SERVICE PROCEDURE RE-IIHeating Element Testing
Step 1. TURN OFF POWER TO W ATER HEATER.
Step 2. Remove access cover(s) from front of water
heater. Remove insulation and plastic cover
from thermostat.
Step 3. Disconnect wires from heating element.
Step 4. Set multi-meter to “ohms” setting.
Step 5. Touch probes of multi-meter to screw
terminals of heating element
(see illustration 4).
Step 6. Reading should be 12.8 ohms (±6%) for a 240
volt, 4500 watt element:
Areading outside the range using the formula
above (±6%), indicates a bad element and the
element must be replaced.
Testing For Open Or Burned Out Element. WARNING
High voltage exposure. Be sure power is turnedOFF to water heaterprior to performing thisprocedure.
Testing For Heating Element Short Circuit To
Ground.
Step 1. TURN OFF POWER TO W ATER HEATER.
Step 2. Remove access cover(s) from front of water
heater. Remove insulation and plastic cover
from thermostat.
Step 3. Disconnect wires from heating element.
Step 4. Set multi-meter to “ohms” setting.
Step 5. Touch one probe of multi-meter to either screw
terminal of heating element and the other on
the element flange (see illustration 5). There
should be no reading on the ohmmeter. Any
reading indicates a groundedelement and the
element must be replaced. Repeat this step for
the other screwterminal.
Ohms = Volts2
Watts
Element Screw Terminals
Meter Probe
Element ScrewTerminal
Element Flange
Meter Probe
Illustration 4
Illustration 5
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