RESIDENTIAL GAS AND ELECTRIC WATER HEATER
SERVICE HANDBOOK
A.O. Smith Water Products Company
Training Department
©
2002
Ashland City, Tennessee
44
Residential Electric – continued
A-7 – continued
Grounded Element Test – Amperage Method – Using “clamp type” Amperage
Meter.
Many multimeters could be used to conduct this test but be certain that the
thermostat is satisfied or the amperage limits of the multimeter may be exceeded.
Complaint:
A grounded element is suspected whenever the water temperature
becomes
excessively hot
and/or the end user
must push the high limit reset
to
reactivate the heater.
Amperage
measures the flow of current through a wire.
Watts
divided by volts = Amps
Conditions
Power on
Thermostats are satisfied
Clamp the jaws of the Amp Meter around each wire connected to an element –
one wire at a time.
If …
… then
meter reads the proper amperage
(+5, -10%)
the thermostat is calling for heat
meter reads approximately ½ of the
proper amperage
replace the element
meter reads NO amperage
thermostat and element are not grounded
Note: Amperage will only be indicated while electricity flows through a wire.
