Hot Water Heater Not Working - Shore Power
My hot water heater is not working when plugged into shore power. The heater works fine in propane mode. A 20A breaker is tripped on the house breaker panel and it does not allow resetting. It ...
Forum Discussion
Q: Can a malfunctioning heater Thermostat cause a tripped breaker?
A: Depends on the make and model of the water heater but the most common answer is no.
Q: If it is the odd model where the answer is yes, then how?:
A: internal short to case.
Q:If not the thermostat, then what is the most likely thing on the Water heater to trip the breaker?
A: Shorted heat element,, Likely damaged by being operated dry but other causes possible.
Q: What other causes?
A: Shorted leads, most likely in a junction box, somewhere between breaker and water heater.
Q: Anything else that can keep a breaker from resetting?
A: Yes, IF the breaker is a combination Breaker and GFCI, a ground fault,, And also for all breakers, A defective breaker .
Q: What is "Suspect #1"
A: Shorted heat element, Disconnect heat element and measure resistance both of the element terminals to ground, Should show open, I suspect it will show shorted.
A: Depends on the make and model of the water heater but the most common answer is no.
Q: If it is the odd model where the answer is yes, then how?:
A: internal short to case.
Q:If not the thermostat, then what is the most likely thing on the Water heater to trip the breaker?
A: Shorted heat element,, Likely damaged by being operated dry but other causes possible.
Q: What other causes?
A: Shorted leads, most likely in a junction box, somewhere between breaker and water heater.
Q: Anything else that can keep a breaker from resetting?
A: Yes, IF the breaker is a combination Breaker and GFCI, a ground fault,, And also for all breakers, A defective breaker .
Q: What is "Suspect #1"
A: Shorted heat element, Disconnect heat element and measure resistance both of the element terminals to ground, Should show open, I suspect it will show shorted.
