Some simple questions for someone who’s done it before:
1) Where is the white (neutral) wire in a water heater electrical compartment? Mine has a black and a red and a ground screw. Nothing else.
2) I only have 2 wires and a ground (10 GA) running to the water heater from the panel. I am assuming (haven’t been home again to look) that the electricians roughed it in and connected the black to one 120V leg and the white to the other, so as to provide the 240V the water heater needs. Is the white (neutral) wire I have been so used to seeing everywhere else just not necessary for a heater element?
That just doesn’t sit well with me as i sit here and try to wrap my head around it.
“It depends on the situation…”
Replies
No neutral -- it's simply not needed. The heater elements are 240V and have no place to connect a neutral wire if you had one.
There is no neutral on a WH. It is a pure 240 volt load. Clothers dryers and stoves are 120/240 and have a neutral connection.
You need to verify it at the panel, but the WH cable should be connected to a 2 pole breaker and the white wire connected to one terminal and the black to the other.
But the electrican screwed up.
He should have remarked the end of the wire use tape or a marker. Typically black or red is used.
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Dan & Bill --
Thanks for the responses. There are quite a few things that the electricians did that aren't exactly best practice, however, all in all the wires they roughed in were easy enough for me to figure out and device in the end.
I would have preferred that they at least sharpie mark the white wire that had been energized, and as I found by taking off the electrical panel face, the white wire in fact had been put into service as the other 120V leg. No neutral as you so indicated.
And the water was already getting hot in 30 minutes. Sweet! Thanks again.
Jason"It depends on the situation..."