Was thinking about using a offset conduit nipple to replace an existing romex style connector on the top of my existing water heater in order to add a timer. This conduit nipple would feed into the new WH40 timer, and the romex would then feed into that - Giving me control access right at the top of the water heater.

Any thoughts on that being a possible place or method to have the timer? (rather than on the wall in back of the water heater) Would the water heater be able to support this arrangement?

Halex 1/2 in. Rigid or IMC Offset Conduit Nipple-90401 at The Home Depot

Intermatic WH40 Electric Water Heater Timer, Grey - Amazon.com

 

Welcome to the forums.

You want to mount the timer on the top of the water with an offset nipple ?

I don't think that would be terribly effective. The timer needs to be supported and the piece of wire coming down from the ceiling is not enough.

The timer needs to be mounted to the wall.

 

I would mount it on the wall for later when the WH needs to be changed out. This way you will not need to remove the cable from the timer and the WH. You will not be able to unscrew the nipple if the cable is still connected.

 

PJmax - thanks for the prompt reply -- Guess I will have to do some EMT style conduit down from the ceiling then (Unfinished area) -- Trying to avoid the walls (tight fitting area with other pieces make it not as convenient location as right-in-the-front directly above the WH (the wire entrance is in the front of the WH too, not in the back)

 

You may not need conduit down to the WH unless your inspector considered the cable subject to damage.

 

pcboss - thanks for the prompt reply too! -- My thought was that the conduit would provide the support needed (mentioned earlier by Pmax). I was hoping that the WH nipple connection would provide the support - and then the nm wire could be fed into the timer. In my case - the WH is in the same small utility room as the breaker panel - I guess another timer location would be right outside the breaker panel too.

 

Many times the support for the cable is the cold water pipe into the WH.

 

Of course the question is how long will it take to save you the $50 it costs.

 

Unless you have a separate HW meter or a smart meter..... you won't save anything with a timer.

 

PJmax, thanks for that tidbit -- I searched and found other entries about the lack of savings a timer provides (except may with a smart meter) and found about TED. If such little savings could be obtained -- why does Intermatic offer a specific unit for this type of application? Yikes ! !

 

Their business is profit not education. People will buy it they will sell it.

 

Thanks for the replies,

I picked up a WH40 -- Did not realize how big/heavy it is (thought it was smaller/lighter in terms of support) - so wall mounting would probably be best.

Is mounting by the breaker panel an option too (or is it only by the tank itself)?

Also, the service does have a smart meter, and the utility does bill differently - something like this:

On-Peak 7AM-12PM about .105288 /kWh
Shoulder 12PM to 4PM about .091088/kWh
Off-Peak 8PM to 7AM about .046007/kWh

So depending on heat retention in the tank and personal preferences - maybe a schedule 5AM to 7AM and 12noon to 2PM and then 8PM to 9PM could provide some savings?

What are your thoughts?

 

Depending on your personal schedule and how much you can shift hot water usage to the off peak period you could save significantly. To take full advantage you would need a larger tank, say an eighty gallon model.

 

The circumstances are limited where the conduit may support the device, this wouldn't be one of them. The timer should be indepnedently supported.

That would be a good option, probably the best one.