Brand new water heater draws non stop 20 amps

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kwired said:
20 amps into the dirt, maybe if it is a massive electrode, such as a CEE if it is a ground rod something tells me the dirt around the rod dries up some and current begins to decrease.

OP said there was same problem with old water heater and it was replaced. If drawing 20 amps that is 2400W @ 120 or 4800W @ 240, unless it is a million gallon tank it probably eventually either reaches a setpoint, kicks out the high limit, or starts to bleed pressure from the relief valve if there isn't heated water leaving the tank.

If it is a fault in wiring you should have a pretty good hot spot somewhere that should burn itself out or start a fire or both.
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I think there is a water leak downstream from the heater.

All of a sudden an old water heater started drawing a non stop 20 amps. Brand new water heater was installed by the plumber. We let it fill all the way up before we energized the circuit. Circuit still draws a non stop 20 amps.
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dkidd said:
How could you make sure it stayed full if the water supply is off? :huh:
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most of the time they will not drain, without some help anyway. To be able to siphon water out of it, you have to allow air to enter somehow, so as long as there is no open valves on supply side or an open pressure regulator it typically won't be emptied.
 
kwired said:
Turn water supply off (but keep tank filled) heating should stop when setpoint is reached.
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If they think there is a short to ground then they can disconnect the water heater (load) and then turn the circuit back on and measure current flow at the panel on this circuit.

The only way I can see this happening is if the cable runs underground or maybe through a pool of water.
 
growler said:
If they think there is a short to ground then they can disconnect the water heater (load) and then turn the circuit back on and measure current flow at the panel on this circuit.

The only way I can see this happening is if the cable runs underground or maybe through a pool of water.
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We were not told at what point in the circuit the current was measured, if measured at the panel then there could be other current path besides the water heater, even another load may be connected I guess.
 
kwired said:
We were not told at what point in the circuit the current was measured, if measured at the panel then there could be other current path besides the water heater, even another load may be connected I guess.
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Yes , not a lot of information was given. He never mentioned if the water was even getting warm. Why did they change the old water heater in the first place ? High power bill or no hot water or water not hot enough? This would be easy enough to trouble shoot if you were on site so you could gather needed information.

Doing a service up-grade I found a large 50 gallon water heater that was connect only to 120 V. It was a 240V heater and I assumed it would take a long time to heat up at only 120V but the owners had never even noticed.

On a commercial job I was asked to check out a water heater that had gone bad. I checked it out and it had never been hooked up (electrical). I hook it up and it worked just fine, The plumber had told them they needed a new water heater. I don't know how long it lasted because it had been there for over ten years.
 
growler said:
Yes , not a lot of information was given. He never mentioned if the water was even getting warm. Why did they change the old water heater in the first place ? High power bill or no hot water or water not hot enough? This would be easy enough to trouble shoot if you were on site so you could gather needed information.

Doing a service up-grade I found a large 50 gallon water heater that was connect only to 120 V. It was a 240V heater and I assumed it would take a long time to heat up at only 120V but the owners had never even noticed.

On a commercial job I was asked to check out a water heater that had gone bad. I checked it out and it had never been hooked up (electrical). I hook it up and it worked just fine, The plumber had told them they needed a new water heater. I don't know how long it lasted because it had been there for over ten years.
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The customer with the 240 volt WH hooked up to 120 probably never draws enough hot water at one time to notice the reduced capacity.

It will still heat the tank, it will just be at about 1/4 the rated wattage.
 
readydave8 said:
I still want to know why it's pulling 20 amps instead of the usual 18-odd.
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If actual voltage is 240 then 4500 watt element should draw 18.75A.

If actual voltage is 250 (not out of ordinary in some places) then draw should be 19.53A - getting closer to 20


Actual 20 amp would mean voltage is about 256 - getting a little high in almost all areas but sometimes is seen when a POCO regulator is malfunctioning or even up to about 265.

Maybe voltage is a little high and/or meter being used measure current not so accurate?
 
kwired said:
If actual voltage is 240 then 4500 watt element should draw 18.75A.

If actual voltage is 250 (not out of ordinary in some places) then draw should be 19.53A - getting closer to 20


Actual 20 amp would mean voltage is about 256 - getting a little high in almost all areas but sometimes is seen when a POCO regulator is malfunctioning or even up to about 265.

Maybe voltage is a little high and/or meter being used measure current not so accurate?
Click to expand...

Either that or rounding. Its easier to just say 20amps sometimes.
 
kwired said:
If actual voltage is 240 then 4500 watt element should draw 18.75A.

If actual voltage is 250 (not out of ordinary in some places) then draw should be 19.53A - getting closer to 20


Actual 20 amp would mean voltage is about 256 - getting a little high in almost all areas but sometimes is seen when a POCO regulator is malfunctioning or even up to about 265.

Maybe voltage is a little high and/or meter being used measure current not so accurate?
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
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