Water Heater Amps Chart
| Water Heater Size: | Amperage: |
| 10 Gallon Water Heater | 8.3 Amps – 16.7 Amps (120V) |
| 20 Gallon Water Heater | 8.3 Amps – 16.7 Amps (120V) |
| 30 Gallon Water Heater | 18.8 Amps |
| 40 Gallon Water Heater | 18.8 Amps |
What size breaker do I need for a 40-gallon water heater?
A 40-gallon electric water heater requires a 30 amp breaker. It will not use all 30 amps, but there needs to be enough juice for the unit to operate correctly. The most common amps for all appliances is a 30 amp, so no upgrades are required. Tankless water heaters require 120 amps to operate. It is much higher than water heaters with tanks.
How many amps does a water heater use?
On average, these units use 25 amps 120v, which is around 3000 watts. The standard amperage for an electric water heater is 18.8 amps with 240 volts and 4500 watts. A gas water heater uses a little bit less than that amount. Many people wonder, "Can I use a 40 amp breaker for a water heater?”.
How many amps does a 4000 watt water heater draw?
A 4000 watt water heater running at 120V draws about 33.3 amps. If the water heater runs an average of 3 hours a day, it will draw 49.8 amps. If you do not want to do any calculations, here is a table with the most common water heater watt capacities and how many amps they draw.
How many amps does it take to run an on-demand heater?
On average, an on-demand heater requires 120 amps to run, which is much higher than the traditional units that only need 30 amps to power them. Many older homes have 100 to 200 amps available and will require an electrical system upgrade by a professional electrician.
How many amp is a 30 gallon water heater?
30 gal., 208 VAC, 28.8 A Amps, Commercial Electric Water Heater.
What size breaker do I need for a 30 gallon electric water heater?
30-ampElectric 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.
How many watts does a 30 gallon hot water heater use?
Configuration and OverviewNominal Capacity: ?Nominal capacity is the representative number pursuant to the safety standard certification process for water heaters30Max Wattage:4500Voltage:240Water Connection Location:TopWater Connection Size:3/4"7 more rows
How many amps does a water heater use?
What is the Standard Amperage for an Electric Water Heater? Most electric water heaters use 18.8 amps with 240 volts and a 4,500 watt heating element. A gas water heater uses less amps—about 12 Amps with 115 volts. The average residential container heater has a 40-gallon tank and usually requires a 30-amp breaker.
What size wire would you run for a 30 amp breaker connected to a electric water heater?
#10 AmericanSince the generic breaker size for water heaters is 30-amps, the best wire size is a #10 American Wiring Gauge (AWG). I suggest you use a 10-2 Non-Metallic Cable (NMC) for a 30-amp 240Volt circuit. This type of wire consists of two conductors with a ground— a total of three wires.
Can you use 12 gauge wire on a 30 amp circuit?
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. A larger breaker on a thinner wire will allow more current over the wire before tripping.
Do electric water heaters use a lot of electricity?
Water heating systems are the second biggest user of electricity in your home. This is on average 18% of your electricity costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
How much hot water does a shower use?
An average shower uses 56 litres (15 gallons) of hot water based on a water saving shower head using 7 litres/min (1.8 gallons/min) and a shower duration of 8 minutes. Assuming an average 8 minute hot water shower, consumption is 56 litres (15 gallons) of hot water to take a shower.
What uses the most electricity in a home?
What Uses the Most Energy in Your Home?Cooling and heating: 47% of energy use.Water heater: 14% of energy use.Washer and dryer: 13% of energy use.Lighting: 12% of energy use.Refrigerator: 4% of energy use.Electric oven: 3-4% of energy use.TV, DVD, cable box: 3% of energy use.Dishwasher: 2% of energy use.More items...•
How many amps does a Rheem water heater use?
DetailsAmperage (amps)16.67 APoint of UseRequired Volt Connection120 volt90-DayTank Lining MaterialGlass6 YearUniform Energy Factor0Overheat Protection,Temperature Pressure Relief ValveWater Heater ProfileCompact2000 W5 more rows
What size breaker does an electric water heater need?
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.
What are the full load amps on a water heater thermostat?
The amperage should be approximately 21 to 24 Amps when the water heater is on. Lower demand to limit on the demand controller to minimum kW settng. Turn ON oven and range until all loads are shed.
Is 25 amp breaker enough for 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. Meanwhile, an 80-gallon heater powered by 5500 watts and 240 volts, will result in 5500W/240V x (1.25 continual load) = 28.64 amps.
What size breaker do I need for a dual 4500 watt water heater?
To sum it up, you can either use a 25-amp or 30-amp breaker for a 4,500-watt heater. For wiring, you can choose between a 10-gauge wire or a 10/2 wire for this setup.
What size wire do you need for 30 amp?
10-gauge wire“Twelve-gauge wire is good for 20 amps, 10-gauge wire is good for 30 amps, 8-gauge is good for 40 amps, and 6-gauge is good for 55 amps,” and “The circuit breaker or fuse is always sized to protect the conductor [wire].”
What size breaker do I need for a 3000 watt water heater?
For the 3000W unit you have, you will require a 20A double pole breaker (240V) and 12/2 w/ground cable. The NEC requires that the branch circuit supplying a storage type water heaters be rated at not less than 125% of the nameplate rating.
Does a water heater need a dedicated circuit?
Water heaters mostly need to have their own circuits. This is true for both tankless and tank water heaters, as they tend to draw a lot of power at...
What wire do I use for a 30-amp breaker?
You’re going to need a 10 gauge wire for a 30 amp breaker. The circuit breaker can only take one type of size, which protects your electrical system.
Can I replace a 3500-watt water heater with a 4500 watt?
Not without upgrading your electrical work. You can replace a lower watt in the same space- but can't do it the other way around. So while you coul...
