What size breaker do I need for a 5500-watt water heater?
What Size of Circuit Breaker Should You Use for a 5500-watt Water Heater? A 5500-watt, 240-volt water heater requires 22.9 amperes to work. Multiplying it by 1.25, you will get a final ampere rating of 28.645. Hence, a 30-amp circuit breaker should be sufficient for this setup.
How many AMPS is a 4500 watt water heater?
The answer to this is the exact figure you get when you convert 4500 watts to amps: 18.75. Since a water heater is a continuous load device, we need to multiply that value further by 125%. The result is 23.4 amps. The right circuit breaker for this appliance with 4500 watts at 240 volts is either 25 amps or 30 amps.
How are water heater Breakers measured?
Water heater breakers are measured in amperes. Amperes are a measure of current—how much electricity is flowing through a circuit. The current is equal to the voltage of the circuit divided by the total resistance of the circuit. Breakers exist to interrupt current flow if a fault in the electrical system is detected.
Does a water heater need a double pole breaker?
Most of the appliances we have at home run on 110-120 volts. Water heaters require 240 volts to push the electrons through the cables. Because your water heater runs on 240 volts, it also requires a double-pole circuit breaker. This CB type has two live wires.
How many amps does a 4500w water heater draw?
18.75 ampsA typical 50 gallon electric water heater runs at 4500 watts. In an electric circuit of 240 volts, 4500 watts is equivalent to 18.75 amps.
What size wire do I need for a 4500 watt hot water heater?
10 Gage30 Amp dual pole breaker and 10 Gage wire size are required for 4500 watt elements.
What size breaker do I need for a 220 hot water heater?
You'll need a 25 or 30 amp circuit breaker. The 30 amp is universally used because the minimum rating of 220 volts exceeds the 25 amp breaker.Jun 17, 2021
What size breaker does a hot water heater need?
30-ampElectric water heaters require a 240-volt dedicated circuit, which serves only the water heater and no other appliances or devices. The circuit wiring typically includes a 30-amp double-pole breaker and 10-2 non-metallic (NM) or MC cable.Nov 17, 2021
Can I use a 40 amp breaker for my water heater?
Installing a 40A breaker raises the ceiling on the allowed current. Now more current can flow than your wiring can accommodate, which generates heat in that wiring. Run the circuit at 39A and your wires might melt or catch fire, given enough time and bad luck. The breaker won't trip though because it's rated for 40A.Feb 14, 2018
What size breaker do I need for a 50 gallon electric water heater?
An electrical water heater typically uses a 30-amp breaker, so something like the Q230 30-Amp Double Pole Type QP Circuit Breaker will do the work well.
What size breaker do I need for a 240 volt heater?
Adding a 240-volt baseboard heater usually requires a new 20- or 30-amp double-pole circuit breaker and new circuit wiring to supply one or more heater units. This is a dedicated circuit that serves only the heater.Nov 29, 2021
What amp breaker do I need for a 40-gallon water heater?
A 40-gallon water heater should have an average 4500 Watt capacity and 240 V emf. Thus, a 25 or 30A breaker is sufficient for a 40-gallon breaker. However, for your safety, we recommend getting a 30A breaker.Jul 3, 2021
How many amps does a 240 volt water heater use?
18.8 ampsMost electric water heaters use 18.8 amps with 240 volts and a 4,500 watt heating element. A gas water heater uses less amps—about 12 Amps with 115 volts. The average residential container heater has a 40-gallon tank and usually requires a 30-amp breaker.Oct 21, 2021
What size breaker do I need for a 30 gallon electric water heater?
30 AmpThe branch circuit needs to be calculated at 125% of the rated ampacity for this type of water heater to be considered a continuous load. In order to work on a 20 Amp OCPD, you will need a 25 or 30 Amp circuit.
What size wire would you run for a 30 amp breaker connected to a electric water heater?
#10 AmericanElectrical wires Since the generic breaker size for water heaters is 30-amps, the best wire size is a #10 American Wiring Gauge (AWG).Apr 3, 2022
Is there a breaker on a hot water heater?
You can cut off power to your hot water heater in either one of two ways: Locate your water tank and turn the power to it OFF by pulling the electrical plug out of the wall socket. Another way to turn the power off is to flip the circuit breaker (the breaker that's labeled “water heater”) to the OFF position.
