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240V instantaneous hot water heater wiring. The cord has three wires not four? Need wiring guidance.
- Thread starter John Galt
- Start date
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/220V-6500W-Top-Selling-for-Both_1601132368970.html
Is this the water heater? I would be hesitant to install a non-UL/CSA/ETL certified product...
Is this the water heater? I would be hesitant to install a non-UL/CSA/ETL certified product...
Easy Astro. Just seems like an unlikely easily documented source of disinformation especially in this overly litigious society we find ourselves in these days. Do you think this forum is immune? Big difference in advising folks where to mail their oil samples into as opposed to how to wire their instant hot water heaters when it’s quite apparent they don’t know what they’re doing. Just sayin’ I do enjoy a forum.
I understand your concern, actually.
I don’t think we are immune, and in fact, that vulnerability is part of why we’ve changed the site policy with regards to copyrighted materials.
I just think that bad advice, and uninformed opinion, are par for the course.
It’s up to folks on the forum to figure out who is offering good advice. The home improvement section is no different.
It all comes down to V 1. A moment, a second of complete trust. I’ve never met you. I truly wish you the best!
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2021
- Messages
- 454
Easy Aredeem,
I had a question, that’s all. I know what I’m doing. The instructions were also not consistent with the unit that they were included with. I didn’t blunder ahead but decided that likely there were others here who could offer clarification. They did that and now the reason for the lack of a white wire is clear. If I didn’t understand the wiring I would not proceed with installing it. Hence the reach out and question I posted. I’m the only one who uses the outdoor shower that this water heater will feed. No potential to hurt anybody else.
All is good. I appreciate all those who offered helpful insight and advice. Like all DIY advice posts you also hope it can offer knowledge to others who may search for the topic in the future.
Others ask questions here every day about DIY automobile brake jobs, tire work, suspension work etc. all which have the potential to injure or kill others on the roadway or passengers in said car if not done properly and they get useful repair advice and not “You don’t know what you are doing, take it to the mechanic” as responses. If ambulance chasing lawyers are trolling this site for work there’s lots of car care DIY advice, with a huge payout potential, vs my single outdoor shower wiring question.
If seeking knowledge and advice from others is going to be an issue on BITOG then a good third of the old posts will need to be purged.
I get it. I won’t leave a crock pot on the counter. Try being 73. Just be safe out there. I enjoy this forum.
this is correct, same thing 100%
Does it meet some local codes? No, does it work and is it safe, yes if done properly.
I am not so sure it would just be that simple. "Possible litigation" is a broad as the sky is blue. No one is holding him hostage and telling him to do anything.
If anything, he is asking the forum for help. I would think that it might fall under the "good Samaritans act", whereas the forum was asked for help, with no promise of payment.
If something goes haywire, it would be on him and him alone, as 100% of the action would be by him.
Further, no one has egged him on, nor made any threats to him.
Great idea though. Great argument IMO.
Why wouldn't it ? While codes have their own rules sometimes, almost all also fall back on "or follow the manufacturer's instructions". Everyone screams against back-stabbing electrical devices but they're 100% allowed by local code, NEC code and approved by UL. Why ? Because the manufacturer says it's acceptable wiring.
Good argument. Typically manufacturers recommendations supercede code, but mostly they go hand in hand. The manual has the final say. What I meant by "local code" was "as installed new" not existing systems already in place
In circumstances in remodeling when one is faced with a two wire 240 (2 hots and a ground). They typically require removal of the circuit and replacement with a 3 wire (2hot, ground and neutral), as it is current code, and during a permitted remodel, the work must meet current code if altered from original.
If the current heater was an electric tankless, then this would not apply, as it would be a "like for like" exchange, with no change in design or wiring. But in this case the new unit has the "extra" ground.
Really, it would be up to the inspector and local guidelines.
As I am sure you know, building codes have little to do with (these days) about quality of installation, but more to do with liability. All building codes come from the Dept of Insurance in your state, and guess who lobbys there......the insurance companies.
If I were an inspector, (which I might be shortly) I would pass the installation as long as it followed the manual.
If it's a DIY job, do people really pull permits and get inspections for a swap (even if going from classic water heater to tankless) ?
In some counties, yes, they require it. Do they need to ? No.
JHZR2
Staff member
The unit probably rectifies its own control power. It looks like poorly written instructions. If EU power is 240 from hot to neutral, that would explain much. They get 240 50Hz hit to neutral, we get 240v 60Hz line to line with an equipment safety ground. It’s a resistive load so not much else matters. It’s written poorly in China. Surprised much?
