Water heater question

[sea71]

I have 220 available for use on my water heater processor. The elements(both top and bottom-I checked to see if typo) have 4500w on the side of them. My processor kit came with a 1500 watt 120volt element and a cord to hook up for 120 use. I have rewired the water heater for bypasssing the top element per the appleseed instructions. My question is- How do I set it up for 220 use? Do I leave the wiring the same and just wire to a double breaker instead of the black cord? Thanks for any help.

[keninvirginia]

yes if you want to keep it 220 it is best to run through a double pole breaker. Or you can obtain a 220 volt outlet and change the plug on the end of your cord.....why not change the element out for a 110 volt element

[choctaw]

Normally the bottom element is the only element working, and the element is a 220 element. In rare cases such as when you use all the hot water from the tank does the top element even come on, and it will do so in conjunction with the bottom element.

My suggestion is to install the 120 volt element and connect it to 120 power supply and of course use the bottom socket.

However you could leave it like you have it and save some $ by using 220.

Also we use a dryer recepticle in the wall and a dryer cord to plug it in with.

[ralph]

using 110 it took 2 hrs to heat my oil.
220 takes about 45 mins.

[choctaw]

I can see where that would be a problem with the oil.

Normally you don't see W/H's any larger than the 12 gal. models using 110.

[PGreenSVT]

Yeah I am thinking this same thing through. I just got an 80 gal WH and it also has 2 4500w 220v elements. I was wondering why everyone switched out the 220 to 110. 4500w has to heat things up much quicker than the 110v 1500w element. I was planning to leave my 4500w in the lower and remove the top element. Any reason not to do this?

[sea71]

Talked back with Graden Blair at Utah bio today, and he told me to leave everything as is(top element bypassed per the appleseed instructions) and go ahead and hook up to my double pole 30 amp breaker for 220, and to leave the 4500w element in. I am gonna straight wire to the breaker box with 10gauge wire and just flip the breaker on and off when I need it. Breaker box is only 2 feet from the top of the water heater. Any problem in doing it that way? Thanks!

[Clay Henry]

oil conducts heat much faster than water therefor you don't need 2 elements operating at 4500 watts. You don't want that kind of heat on the oil because it is a flamable liquid and a red hot element would be a bad thing.
Simply plug the 220v unit into a 110 outlet with a heavy cord that will take 10 amps and put a switch in line to turn it on and off.

[choctaw]

Originally Posted by CHenry

oil conducts heat much faster than water therefor you don't need 2 elements operating at 4500 watts. You don't want that kind of heat on the oil because it is a flamable liquid and a red hot element would be a bad thing.
Simply plug the 220v unit into a 110 outlet with a heavy cord that will take 10 amps and put a switch in line to turn it on and off.

So how many watts would the element be cooking at with only 110 volts?

What if the element fails and the element starts to fuse what would the wattage and or temp. be at this point? It would not matter if you had 240 or 110 at this point.

What is the flashpoint of oil?

What is the boiling point of oil?

What is max. temp. setting on a residential W/H thermostat?

I don't see how there would be problem with using 240, oil takes longer to heat than water and oil's flashpoint is somewhere around 600*

JMHO

[sea71]

Aint using the top element Clay. Just the bottom 4500w factory one, but am gonna wire it to a double 30 breaker and run it on 220 like the manufacturer intended it to be run. Aint switchin out to the 1500 watt element if I dont need to. I think they send the 1500 watt ekement and recommend people switch it out because most dont have 220 available at there bio location. Thats my opinion. Of course, I could be VERY wrong, as I have many times before. LOL!