Generator question

[Hot shot]

My generator is a 5250/7350
Hot water tank is 4500 watts
The math says it will draw 37.5 amps. 120x37.5=4500
That can’t be right
I’ve been cutting everything off and running the hot water heater
The breaker is a 30 amp
Could someone straighten me out on this

 

[brewchief]

Water heater is 240v so amp draw will be half of the 37.5

Sent from my SM-T510 using Tapatalk

 

[Hot shot]

So does that mean each heating element is 2250 watts

 

[slow]

They don't normally run both heating elements together, this has a good description of regular operation.

http://waterheatertimer.org/How-it-works.html

 

[wyliesdiesels]

So does that mean each heating element is 2250 watts

no each element is 4500w but they dont run at the same time.

There is a thermostat that controls when each one is on.

when the tank is cold, the bottom element is switched on. when it reaches temperature, it is switched off and the upper element is turned on to finish heating the water to temperature

 

[Hot shot]

Thanks guys
I got it now
I knew it was 240 but for some reason I was thinking the 240 was split between the 2 elements
I will feel a whole lot safer now powering the water heater with the generator especially since
another ice storm will be here Thursday. I’ve had no power since Saturday morning (other than Briggs and Stratton power) the power company has been overwhelmed. In 4 days they still have 90% of their customers with no power. I’m guesstimating 10 more days with no power. So far so good my 17 year old 13hp vanguard motor is doing the job

 

[AP514]

Just change the Oil every so many days of run time.

Hope you get power back sooner than later.

 

[The Cobbler]

no each element is 4500w but they dont run at the same time.

There is a thermostat that controls when each one is on.

when the tank is cold, the bottom element is switched on. when it reaches temperature, it is switched off and the upper element is turned on to finish heating the water to temperature

actually I am pretty sure it is reverse of that. the top element comes on first to heat the upper portion of the tank ( for faster Hot water) then it switched to the lower element to heat the rest of the tank ( for more volume)

 

[wyliesdiesels]

oh you may be right.... i always get that mixed up

 

[Crazyjake8493]

actually I am pretty sure it is reverse of that. the top element comes on first to heat the upper portion of the tank ( for faster Hot water) then it switched to the lower element to heat the rest of the tank ( for more volume)

That's correct, upper element first then the lower. We'll give Wylie a free pass on that one, he's been correct on the other 13,000 posts he's made on here.

 

[The Cobbler]

^^^ LOL, yeah, for sure