Service Manual

12
12
Service Procedure I:
Heating Element Testing
Test for Open or Burned Out Element.
1. STOP, DANGER! Turn power “OFF” to water heater.
2. Remove access cover from lower control box.
Remove insulation from inside of control box.
3. Disconnect wires from heating element.
4. Set multi-meter to “ohms” setting.
5. Touch probes of multi-meter to screw terminals of
heating element (see illustration 1).
6. Reading should be 12.8 ohms (±6%) for a 240 volt,
4500 watt element, see table below for other
elements.
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A reading outside the range indicates a bad
element and the element must be replaced.
Ohms of electrical Resistance
For commonly Used Elements
Voltage Rating of Element
Element
Wattage 208 240 480
2000 20.3-22.9 27.1-30.5 114.3-122.1
3000 13.5-15.3 18.0-20.4 72.2-81.4
4000 10.2-11.4 13.5-15.3 54.1-61.0
4500 9.0-10.2 12.0-13.6 48.1-54.3
5000 8.2-9.2 10.8-12.2 43.3-48.9
6000 6.7-7.6 9.0-10.2 36.1-40.7
Test for Grounded Element.
1. STOP, DANGER! Turn power “OFF” to water heater.
2. Remove access cover from lower control box.
Remove insulation from inside of control box.
3. Disconnect wires from heating element.
4. Set multi-meter to “ohms” setting.
5. Touch one probe of multi-meter to either screw
terminal of heating element and the other on the
element flange (see illustration 2). There should be no
reading on the ohm meter. Any reading indicates a
grounded element and the element must be replaced.
Repeat this step for the other screw terminal.
WARNING
High voltage exposure. Use caution when making
voltage checks to avoid hazard to life or property.