Electric Water Heater Tripping Breaker

J.Rivera

Junior Member
Mar 21, 2019
4
0
6
Hello All,
Couple days ago I noticed no hot water. I have a light switch by the breaker box which actually is a cut off for the water heater. when I first moved in was off and took 3 hrs to figure out the switch was the reason we were not getting power to the water heater. It was the 1st thing we checked. It was on. Checked breaker and I have a 2 pole ( 20,30,30,20). The 20 was tripped. I flipped it back and stayed on. By the next morning the breaker had tripped again. I reset it a couple more time thru the day before finally stopping to figure out what was causing the issue.
When I looked at the water heater I had a leak at the top of the water heater which was dripping into thermostat compartments. I decided to change both thermostats and heating elements. But not when I reset the breaker and turn the hot water light switch on it immediately trips the breaker. I checked the breaker and i get 120v to 120+ with the meter. Nothing has changed but putting in new parts. Can anyone tell me why my breaker is still tripping? Image of thermostat wire not connected but do t worry they were connected when I turned breaker on. 20190321_220442.jpg20190321_173037.jpg20190321_173037.jpg
 

Tim_Derr

Senior member
Mar 23, 2011
380
1,080
136
Could be a higher wattage element than what was originally in the water heater or the water heater wasn't full of water before you turned the power to it back on and burnt the element
 

J.Rivera

Junior Member
Mar 21, 2019
4
0
6
Could be a higher wattage element than what was originally in the water heater or the water heater wasn't full of water before you turned the power to it back on and burnt the element
I replaced with the same thermostats that were listed. Actually took the same ones to home depot to make sure.
I did run the hot water lines to make sure all air was out the tank as well as checked pressure valve incase any extra air was inside before turning power back on to it.
When I used the electric meter I didnt see any issues with thermostat or elements. But still replaced since breaker was tripping and water had leaked on them.
 

WilliamM2

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2012
2,353
463
126
How old is the water heater? Where was it leaking? Not sure I'd waste money replacing parts on a leaking water heater, it probably need a replacement. Looks like it's been leaking for a while.

Are you sure it's not wet in the compartment on top where the main wires go in?

I've never seen a breaker arrangement like that on a water heater either, usually just a single 220 breaker.
 

J.Rivera

Junior Member
Mar 21, 2019
4
0
6
Water heater is only about 5 years old. The tank itself wasnt leaking just the connection for the hotline at the top of the tank.
The compartment at the top where wires go in was wet but I dried it out. I waited till this morning to see if any more moisture was in it but did the same. Tripped breaker.
Looks like the water heater and dryer hooked to same breaker. I unplugged the dryer in case that was causing it to trip.
I thought maybe breaker was bad but if I turn main breaker off to fuse box. Breaker resets and as soon as I turn power on it trips again.
 

J.Rivera

Junior Member
Mar 21, 2019
4
0
6
Home is not new and the did some remodeling. Not sure electrical is up to par.
 

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skull

Platinum Member
Jun 5, 2000
2,209
327
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Water heater breaker should be a 30 not a 20 probably weak from high current being drawn on it for so long. Most water heater elements are 4500 watts which draws 18.75 amps. Were only allowed to load circuits to 80% of breaker rating so 18.75 equals 10 gauge wire and 30 amp breaker. I'd be checking the elements for shorts to ground though. My buddy just got a bad one brand new in box, well at least he says he didn't turn it on before filling it.