How Many Amps Do RV Water Heaters Use?
It’s very possible to run the system with a 2 amp DC battery. If it's electricity only, you'll likely use more amps- possibly around 15.
How Watts & Amps Are Calculated: What Breaker Do I Need?
When calculating the amperage, you need to know the amount of watts the water heater uses. Here’s the equation that you can use:
What is the unit of measurement used to measure electricity?
The word amp is short for "ampere," the standard unit of measurement used to measure electricity. An amp is a single unit of an electrical current.
Can a water heater be tankless?
Water heaters can come with a tank or be tankless. A tank option stores heated water, while a tankless water heater heats water on demand in the pipes. The storage option requires fewer amps since they only run when they’re out of water.
Is a 40 amp breaker good for a water heater?
You want to make sure the amount of amps traveling through your system is doing so safely. A 40 amp breaker is better for higher usage water heaters . The system won’t trip until the electrical flow goes above 40.
Do you need to improve your electrical system in your home to make up for the greater demand of tankless water heaters?
As a result, you may need to improve your electrical system in the home to make up for the greater demand of these tankless water heaters.
Do water heaters need a circuit?
Water heaters mostly need to have their own circuits . This is true for both tankless and tank water heaters, as they tend to draw a lot of power at one time to heat water- especially the tankless options.
How many amps does an on demand heater use?
On average, an on-demand heater requires 120 amps to run, which is much higher than the traditional units that only need 30 amps to power them. Many older homes have 100 to 200 amps available and will require an electrical system upgrade by a professional electrician.
How much does an electric water heater cost?
On average, an electric water heater will cost around $42 a month in energy use. However, this type of heater tends to be easier to install because it can simply be attached to your home’s electrical system instead of having a gas line run.
How many amps does a tankless electric system need?
Because this kind of device requires a dedicated circuit, an electrical upgrade may be necessary for your home. A tankless electric unit requires a 120-amp breaker. For many older homes, this type of device will require upgrading the electrical system.
How does a water heater work?
Water heaters work one of two ways: with a tank that stores water that is continuously heated or with coils that heat water on demand. Tank units are also known as storage or container heaters. These units are the oldest and most traditional type of equipment. Tankless devices are also known as on-demand heaters.
What is the most important thing to consider when buying a water heater?
When considering a water heater, one thing you must consider is the amperage the new unit will use.
What does the energy star sign mean on a gas heater?
However, because gas usually costs less than electricity, the two units tend to break even cost-wise. When looking for a new heater, look for the energy star logo. This logo means that the unit meets the energy star standards. These devices tend to be more energy-efficient and, in turn, more cost-efficient.
What is the most common size of container heater?
A 40-gallon tank is the most common size of residential container heaters. So, if you are installing this size unit in an older home, odds are you will be replacing a similarly sized unit. If an old unit is installed, the installer will have to remove the old unit and replace it with the new one.
How many amps does a water heater use?
The standard amperage is 18.8 amps the water heater uses. This applies for a 4,500 Watt, with 240 Volts water heater. The amps a gas unit uses is 12 amps with 115 Volts.
Why is it important to know how many amps a water heater uses?
It is critical to know the amps so the home’s electrical system is not overloaded. Should this happen, it will continue to trip the breaker to keep the home safe. These are the factors that determine how many amps the water heater uses.
Why do water heaters use coils?
The water heaters with coils are the latest technology which is becoming more popular in homes. Water heaters with the tanks use fewer amps but burn more electricity because they are continuously heating the water inside. Water heaters with the coils operate only as needed, so they use less power.
How many amps does a tankless gas tank need?
A tankless gas unit needs a 120 amp breaker. Older homes will need an upgrade to their electrical system to carry this unit.
Why do people use natural gas water heaters?
The biggest reason people choose to go with natural gas water heaters is that natural gas is cheaper. Some want to convert from gas to electricity because they do not feel comfortable with gas lines. The good news is it is possible to convert from one to the other.
How much does an electric water heater cost?
However, the monthly bill to keep it running will cost more than natural gas. The average monthly bill for an electric water heater is about $42 per month. When it comes to installing, it is cheaper than a gas unit.
What is a tank water heater?
There are two types of water heaters. One has a tank that holds the water inside with constant heating. The other one has coils that will heat the water as it is in use. The tank version is also called container or storage heaters. These are the original and traditional types of units.
How many watts does a water heater use?
The following table shows the suggested sizes depending on how many will use it. Most of these water heaters are at least 4000 wat ts, with the larger ones up to 5000 watts or more.
How many amps does a 4000 watt water heater draw?
A 4000 watt water heater running at 120V draws about 33.3 amps. If the water heater runs an average of 3 hours a day, it will draw 49.8 amps.
What Inverter Size Do I Need For a Water Heater?
You can use an inverter to run a water heater and a lot of other appliances including a TV , refrigerator, kettle and more. However you will need a large battery bank to make this work. In addition. a 4000 watt water heater needs 5000 watts of inverter power available.
Are Solar Water Heaters Worth It?
A better alternative to running water heaters off solar panels is to use a solar water heater. This should not be confused with regular electric water heaters that run off PV modules or batteries, as these are dedicated to water heating only.
How much solar power does a 4000 watt water heater need?
A 4000 watt water heater needs at least 4500 wat ts solar power, or 12 x 350W solar panels. These will take up approximately 210 square feet of space.
Why is a solar water heater less expensive than a regular water heater?
A passive solar water heater costs less than active ones because there are no complex mechanisms built in, though active systems are more effective. Either way, both are more practical to use than a regular water heater and use less power.
How many amps in 30 minutes?
18.75 amps an hour is 9.3 amps for 30 minutes, so 10 minutes would be around 5 amps.
