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Joe Arcaro
09-28-2010, 08:31 AM
Hi:

This water heater (typical electric 40-g), is wired with 2 #12 gauge wires, that connect to a double-pole 20-amp breaker in the main panel box. Is this ok?

Thanks,
Joe
John Kogel
09-28-2010, 08:44 AM
Hi:

This water heater (typical electric 40-g), is wired with 2 #12 gauge wires, that connect to a double-pole 20-amp breaker in the main panel box. Is this ok?

Thanks,
JoeNo, it is an obvious hack job and needs to be corrected.
Rick Hurst
09-28-2010, 09:31 AM
Nice air freshener though.:D

rick
Bruce Ramsey
09-28-2010, 01:59 PM
I know you didn't ask but the TPR discharge pipe is missing.
James Duffin
09-28-2010, 03:50 PM
Hi:

This water heater (typical electric 40-g), is wired with 2 #12 gauge wires, that connect to a double-pole 20-amp breaker in the main panel box. Is this ok?

Thanks,
Joe

One #12 is ok if the heater has 3500 watt elements. The wiring method is questionable though.
John Kogel
09-28-2010, 04:02 PM
One #12 is ok if the heater has 3500 watt elements. The wiring method is questionable though.It is more than that. It is dangerous. One of the two hot wires could come in contact with the tank, or a person reaching around the tank could get shocked. The second feeder is redundant - amateur does not know what is required. The single cable required should be protected with a flexible conduit, and the conduit needs to be terminated at the heater with a clamp.
People are always piling crap on top of their water heaters. The connections have to be done right, period.

It is a good bet there are other screwups in this place not shown in the pics of the tank and the panel. A qualified electrician needs to go over the whole house, IMO from here.
James Duffin
09-28-2010, 04:53 PM
It is more than that. It is dangerous. One of the two hot wires could come in contact with the tank, or a person reaching around the tank could get shocked. The second feeder is redundant - amateur does not know what is required. The single cable required should be protected with a flexible conduit, and the conduit needs to be terminated at the heater with a clamp.
People are always piling crap on top of their water heaters. The connections have to be done right, period.

It is a good bet there are other screwups in this place not shown in the pics of the tank and the panel. A qualified electrician needs to go over the whole house, IMO from here.

I was just answering the OP question but I agree with what you said.