Instant water heater hook-up

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skorper

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Orange County, California
I have never wired on of these before.
On a room addition, a plumber mounted an instant water heater to supply the new bathroom. It is mounted outside about 15 feet from the breaker panel. The heater is rated at 120V 3A. My question is, can I just run PVC from the heater directly to the breaker panel and put in on its own 15A breaker?
 
skorper said:
It is natural gas.
I was told that I needed to put a lockout on the breaker. Does this make sense?
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Why not install a receptacle and put a cord end on the water heater? Won't this serve as the disconnect?
 
I was of the assumtion that a 120V/20amp circuit and receptacle would handle these mini electric water heaters. However there are some out there that are nameplated at around 25 amps. Would these units have to have wiring rated for continuous duty?
 
infinity said:
It's not an electric water heater, it's gas.
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Then how is it instant? I think that's what's throwing everyone.

(And I agree with using a receptacle as the disconnect -- especially if it really is an instant water heater as they don't last forever.)
 
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tallgirl said:
Then how is it instant? I think that's what's throwing everyone.
(And I agree with using a receptacle as the disconnect -- especially if it really is an instant water heater as they don't last forever.)
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Think of it as a confined flamethrower with a flame-to-water heat exchanger. The electrical power is for the controls. The flamethrower is triggered by a flow switch that detects water flow. There is very little water in the heat exchanger, so they heat very rapidly ("instantly").

They have capacities up to about 200,000 BTUs per hour (maybe more but I haven't seen them); just a bit under 60 kW electrical equivalent. You can get 5 GPM with a temperature rise of about 70 F, continuously, or 10 GPM with about 35 F temperature rise. They are popular with those who want multi-person size showers with multiple "body massage" heads.
 
There are indeed gas tankless water heaters, and in my opinion, they're much better than electric ones.

Yes, a simple run to the panel would suffice, but for 3 amps, if there's already a receptacle nearby, I'd use it.

And no, you don't need a lock if the panel and load are within sight of one another.
 
The electrical inspector said that it needed to be hard wired. The 'installer' said that this was the 'first' time that he had ever installed this type of water heater outside and had no clue on the electrical connection. The installation book only shows a power cord and outlet.

My plan of action is (and only time will tell if I am correct) to connect the water heater to the breaker panel via non metalic conduit with a waterproof on/off switch in series terminating in a 15A breaker.
 
adavey said:
Skorper --

Never run PVC indoors. I believe when burning, PVC causes deadly toxic fumes.
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I believe NM cable does also.
edited to add
What about the PVC in the walls and the rubber cords on appliances, kids plastic toys, and on and on.
 
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skorper said:
I have never wired on of these before.
On a room addition, a plumber mounted an instant water heater to supply the new bathroom. It is mounted outside about 15 feet from the breaker panel. The heater is rated at 120V 3A. My question is, can I just run PVC from the heater directly to the breaker panel and put in on its own 15A breaker?
Click to expand...
Nobody has answered your question-- Yes you can-- no need for another disco.
 
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