Heating Element Testing - Bradford White RE3 Service Manual

Testing For Open Or Burned Out Element
Step 1. TURN OFF POWER TO WATER HEATER
Step 2. Remove access cover(s) from front of water
heater. Remove insulation and plastic cover
from thermostat.
Step 3. Disconnect wires from heating element(s).
Step 4. Set multi-meter to "ohms" setting.
Step 5. Touch probes of multi-meter to screw
terminals of heating element(s)
(see Figure 4).
Step 6. Reading should be 12.8 ohms (±6%) for a 240
volt, 4500 watt element:
Ohms = Volts
Watts
A reading outside the range using the formula
beyond (±6%), indicates a bad element and the
element must be replaced.
Testing For Heating Element Short Circuit To Ground
Step 1. TURN OFF POWER TO WATER HEATER
Step 2. Remove access cover(s) from front of water
heater. Remove insulation and plastic cover
from thermostat.
Step 3. Disconnect wires from heating element(s).
Step 4. Set multi-meter to "ohms" setting.
terminal of heating element and the other on
the element flange (see figure 5). There
should be no reading on the ohm meter. Any
reading indicates a grounded element and the
element must be replaced. Repeat this step for
the other screw terminal.
2
SERVICE PROCEDURE RE-II
WARNING
High voltage exposure. Be sure power is turned
OFF to water heater prior to performing this
procedure.
Element Screw Terminals
Figure 4
Element Flange
Figure 5
Page 15

Heating Element Testing

Meter Probe
Element Screw Terminal
Meter Probe
15