What size breaker do I need for a 4500-watt water heater?
So, what size breaker would you need for a 4500-watt water heater? According to the National Electric Code’s 125% rule for breakers, a 4500 watt water heater will need a 25-amp or 30-amp circuit breaker. The rule stipulates that continuous loads should not exceed 80% of the breaker’s rated current.
How much power can a circuit breaker handle?
The code states that a circuit breaker should not handle more than 80% of its electrical rating. The 80% rule offsets the amount of heat generated in the electrical circuit on a continuous load of at least three hours. An appliance running continuously 24/7 should have a circuit breaker with 125% of its power rating.
What size breaker do I need for a space heater?
The next breaker size is 20 amps; that means we need to use a 20A breaker for a 1,500W space heater running on 120V standard circuit. A standard 1,500W space heater on a 120V circuit requires a 20A breaker. Here is the basic step-by-step procedure we did to determine the size of a circuit breaker: Calculate the amp draw.
How to calculate breaker current?
Breaker comes in some standard sizes. Sometimes the calculated breaker size is not available in market. So you can use the nearby rating ampere breaker.For example: breaker ampere from calculation is 45 amps and in market a 50 amps breaker is available. So we can use 50 amps breaker Breaker current=I (CB) =? (Amps)
How many amps does 4500 watts draw?
In an electric circuit of 240 volts, 4500 watts is equivalent to 18.75 amps.
What size breaker do I need for a 240V 4500 watt water heater?
Step 3 - Calculate the Breaker Size So, following along with our example, multiply 18.75 Amps by 125%. For a 4500 watt 240 volt water heater, you will need a 25 or 30 Amp circuit breaker. The majority of electricians will recommend installing a 30 Amp breaker to allow for electrical fluctuations.
How many amps is 4500 watts at 208 volts?
If it is 4500 watts at 208 then the amperage is 21.6 x 1.25 = 27 amps.
What size breaker is required for a 5500 watt water heater?
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. Meaning, a 30-amp dedicated circuit breaker is enough.
What breaker do I need for a 4500 watt water heater?
Conclusion. 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 should I use for a 40 amp breaker?
40 AMP Wire Size For a maximum of 40 amps, you'll need a wire gauge of 8.
How long does it take a 50 gallon 4500 watt water heater to heat up?
It will take about an hour to an hour and 45 minutes (in 40 and 50-gallon units). Generally, you should have hot water within less than 2 hours, no matter what type of water heater you have. If your water heater takes more than about 2 hours to heat up, call a professional to take a look.
How many amps is 5500 watts at 240 volts?
22.9 ampsSo 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?
Sizing Water Heater BreakersElement WattsBreaker Size 120vWire Gauge250030 amp14300030 amp123500NA124000NA105 more rows•Jun 17, 2021
What size breaker do I need for a 4000 watt heater?
The appropriate circuit breaker capacity for a 4000-watt heater is 20 amps if it's attached to a 240-volt outlet.
What is better 4500 watt VS 5500 watt water heater?
Generally, when utilizing a 4500 Watt heater, it can simply process where around 18 to 25 gallons of water every hour is heated compared to a 5500 Watt heater that heats between 25 and 35 gallons every hour.
Can I replace 4500 watt elements with 5500 watt elements?
Can I replace 4500 watt elements with 5500 watt? You can definitely replace 4500 watt with 5500 watt and get 4-7 gallons more hot water from a tank.
What size breaker do I need for a 240 volt 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 amps does a 240 volt water heater use?
18.8 ampsWhat 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 breaker do I need for a 4000 watt heater?
The appropriate circuit breaker capacity for a 4000-watt heater is 20 amps if it's attached to a 240-volt outlet.
What size breaker do I need for a 3500 watt water heater?
Sizing Water Heater BreakersElement WattsBreaker Size 120vWire Gauge250030 amp14300030 amp123500NA124000NA105 more rows•Jun 17, 2021
Understanding Your Water Heater
The best way to find your tank specifications is to ask your retailer or the brand manufacturer. You must determine your heater’s size first before determining your breaker’s size. There are three factors you need to consider to ensure safety:
How large is the breakers for 40 and 80-gallon water heaters?
Water heater tanks typically range from 40 to 80 gallons, depending on how much hot water is used every day by a family.
When wiring a water heater, what wire size is best?
If the wiring is incompatible, a water heater can’t be connected to its breaker. Your heater’s amperage must match its wire size. Here are some suggestions:
Circuit breakers: Preventive measures before buying
You must consider the amp difference between the circuit breaker and the heater when choosing the right water heater circuit breaker size. The correct size must be selected. The wrong size or number of breakers can create an electrical hazard.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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
Final Verdict: 4500 Watt Hot Water Heater Breaker Size
Knowing what size breaker to use for a water heater isn’t difficult as long as you gather the right information. You can determine the proper breaker size by understanding the three wire heater elements – voltage, wattage, and wire size.
Why accurate breaker sizing is required?
For better reliability purpose it is important to properly calculate breaker size.
What is the safety factor of a breaker?
For example: a motor has a rated current of 100 A but can work at 125 A for one hour, this 25% increase in current as compared to rated current is known as safety factor.
What is the name of the calculation used to select the desired breaker for power system equipment?
The desired breaker for power system equipment are selected by calculation commonly known as breaker sizing.
Why do breakers need to be used?
In order to protect equipment from overload and short circuit, breakers are used, which disconnect the equipment after a certain delay if any fault or overloading condition occurs.
How to find power factor?
Power factor (p.f) is given in form of unit, ranging from 0 to 1 ( for example: 0.8, 0.9). If p.f is expressed in terms of percentage then it is first converted into units by dividing percentage power factor by 100 and then its value is given in the formula.
What Size of Circuit Breaker Should You Use for a 5500-watt Water Heater?
A 5500-watt, 240-volt water heater requires 22.9 amperes to work. Multiplying it by 1.25, you will get a final ampere rating of 28.645. Hence, a 30-amp circuit breaker should be sufficient for this setup.
What is the Correct Circuit Breaker Size?
Manufacturers rate circuit breakers according to the maximum electric current (in amperes) they can accommodate without tripping or breaking the circuit.
What Size of Wiring Do I Need for My Water Heater?
In general, the smaller the diameter of the electric wire, the faster it tends to heat. That is why it is best to get a wire with a large gauge.
What is a Circuit Breaker and Why Do You Need It?
Remember what we said about the voltage pushing the electrons through the wire, producing heat? If there is excessive heat on the wires, it can melt the wire covering and start a fire. There must be a mechanism that will stop the flow of electricity from the source to the water heater.
How many amps does a 240 volt water heater need?
In other words, the size of circuit breaker you will need for a 4500-watt, 240-volt water heater is 25 or 30 amperes.
How many watts does a water heater use?
Most water heaters have a 4500-watt element running on a 240-volt system. Commercial-grade units can have more than 5500 watts, while others can only have 3000 watts or less.
How many thermostats does an electric water heater have?
A typical electric water heater has two thermostats and two heating elements located in the upper and lower sections inside a tank. Once the tank is full of water, the upper thermostat activates its heating element to raise the water temperature in the upper section.
