Hot water heater switch/ breaker question

I have a fairly new electric hot water heater around 6 months old. This following happened at least 3 times. The breaker had to be reset and the heater will start working again. When resetting the double poll breaker it moves very easily unlike the other breakers and the on/off switch is warm. I took a picture of the switch notice the on lower screw area is discolored. Any ideas? Thanks on advance.

 

Have you pulled the switch to check the wiring? (after cutting power at the breaker, of course).
Not an electrician, but my first thought is a loose connection at that contact causing arcing and heat build-up. If that's the issue, it's easily fixed (and a new switch is cheap peace of mind): if not you or an electrician is going to need to chase that line and figure out where the fault is. With that heat build-up you have a fire hazard.

 

I will try that. Looks discolored on the bottom wire. Thank you

 

Check the amp/watt rating of the new hot water heater? Is it higher than the original it replaced? Who replaced the water heater, an heating/electrical service person or your brother-in-law?

 

Hotwaterheater.com came out. Only happened a few times. I'll try replacing the switch first. Not sure about the amp/watt stuff.

 

I have a few questions:

What is the current rating of your breaker?
What is the current rating of the wall switch?
What is the current rating of the hot water heater? (with both elements on)

 

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Is this ac120 volt water heater?

If this is a 240 volt water heater, you need a 240 volt disconnect.

In my area, no 120 volt water heaters are connected to a 20 amp switch.

I think your electrician was you tube trained.

You need a pro sparky to stop by. I really am worried about this house wiring.

 

Edit: you said " double pole breaker".

This is a 240 volt water heater. No way is your wiring up to code.

 

He could have a two pole switch. It looks like it is rated up to 277v but the image is a little blurry so I can't see the current rating.

 

Since when are hot water heaters connected to wall switches? I've never seen that. As far as I've experienced water heaters are direct wired to a breaker in the box. A switch seems redundant.

If it is actually up to code, that brown area does look like some heat is building up. I'd check the screws for tightness. Personally, I'd replace the switch with a new one and make sure it can handle the power load. Switches are cheap and a new one is cheap insurance to prevent a house fire.

 

Some people install a timer to turn the water heater on and off at preset times but I've never seen a switch used to do this either.

 

A 240v element can be 5500w. That's about 23amps. Id wager that that toggle switc can't handle 23 amps. It's brown because it's going to burn up.

 

Assuming that the switch is only rated for say 20 amps or so, I would be worried about the wire that is used in the circuit. 12 gauge is only good for 20A.

 

220 and 30 amp switch. Please realized I have minimum knowledge about this. It only kicked off 3 times in 6 months.

 

I saw this before in NJ homes. There is a circuit breaker and switch near the hot water heater to turn it off and on. I am going to try the switch first. I think it's a 30 amp. Not sure until I removed it.

 

Still, it is supposed to kick off if there is a problem. You have had 3 kick offs or warnings that something is amiss.

Please take precautions and give a call to a pro electrician. Truely, situations like this are what cause houses to catch fire.

I don't know NJ codes, but in my state, this wiring is completely wrong. It would have never passed inspection.

If you had a home inspection done before you purchased, I don't know how they missed this.

Please do not fault yourself. There had to be several sets of eyes that green lit this Tom Fuckery. They should all be held accountable.

Please put in a call to a pro quickly.

 

In addition, good on you for asking. Good on you for admitting this is not something you know about. Hopefully you can use the bit of info given to help you rectify the situation.

In addition, electric water heaters are supposed to have a "disconnect" if the water heater is not in sight of the breaker panel.

You have a switch. Switches are similar to disconnect, but do not completely isolate the circuit from the panel.

I hope I have not scared you, but there are things that must be done proper, and this wiring is one of those things.

Again, thanks for the thread. If we can help, we consider the day a win.

 

@ReefSR54X4

 

It sounds like a loose wire, causing high amp draw. Have seen this actually from factory wires internally and faulty installation at wire nut connections..
Like others said.. either call an electrician or the installer to come back..
Fun fact: NJ municipal inspector has little knowledge of technical issues, so they only look for proper code of install and paid permit

 

Thank you everyone, the problem is fixed. The 30 amp on/off switch was burned near the bottom screw. I guess that made the breaker go bad. I replaced both the switch and breaker and it's fine now. Thanks again my friends.