Water heater question
I have a 2005 Itasca Suncruiser 38R. I noticed that I had a leak in the supply line behind the water heater. In the process of removing the water heater, I accidentally broke some of the Styrofoam tha...
Forum Discussion
SailingOn wrote:wa8yxm wrote:
I also replaced the 1500 watt element with a 375 watt one (1500 at 240 volts = 375 at 120) so I do not trip 30 amp park breakers as quickly.
You've confused me there.
"watts is watts",
watts are the same regardless of voltage, no?
AD5GR
For a heating element rated at 1500W at 240V, but operated at 120V, 375 W is the correct power consumption. This is a valid application of Ohm's law.
1500W at 240V means a current of 6.25A, and so the element has a resistance of 38.4 Ohms. At 120V, that means a current of 3.125A flows, and so the power consumed is 375W, one-quarter of that consumed at 240V. A 1500W 120V element would have a resistance one-quarter that of the 240V element.
