water. A gas water heater needs a 30 inch by 30 inch area per international residential code irc m1305 1 2 and an electric water heater has the same 30 inch by 36 inch requirement as an an electrical panel per national electrical code nec 110 26 a.

Then after a few. Your water heater trips the circuit breaker in your house. The circuit breaker trips when too much electricity flows through it or when it cannot handle the excess current load. In a us household the current draw for a 1500 watt water heater is 12 5 amps.

Internal circuit it might just be a simple wiring issue causing your breaker to trip so turn off the power and open the panel and check the part where your heater is. Has this ever happened to you.