Filter
Top Products
RESIDENTIAL GAS AND ELECTRIC WATER HEATER
SERVICE HANDBOOK
Residential Electric – continued
C-2 – service “Water Too Hot” – continued
Grounded Element Check – Amperage Method
Grounded Element Test – using “clamp type” Amperage Meter. Many multimeters
could be used to conduct this test but be certain that possible amperage will not exceed
the multimeter’s limit.
Complaint:
A grounded element is suspected whenever the water temperature
becomes
excessively hot and/or the end user must push the high limit reset to reactivate
the heater.
Amperage measures the flow of current through a wire.
Watts divided by volts = Amps
Conditions:
Power on
Thermostat is satisfied
59T4000
89T13
Test around red wire then black wire to element.
If … … then
amperage is noted (indicating flowing power) replace the element.
amperage is not noted the element is not grounded.
A.O. Smith Water Products Company Technical Training Department
©2005 Ashland City, TN
41