Most 50-gallon water heaters have 4500-watt heating elements. As such, 4500 watts divided by 240 volts equals 18.75 amperes. Multiplying 18.75 amperes by 1.25 results in 23.4375 amperes. A 25-amp or 30-amp circuit breaker is ideal.
What size Breaker does a water heater need?
May 01, 2020 · What size breaker do I need for a 50 gallon electric water heater? The standard for water heater circuits is #10, two conductors with ground (10/2) and a 30 amp circuit breaker for a water heater. Click to see full answer.
What size wire is needed for electric water heater?
Apr 02, 2022 · The connection of a water heater to its breaker won’t work well if the wiring is incompatible. Make sure that the amperage of your heater matches its wire size. You can refer to this list: 20-amps = 12-gauge wire. 25-amps = 10-gauge wire. 30/40-amps = 8-gauge wire. Other large heaters up to 50-amps = 6-gauge wire.
What size circuit breaker for 1500 watt heater?
Jan 25, 2020 · 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. what size breaker do I need for a 50 gallon water heater? 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 best brand of electric water heater?
A water heater of this type is required to be considered a continuous load meaning that the branch circuit needs to be calculated at 125% of the heater's rated ampacity. 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 is a 50 gallon water heater?
Can I use a 40 amp breaker for 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 wire do I need for a 50 gallon hot water heater?
A 40-gallon heater requires 12-gauge wire. On the other hand, you need 6-gauge wire for a 50-gallon water heater. Like the amperage rating, the bigger the tank size, the thicker the wire.
What size circuit breaker do I need for an electric water heater?
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
What size breaker do I need for a 240-volt water heater?
30-ampA 240-volt dedicated circuit is needed for electric water heaters to work. A 30-amp double-pole breaker and 10-2 non-metallic cable are included in the circuit wiring.
How many amps is a 50 gallon electric water heater?
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 kind of breaker do I need for a water heater?
Electric water heaters require a dedicated 240-volt dedicated 30-amp circuit and a 10-2 non-metallic (NM) or MC cable. This means the breaker only powers the water heater and no other appliances. A 30-amp circuit breaker can power all 4500watt water heaters regardless of gallon size.Jun 17, 2021
What size wire would you run for a 30-amp breaker connected to a electric water heater?
Electrical 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
What size breaker do I need for a 4500w water heater?
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.Apr 3, 2022
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
Does a water heater need a GFCI breaker?
However, GFCI protection is not required for receptacles not intended to serve wet bar countertop surfaces, such as refrigerators, ice makers, water heaters, or convenience receptacles that do not supply counter-top surfaces.
What size breaker do I need for a 60 gallon water heater?
30-amp breakerYou may have to upgrade your electrical panel if you replace a 40-gallon water heater with a 60-gallon one. All water heater models are compatible with the 2-10 copper wire and 30-amp breaker combination.
What size wire is needed for an electric hot water heater?
It's a good idea to wire a hot water heater with wire that's larger than the current requirement. A 20-amp hot water heater requires 12-gauge wire, a 25-amp hot water heater requires 10-gauge wire, and a 30- to 40-amp hot water heater requires 8-gauge wire.
Can I replace a 30 amp breaker with a 60 amp breaker?
You can only do this if you also replace the wire for the higher current. If you change the 30 amp breaker for the 60 amp breaker without also chan...
What size wire should you use for a 60 amp breaker?
You need to use at least a 6 gauge (4.1mm) wire to run a 60 amp breaker without risk of damage—the more current, the thicker wire you will need.
Can I use a 40 amp breaker for a water heater? n
AnswerFor some water heaters, yes, you can use a 40 amp breaker. 40 amp breakers can run some tankless electric water heater units as well
How many amps can a 30 amp breaker handle?
A 30 amp breaker can handle up to 30 amps but is only recommended for operation at around 25-26. Generally, a breaker should only be used at about...
How is a Water Heater Breaker 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.
Considerations When Sizing Breakers for a Water Heater
Breakers need to handle the current of your water heater system. The larger your tankless heater setup, the more current your breakers need to be able to handle. The typical water heater system requires a 30 amp breaker or higher.
What Water Heater Breaker Size Do I Need? (How to Calculate)
Calculating the breaker size for your heater is relatively straightforward. 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.
Water Heater Breaker Size Chart
Here is a chart marking the required sizes of circuit breakers and copper wire size for tankless water heater units. Keep in mind that these are just estimations. You should always follow the exact instructions listed in your user’s manual.
People also Ask (FAQs)
You can only do this if you also replace the wire for the higher current. If you change the 30 amp breaker for the 60 amp breaker without also changing the wire, you might cause a fire.
Conclusion
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 Breaker for a Hot Water Heater
Circuit breakers for electric water heaters can have a rating as low as 15 amperes and as high as 100 amperes. Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast rules to determining the circuit breaker size appropriate to your water heater.
Determining the Size of Hot Water Heater Circuit Breaker
No two electrical systems are alike, as no two water heater systems are 100% identical. Different households have their unique electrical system. Determining what size of circuit breaker you should get for your water heater involves an easy four-step process.
Does Wire Gauge Have an Impact on the Choice of Circuit Breaker
It is essential to understand that a wire gauge impacts the size of the circuit breaker you choose. Wire gauge determines the amount of electricity that it can carry without overloading or damaging your system.
Conclusion
Learning how to determine what size breaker for a hot water heater involves an easy four-step process. It includes knowing your water heater’s power rating, its maximum current draw, and its corresponding circuit breaker amperage rating.
How many amps does a tankless water heater need?
Unfortunately, the average electric tankless water heater needs at least 120 amps to operate and the average household's total capacity is 200 amps. This means you will have to upgrade your electrical system to accommodate for the larger load demand, which could cost you up to $1,500.
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. Click to see full answer.
How many amps does a 50 gallon water heater have?
How many amps is a 50 gallon water heater? Most 50 amp water heater will come with 4500 watt elements. 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 much wire do I need for a water heater?
For example, a 20-amp hot water heater needs 12-gauge wire, a 25-amp hot water heater requires 10-gauge wire, and a 30- to 40-amp hot water heater requires 8-gauge wire. Click to see full answer.
