ewarnerusa wrote:
I have never run the element dry. There were instances where I had it in a cup of water when on and a bit of water evaporated. But element was always >90% submerged I would say.
Multimeter ohm reading on the element is 1.5 ohms.
What is the math for how you came up with what the resistance should be? I only took one circuits course in college and I remember
V = I * R
and
P = V * I = I^2 * R
But with R = 1.5, if I saw 21A from panels at one point and assume 19A was going to element, I was pushing 19^2 * 1.5 = 542 watts. Way over rating. ****, do I have too much solar for this?! Ironic...
Another element was only $15. I'll take a resistance reading on it before doing anything and see what it says. But it will be weeks before it makes it across the sea to my door.
1.5 Ohm doesn't really make since for a 300-watt element @12V.
at 12V with that resistance it will be using 8amps (which confirms your reading) but only consuming 98 watts. Remember with a resistive element you only control the voltage it will set the amperage due to its resistance. I'm starting to think you got a defective heater, or overpowering it (feeding it over 12V) has toasted it.
