hot water heater reset button is tripping

jeffs55

I replaced two heater elements nearly a month ago and they must have worked as I then had hot water. I am thinking that I must have wired them back correctly as it worked for almost a month with no trouble. I still have hot water except when it trips. I then reset it and it heats right up. Suddenly after at least three weeks since the elements were replaced the reset button has tripped twice in the last three days. Help please.

Akpsdvan

What was the wattage of the elements that came out and what was the wattage that went back in ?

Then again it is possible to have one or two bad new elements as that has been known to happen.

JDC

I see you replaced the elements. What about the thermostats?

64pvolvo1800

Grounding out wiring or tstats. Did you go with larger elements?

jeffs55

I do not know that wattage of the replacements as they were generic but they had the name of my maker (Bradford White) listed on the package as suitable to use. I did not replace the thermostats.

Akpsdvan

Unless one is going other upgrades one always replaces with same wattage/amp.
While it will take some time I would find out the wattage for your heater and go find the same wattage and replace them making sure that the same wattage is getting used as what your heater came with from the factory.

Alan

As a general practice I usually replace everything if an element needs to be replaced.


If I find the t-stat tripped, and the elements show good resistance, I will just change the thermostats.

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Javiles

wattage on the elements would not trip the high limit (red button on the top thermostat )only the circuit breakers if that were the case, if you only disconnected the two wire on the elements and not the thermostats then you can not wire them back incorrectly, chances are you have a thermostat that is going bad, usually the bottom one that does not have a reset button, i would replace them, both could be one or the others but checking which one could get tricky so its faster just to change them both. the high limit only detects temp, not electrical use or fault, when you replace them now you must be careful on wiring them in.

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jeffs55

I have now replaced the thermostat as there was only one. Will have to wait and see what happens. Thanks to all that offered help.

Javiles

If you have two elements you should have two thermostats if not something is wrong. upper and lower

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jeffs55

Oh really? There was one with a reset button and I was at Ace and showed the man what I wanted and he pointed to one that looked like mine and I bought it. It has been working now for more than 24 hours which is better than it was doing. I may have replaced the defective thermostat, right? I will look for what you said and thank you.

jeffs55

I have now replaced both thermostats as the reset switch had tripped again. The water is now heating but it always does heat and then trips. The man at Ace asked me if I had opened the vent at the top of the tank when I replaced the elements and I had not. He says that I may have turned the power back on before the tank had refilled and burned out the brand new top element. He does not think that would cause the reset to trip out though. I am now waiting to see what happens.

Alan

Do you have the temperature set exactly the same on both thermostats?

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Javiles

Double check you wiring on the thermostats

Also make sure the thermostats are flush up against the tank if its separated just a bit you it wont pick up tank water temp.

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Javiles

Check this out and compair it to your wiring

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