Electric Water Heater Tripping Breaker In Electrical Panel

The circuit will then draw too much current and get hot causing the breaker in the breaker box to trip.

Electric water heater tripping breaker in electrical panel.

Has this ever happened to you. 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. 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. Make sure the power to the water heater is off.

The thermostats can be tested with a multimeter. The heating element is the part of your water heater that heats the water. There are three possible explanations for a breaker being tripped by a hot water heater. Water dripping on the electrical lines a problem with the unit s thermostat or a problem with the breaker.

The circuit breaker trips when too much electricity flows through it or when it cannot handle the excess current load. So you go and reset the circuit 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. This means that the flow of electricity is cut off to keep your circuits.

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. 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. 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.

One on top and one on the bottom. There service areas of panel and water heater can overlap of course. 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. Your water heater trips the circuit breaker in your house.

Burnt out heating element. Multiply the current rating of the water heater with 125.