SERVICE PROCEDURE MCE-I
Heating Element Testing
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 tabl e below for other elements.
A reading outside the range using the formula
above (±6%), indicates a bad element and the
element must be replaced.
Test for Open or Burned Out E lement. DANGER
High voltage exposure. To avoid hazard to
Life or property, be sure power is turned OFF
to water heater while performing this
procedure.
Test For Grounded Heating Element
(damaged heating element wi th short circuit to ground).
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 oth er 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.
Ohms = Volts2
Watts
Element Screw Term inals
Element
Screw Terminal
Element Flange
Illustration 1
Illustration 2
Page 15
NOTE
Disconnect
element
Wires
NOTE
Disconnect
element
Wires
Ohms of electrical Resistance
For commonly Used Elements
Voltage Rating of Element
Element
Wattage 208 240 480
2000 21.6 28.8 115.2
3000 14.4 19.2 76.8
4000 10.8 14.4 57.6
4500 9.6 12.8 51.2
5000 8.7 11.5 46.1
6000 7.2 9.6 38.4
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