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Electric 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.
What size breaker do I need for a 40-gallon electric water heater?
With our answer, a 40-gallon water heater needs at least a 25-amp breaker, the closest to the amperage value. However, I highly recommend using 30-amps for a safer breaker size.
What size breaker do you use 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 size breaker do I need for a 20 gallon electric 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.
What size breaker do I need for a 4500 watt hot 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.
Can I use a 40 amp breaker for a water heater?
You cannot put a 40A breaker on #10 wire. If you are sure there is (at least) #8 wire all the way from the breaker to the water heater, you can just replace the 30A breaker with a 40A breaker, but if and only if you have verified the size of the wire throughout the entire circuit.
Can I use a 40 amp breaker on 10 gauge wire?
Of course you CAN, but it is not safe. A 40 amp breaker will not sufficiently protect a #10 wire, possibly causing a fire. #8 copper wire is appropriate for a 40 amp breaker.
Does Square D make a 25 amp breaker?
Square D QO 25-Amp 1-Pole Standard Trip Circuit Breaker.
Can I use 10 3 wire for a hot water heater?
Can I Use 10 3 Wire For A Hot Water Heater? You can use 10/3 wire. Use the red and black wires as hot conductors. The ground wire will run to the green screw.
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).
How many amps is a double pole 30 amp breaker?
A 30 amp double pole or two pole breaker gives you a total of 30 amps on each legbefore it is supposed to trip. In the cases where a double pole breaker feeds a single load, such as for stove, clothes dryer, water heater etc. the majority of the load will be provided across the two halves of the split phase service.
Can I use 12 gauge wire on a 30 amp breaker?
You should not use a 30-amp circuit breaker on a 12-gauge wire. The circuit breaker installed on a circuit is of a specific size to protect a certain wire gauge. This higher current can damage the thinner wire, melt the insulation, cause short circuits, fire, and even lethal shock.
What size breaker do I need for an electric heater?
Multiply the value for current by 125 percent to determine the size of the breaker you need for the heater. A 1500-watt heater on a 120-volt circuit thus needs a breaker of 15.6 amps. Because a 15-amp breaker would be too small, you need a breaker with the next highest rating, which is 20 amps.
How many watts can a 30 amp breaker handle?
30-amp 240-volt circuit: 30 amps x 240 volts = 7,200 watts.
How many amps is 5500 watts at 240 volts?
So in this case the 5500 watts would be divided by 240 volts, which would equal 22.9 amps.
What size breaker do I need for a 3500 watt water heater?
You have to have a 30 Amp 2-pole breaker and a 10 AWG wire.
Can you use 30 amp breaker 40 amp water heater?
You just swap out a 30A breaker with a 40A breaker. You’re allowing the electrical system (not just the breaker) to run at 33% over it’s rated capacity.
Can I use a 50 amp breaker for a 30 amp water heater?
30 amps is where a 30 amp breaker should cut off, and to avoid that, you should only use 80% of the breaker’s capacity. So for a 30 amp breaker, you shouldn’t be using more than 24 amps. Using a 50 amp breaker and a dedicated outlet ensures that you don’t exceed the capacity of the circuit with that appliance.
Can I use a 40 amp breaker for a 50 gallon water heater?
Yes, if AND ONLY IF the wires from the breakers to the water heaters are sufficient to carry 40 amps (e.g. 8-gauge 90C THHN copper). The largest residential heating elements for a tanked water heater are 7000 watts.
What is 40-amp used for?
What is a 40-amp breaker used for? – Quora. A circuit breaker is used to automatically disconnect a circuit to protect the supplying cable from damage due to overload or fault condition. It is designed to protect a cable rated at 40amps or higher. Any lower and the cable could fail before the breaker trips.
How many amps is a 50 gallon water heater?
A 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.
How many amps is number 8 Romex good for?
Size & AMP Ratings NM, TW, & UF WIRE (Copper Conductor) SE CABLE (Copper Conductor) 12 AWG – 20 AMPS 6 AWG – 65 AMPS 10 AWG – 30 AMPS 4 AWG – 85 AMPS 8 AWG – 40 AMPS 2 AWG – 115 AMPS 6 AWG – 55 AMPS 1 AWG – 130 AMPS.
What is a 25 amp breaker used for?
The 25-Amp breaker will protect the wiring just fine. The circuit breaker’s job is to protect all the wiring and devices it feeds from excessive current.
Can I replace a 20 amp breaker with a 25 amp breaker?
The #12 wire is fine if it is less than 20 Amps. You can change the breaker if it says 25 Amp or higher.
Do they make a 25 amp breaker?
Square D QO 25 Amp Single-Pole Circuit Breaker QO125CP – The Home Depot.
