Electric Water Heater Wiring
#1
02-29-12, 07:03 AM
Electric Water Heater Wiring
There is an 3 wire electrical wire coming into a junction box. The wire colors are black, red, & white. There is also a ground wire connected to a screw on the junction box.
On the water heater there is a red, black, & ground wire coming from a green screw on the case of the water heater.
When installing is it {red to red} {black to black} {white & both common grounds from junction box & water heater} ?
On the water heater there is a red, black, & ground wire coming from a green screw on the case of the water heater.
When installing is it {red to red} {black to black} {white & both common grounds from junction box & water heater} ?
#2
02-29-12, 07:31 AM
White is capped. Water heaters are usually 240v or 120v appliances. The question is why do you have a 120/240v line to the water heater Are you re-purposing a dryer connection? Is the line #10 on a 30 amp breaker?
Never hook a neutral to ground. It creates a safety hazard.
[Connect] white & both common grounds from junction box & water heater
#3
02-29-12, 07:47 AM
Its existing wiring. I just bought the house and am having to replace the water heater is all. The current wiring is as I had said with red connected to red black connected to black and white connected to the junction box ground and water heater ground. I just wanted to be sure before I hooked a new one back up. I've not wired anything as of this point in time. Are you asking what guage the wire is in reference to the #10? Also I am not sure the breaker its on, my panel isnt labeled. I had just planned to kill the 200amp breaker at the top an kill power to everything?
#4
02-29-12, 07:57 AM
The neutral (white) must be disconnected from ground and capped with a wire nut. Since the person who did the wiring made rookie mistakes maybe from lack of knowledge it would be advisable to determine which breaker controls it and the size of the breaker and wire. It will be a two pole breaker. Use a test light or multimeter at the heater to determine when you have turned off the correct breaker.
You should also go through and find out what every breaker in the breaker box controls and make a diagram of it.
You should also go through and find out what every breaker in the breaker box controls and make a diagram of it.
#5
02-29-12, 08:08 AM
Forum Topic Moderator
Like Ray said, someone installed more conductors than needed. Just cap the white and tuck it away.
You can buy breaker identifiers for about $40 or you can use a plug in radio and turn off breakers to identify what areas they serve.
You can buy breaker identifiers for about $40 or you can use a plug in radio and turn off breakers to identify what areas they serve.
#6
02-29-12, 08:42 AM
Thanks alot to both of you. I will cap the white wire then. I am definitely going to label everything from this point out. Thanks for the radio idea pcboss.
#7
02-29-12, 03:11 PM
Member
What is the wattage and voltage of the new water heater? What size wire is the existing water heater circuit? Does the circuit have a bare or green ground wire? What amperage 2 pole breaker is the circuit connected to? Is the water heater in the same room....or basement....as the service panel?
