220 volt water heater element question

roy keen

New member
Sep 8, 2004
1,105
0
0
I understand the suggestion for substuting a 4000 watt 220 v heater for a 1000 watt 120 volt heater. My question is does the 4000 watt element get as
hot as 1000 watt heater? I know they are drawing the same amps and E x I equals P (power). The reason I ask as I had a friend replace his burnt out
1400 watt element in a trailer with a 5500 watt 220 volt heater that calculates out to 1300 watts at 120 volts. It took 2 hours to heat tap water too
100 degrees? My G M C used to take about a half hour. His is a 10 gallon tank so I would expect it should have taken maybe an hour? I know when I
used a 10 watt dropping resistor for my led lights it got real hot so I replaced it with a 100 watt resistor same resistance and it stayed pretty
cool. Thinking the elements may not be getting as hot with the higher rating? Has anyone checked to see if the 220 volt elements took longer to heat
the water?
--
Roy Keen
Minden,NV
76 X Glenbrook
 
It should definitely NOT take longer for your friends 240 volt heating element to heat his water (May me slightly longer if it’s jutting out 1300 watts rather than 1400 watts) but not 2 hours.
I would look for another problem. I suspect his thermostat is bad or there are loose connections on the wires.

I have been using 240 volt element for years and it takes the same time to heat as the 120 volt element did.
“Watts is Watts” and heat is directly proportional to Watts.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

>
> I understand the suggestion for substuting a 4000 watt 220 v heater for a 1000 watt 120 volt heater. My question is does the 4000 watt element get as
> hot as 1000 watt heater? I know they are drawing the same amps and E x I equals P (power). The reason I ask as I had a friend replace his burnt out
> 1400 watt element in a trailer with a 5500 watt 220 volt heater that calculates out to 1300 watts at 120 volts. It took 2 hours to heat tap water too
> 100 degrees? My G M C used to take about a half hour. His is a 10 gallon tank so I would expect it should have taken maybe an hour? I know when I
> used a 10 watt dropping resistor for my led lights it got real hot so I replaced it with a 100 watt resistor same resistance and it stayed pretty
> cool. Thinking the elements may not be getting as hot with the higher rating? Has anyone checked to see if the 220 volt elements took longer to heat
> the water?
> --
> Roy Keen
> Minden,NV
> 76 X Glenbrook
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Thanks Emery wiring and thermostats are ok maybe he exaggerated on time to warm 40 degree water to 100 degrees the extra 4 gallons don't help either.
If your 220 volt element heated the same as your old 120 volt his should also save for the difference in his 100 w difference.
--
Roy Keen
Minden,NV
76 X Glenbrook
 
Have him check the input voltage to see if it is low. That will slow things
down as well.
Jim Hupy

> Thanks Emery wiring and thermostats are ok maybe he exaggerated on time to
> warm 40 degree water to 100 degrees the extra 4 gallons don't help either.
> If your 220 volt element heated the same as your old 120 volt his should
> also save for the difference in his 100 w difference.
> --
> Roy Keen
> Minden,NV
> 76 X Glenbrook
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
I personally checked the wiring from the 15 amp circuit breaker to the element before he installed the new element all looked like new. I'll check the
voltage on the element when he gets back from his trip. Funny thing he had this rig for 5 years and thought he only had a propane heater?
--
Roy Keen
Minden,NV
76 X Glenbrook