[Daneel]

As I understand the sequence for an electric HWH, after hot water is used for awhile, the lower thermostat kicks on the lower element. As hot water continues to be used, the upper thermostat kicks on the upper element and the lower thermostat/element is disconnected until the upper thermostat is hot enough to cycle off, which turns on the lower thermostat/element until it too is hot enough. In low hot water use situations, the upper thermostat/element may not cycle on/off. Is this correct?

For faster recovery in higher water use situations could an electric HWH be (re-)wired so that the upper and lower heating elements are separately powered (and separately fused)? This might void the warranty and would take twice the power, but would the wear and tear on the elements or on the anode be any greater than with traditional thermostat wiring?

Are some electric HWHs made for higher recovery environments?

 

[beenthere]

Some commercial ones are. What you suggest would also void the UL approval.

 

[Bob Sanders]

UL approval or not, that's how I have my heater connected. I ran two feeds on 2 separate breakers to the heater and both elements fire at the same time. Been this way for at least 10 years.

This has been done with a residential tank but as BT notes, (since you are altering the originally tested design standard) it is not UL approved.