What size breaker do I need for a 40 gallon water heater?
Also, what size breaker do I need for a 40 gallon water heater? Your average residential 30 or 40 gallon water heater is 4500 watts and usually goes on a 30 A breaker.
How many amps does a 4500/240 water heater use?
4500/240 = 18.75 amps, will work on a 20 amp OCPD but, 18.75*125% = 23.4 amps, requires a 25 or 30 amp circuit.
What is the standard for water heater circuits?
The standard for water heater circuits is #10, two conductors with ground (10/2) and a 30 amp circuit breaker for a water heater.
What is the safest breaker size for a water heater?
Given that water heaters operate continuously, it would be safe to size your circuit breaker at its 125% rating.
How many volts does a water heater need?
Water heaters require 240 volts to push the electrons through the cables. Because your water heater runs on 240 volts, it also requires a double-pole circuit breaker. This CB type has two live wires. If a problem occurs in one of the wires, it also trips the other to cut off electricity to the water heater.
How many watts does a commercial water heater use?
Commercial-grade units can have more than 5500 watts, while others can only have 3000 watts or less. 2. Determine the maximum electrical current (amperes) your water heater needs by dividing its wattage rating by its voltage. Let us say you have a 4,500-watt water heater on 240 volts.
How many thermostats does an electric water heater have?
A typical electric water heater has two thermostats and two heating elements located in the upper and lower sections inside a tank. Once the tank is full of water, the upper thermostat activates its heating element to raise the water temperature in the upper section.
Why do water heaters need a circuit breaker?
A circuit breaker ‘trips’ to break the electrical flow from the source to the heating elements when there is too much electricity passing through the circuit. In other words, it disconnects the water heater from the power source, saving the appliance’s integrity and your home.
Where to find the water heater information?
You can look for the information on a label sticker near the water heater’s power cord base or the thermostat control panel. If you cannot see this information, you may want to check the manual or perform a model search online. Most water heaters have a 4500-watt element running on a 240-volt system.
What is the 80% rule for a circuit breaker?
Manufacturers rate circuit breakers according to the maximum electric current (in amperes) they can accommodate without tripping or breaking the circuit. The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires electricians to observe the 80% rule when sizing an overcurrent protective device, such as a circuit breaker.
Understanding Your Water Heater
The best way to find your tank specifications is to ask your retailer or the brand manufacturer. You must determine your heater’s size first before determining your breaker’s size. There are three factors you need to consider to ensure safety:
How large is the breakers for 40 and 80-gallon water heaters?
Water heater tanks typically range from 40 to 80 gallons, depending on how much hot water is used every day by a family.
When wiring a water heater, what wire size is best?
If the wiring is incompatible, a water heater can’t be connected to its breaker. Your heater’s amperage must match its wire size. Here are some suggestions:
Circuit breakers: Preventive measures before buying
You must consider the amp difference between the circuit breaker and the heater when choosing the right water heater circuit breaker size. The correct size must be selected. The wrong size or number of breakers can create an electrical hazard.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The right circuit breaker for this appliance with 4500 watts at 240 volts is either 25 amps or 30 amps. If the water heater isn’t rated as “continuous load”, then it would have been fine to use 100% of the circuit breaker’s rating
Final Verdict: 4500 Watt Hot Water Heater Breaker Size
Knowing what size breaker to use for a water heater isn’t difficult as long as you gather the right information. You can determine the proper breaker size by understanding the three wire heater elements – voltage, wattage, and wire size.
What type of breaker is used for a water heater?
An electrical water heater typically uses a 30-amp breaker, so something like the Q230 30-Amp Double Pole Type QP Circuit Breaker will do the work well.
What type of wire is needed for a 30 amp water heater?
Also, consider your breaker size for water heater. 30-amp circuit breakers, commonly used for a large boiler tank, require a 10-2 non-metallic or MC cable. This type of wire is suitable for start loads of 40-amps and a constant load of 35-amps.
What happens if your water heater breaker is too small?
If the breaker is too small for the water heater’s ampere requirement, expect that your CB will trip continuously. Not only that, too much on and off of the heater can cause internal damage. Do not have your water heater share a circuit with other appliances, and please upgrade the breaker if necessary.
How to calculate water heater amp size?
