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Posted by Jeff Wisnia on March 4, 2007, 12:39 am
JohnA wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I was wondering if anyone would take a moment and help here.
>
> I have a 3 year old water heater (will get information on it on demand)
>
> Problem is that it seems to pop the circut breaker at times, sometimes 1x a
> day (or once every 3 days) and then it didnt pop the past week.
>
> Resets easily. Except for today where it made a occasional pop noise from
> the heater wall. Also dims the lights, when it pops, smf when it does pop
> nothing else is off.
>
> Any suggestions or do I need to buy a new one?
>
> Thank you for your time.
>
> John
>
You didn't specifically say it is an electric water heater, but assuming
it is, then...
Chances are a heater element (your heater may use one or two, you didn't
specify that either) has developed a electrical short to its case and
that's what's making the breaker pop.
If you know what you're doing, then use a clamp on ammeter to measure
the element(s) current(s) when their thermostat(s) are powering them on
and see if it jives with their wattage. If if the current is too high
you're onto something.
Alternatively, open the circuit breaker and remove both leads from the
element(s). Use an ohmmeter to see if you can spot leakage from the
element terminals to ground. If you measure less than 100K ohms, you're
onto something there too.
If the above doesn't make sense to you fughedit and call a pro.
Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.98*10^14 fathoms per fortnight.
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