A water heater of this type is required to be considered a continuous load meaning that the branch circuit needs to be calculated at 125% of the heater’s rated ampacity. 4500/240 = 18.75 amps, will work on a 20 amp OCPD but, 18.75*125% = 23.4 amps, requires a 25 or 30 amp circuit.
Beside this, what size breaker does an electric water heater need?
Electric water heaters require a 240-volt dedicated circuit, which serves only the water heater and no other appliances or devices. The circuit wiring typically includes a 30-amp double-pole breaker and 10-2 non-metallic (NM) or MC cable.
Additionally, what size breaker do I need for a 40 gallon electric water heater? Your average residential 30 or 40 gallon water heater is 4500 watts and usually goes on a 30 A breaker.
Secondly, how many amps is a 50 gallon electric water heater?
*IF* the elements in that 50 gallon water heater were only 3500 watts, then on a 240 volt circuit you would have 3500 / 240 = 14.6 amps, which is within the 16 amps of the 80% rating of both a #12 AWG copper circuit, rating of 20 amps, and the 20 amp rated breaker.
How many amps does a 6 gallon hot water heater draw?
16.7 Amps