Since you already know the wattage and voltage of your water heater, all you need is to follow the Ampere formula , which is I (amps) = P (watts)/ V (volts).
How many amps does a 40 gallon heater use?
Again, I = P/V; 4500W/240V = 18.75 amps. Then considering the continuous load (125% x 18.75A), we’ll get a total of 23.4 amps.
How many volts should a boiler be?
Voltage- The volts of your boiler plays an integral part in a healthy circuit. You can plug an average heater to a 220 or 240 Volts outlet based on your tank size and wattage.
Can a 25A water heater trip?
If you have a 20-amps breaker dedicated to your 25A water heater, expect that your heater will constantly trip it. Giving space for your breaker will allow a power surge without tripping.
What size breaker do I need for a 4500 watt water heater?
A 4500-watt element requires 10/2 wire and a 30 amp (220volt) breaker. The 3800 can be wired with 12/2 wire and a 20 amp breaker. Likewise, what size breaker do I need for a 50 gallon water heater?
How many amps does a 4500/240 water heater use?
4500/240 = 18.75 amps, will work on a 20 amp OCPD but, 18.75*125% = 23.4 amps, requires a 25 or 30 amp circuit.
How many amps does a 240 volt circuit have?
On a 240 volt circuit that is 4500 / 240 = 18.75 amps, so, no, that will not trip a 20 amp breakers, however, it will be operating the breaker nearly 95% of its 20 ampacity rating and most breakers are not rated for that.
How are water heater breakers measured?
Water heater breakers are measured in amperes. Amperes are a measure of current—how much electricity is flowing through a circuit. The current is equal to the voltage of the circuit divided by the total resistance of the circuit.
How to determine breaker size for a heater?
You first find the power rating (measured in watts or kilowatts) and the required voltage for the machine. Since current is just power divided by voltage, you can calculate the required breaker current size for your heater just by dividing these two numbers.
How many amps does a 50 gallon tank need?
A 50-gallon tank requires about 4,500 watts of power on a 120- volt circuit. Doing the math, that comes out to about 37.5 require amps. Going by the 125% rule, we need breakers that can handle at least 47 amps. So look for breakers with 40-50 amp loads.
How many amps can a 15 amp breaker handle?
Most homes are outfitted with 15-20 amp breakers and are designed to handle about 80% of their overall amperage. So a 15 amp breaker can handle about 12 amps and a 20 amp breaker 16 amps. Most likely, you will have to modify your home’s electrical grid to draw more current.
How many amps does a water heater need?
They prevent damage but also need to handle a specific current without shutting off. The average amperes for a water heater is about 19.9 amps. A tankless electric heater requires about 100 to 120 amps to run itself.
Why do tankless water heaters require special electrical installation?
Electrical tankless water heaters generally require special electrical installation because they have higher load requirements than other kinds of electrical devices.
Do electric water heaters need wires?
Electric hot water heaters require more electrical power than other appliances, and so you need to make sure you have the right breakers and wires. So make sure that you have the right breakers for your water heater system.
What Size of Circuit Breaker Do You Need for an Electric Tankless Water Heater?
As mentioned, your tankless water heater comes with a user manual that specifies its electrical requirements, including the recommended hot water heater breaker size.
Can I Calculate the Correct Breaker Sizing for My Electric Tankless Water Heater?
The National Electric Code requires electricians to account for the electrical load to ensure safety when sizing a circuit breaker. The rule is to multiply the amperage requirements of appliances by 125% to determine the correct water heater circuit breaker size.
What Size Breaker Should I Get for a Gas-powered Tankless Water Heater?
A gas tankless water heater has lower electrical requirements than an electric tankless water heater.
Do I Have to Use the Correct Wire for a Tankless Water Heater Breaker?
Using the correct electrical wire is also essential when making your tankless water heater’s electrical connections. Experts recommend either a non-metallic (NM) or metal-clad (MC) electric wire to connect the tankless water heater to the circuit breaker.
Do I Need a Separate Circuit Breaker for My Tankless Water Heater?
Many people ask if they need to install a separate circuit breaker for their tankless water heaters. Some homeowners think that gas-powered tankless water heaters do not need electricity since these appliances run on propane or natural gas to heat the water.
Conclusion
Answering the question “What size breaker do I need for a tankless water heater?” is easy if you have the user manual.
