First off I'm a Plumber not an electrician,I want to run a 4500 watt water heater element on a 220/20 amp circuit.Am I pushing it with 18.75 amps on the circuit,it won't be 4500 watts all the time it gets dialed down after an hour or so with a controller to probably 1500-2500 watts.
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4500 watts on 20 amps
- Thread starter flat350
- Start date
Jim greengo
Well-known member
A 30a circuit would be better,is there a reason you can't run a 30a circuit to feed it?
Terry D
Well-known member
I personally would not do it. I always put them on a 2-pole 30. Im not sure if this falls under the 125% rule, if it does, you cant do it anyway. 18.75x125%=23.44. You might want to change that 220 volts to 240
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
you need a 30a circuit for that
A 30a circuit would be better,is there a reason you can't run a 30a circuit to feed it?
I have an existing 20a circuit there now,it would be easier I guess to get a 3500 watt element or lower.It's not in a water heater it's in a 1/2 barrel............
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
You are right on the edge with a 20 amp circuit; like others have said, run new wires and change it out to a 30 amp circuit. (And DON'T just put in a 30 amp breaker wihout upgrading the wiring - that's asking for trouble you don't want... )
toplessHO
Well-known member
16Amps is all you get on a 20A circuit.
A friend of a friend said I could run 2-4500 watt elements on 240v in series and get 2250 watts at 9.4 amps,is this possible and safe?
Possible and safe. Have done similar before. Code legit?... not sure.
How long will it be on? Doesn't sound like your actually using it for a water heater.
You can load it to 100% if it's less than 3 hours.
That was my thinking. He says 1hr at full load. I'd give it a go for a personal project. Worst case the breaker trips on thermal.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
A friend of a friend said I could run 2-4500 watt elements on 240v in series and get 2250 watts at 9.4 amps,is this possible and safe?
the math is correct.
whether its safe or not depends on how its installed.
grounded-b
Well-known member
Ran some numbers on the heat I need to make and I'll only need 3000w,that should make things OK on the existing 20a circuit.
If you change the element to 3000W, then yes, it would be fine on a 240V, 20A circuit.
Steve
nadogail
Well-known member
I often run into territory where what will work is different from what is permitted to be done.
Sometimes I just let my sense of decency be my guide, If the risks are acceptable and the probability of loss is negligible, I just might accept the risk and liability of doing what I can get away with.
Sometimes I just let my sense of decency be my guide, If the risks are acceptable and the probability of loss is negligible, I just might accept the risk and liability of doing what I can get away with.