Testing a Water Heater Element

[lbperry]

Can I test a water heater element just by cutting the power and putting an ohmmeter across the element terminals? Will this give me a false reading by reading back thru the thermostat and other wiring. Do I have to disconnect the wires to the terminals before I test the element?
Thanks,

 

[malibu101]

First rules of measuring resistance.
1- Make sure power is off.
2- Make sure the meter leads are only measuring what you want to measure.
Meaning do not allow another possible path for the meter to read.
So, yes disconnect the wires and as you said turn the power off.

 

[lbperry]

Thanks, Malibu. I thought that might be the case; but I wanted to be sure.
Appreciate the quick response.

 

[lametec]

This will come in handy (attached):

 

[sberry]

Take 1 wire off.

 

[nehog]

This will come in handy (attached):

It may 'come in handy' but it presents a problem. The resistances indicated are for a hot element. Since the element will be cold when measuring the resistance, the resistance value will be lower (the colder the element is the lower the resistance...)

 

[lbperry]

Thanks for the info, lame, I'll tape it to the wall next to the water heater.
That was my next question, sberry. Thanks.
Thanks to all,

 

[rburke65]

By "hot", do you mean energized, or do you mean "hot" as in temperature? Very confusing for the novice.......

 

[Highbeam]

Hot temperature vs. cold temperature will cause changes in resistance. Not huge changes but don't expect exact matches to the chart.