Old fuze box feeding Hot Water tank


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Old 05-15-18, 09:27 AM
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Old fuze box feeding Hot Water tank

I want to replace my HWT to 50 gallon which is a 3000 Watts Whirlpool. I want to know if I can use the existing 2 x 15 amps screw-in fuse to feed it. Not sure as this a total of 30 amps.
Is this too much?
My panel will be upgraded in the next month or so but I need toi install a new HWT soonest.
Norm
 
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Old 05-15-18, 02:22 PM
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2x15 is still 15 amps. This is because each 15amp fuse is on a 120 volt leg. You need 2 legs to get to 240 volts.

It is common for water heaters to require a dual 30 amp breaker - essentially 2 x 30 fuses. Also needs 10 gauge copper wiring to go with it.
 
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Old 05-15-18, 03:23 PM
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Most water heaters are 4500 watts and use a 30 amp 240 volt circuit .
 
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Old 05-15-18, 03:25 PM
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This is because each 15amp fuse is on a 120 volt leg.
No. Each fuse is on a 240 volt leg.
 
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Old 05-15-18, 04:15 PM
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No. Each fuse is on a 240 volt leg.
The semantics are confusing. Measured to neutral/ground you get 120. Fed from the same wire that goes to a 120v receptacle.

When I hear 240 volt leg I think high leg delta or at least a commercial service.
 
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Old 05-15-18, 04:22 PM
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Not semantics, accuracy. It's like calling a concrete sidewalk a cement sidewalk.
 
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Old 05-15-18, 04:52 PM
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It's pretty rare to find a 50 gallon water heater with only a 3kw heater. That water heater would be slow to recover. Most are 4.5kw as mentioned.
 
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Old 05-22-18, 06:57 AM
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Thanks, I should probably upgrade to a 4500 watts WTH, which now explains the very low price on sale for the 50 gallon 3000 watts unit!
 
 

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