Heating Element Testing - Bradford White E32-50S Service Manual

Testing For Open Or Burned Out Element.
Step 1. TURN OFF POWER TO WATER HEATER.
Step 2. Remove thermostat/element access cover(s)
from front of water heater. Remove insulation
and plastic cover from thermostat.
Step 3. Disconnect wires from heating element.
Step 4. Set multi-meter to "ohms" setting.
Step 5. Touch probes of multi-meter to screw
terminals of heating element
(see illustration 1).
Step 6. Reading should be 12.8 ohms (±6%) for a 240
volt, 4500 watt element, see table below:
Ohms = Volts
A reading outside the range using the formula
above (±6%), indicates a bad element and the
element must be replaced.
Ohms of electrical Resistance
Voltage Rating of Element
Element
Wattage 208
2000 21.6
3000 14.4
4000 10.8
4500 9.6
5000 8.7
6000 7.2
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.
Step 4. Set multi-meter to "ohms" setting.
Step 5. Touch one probe of multi-meter to either screw
terminal of heating element and the other on
the element flange (see illustration 2). 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
Watts
240 480
28.8 115.2
19.2 76.8
14.4 57.6
12.8 51.2
11.5 46.1
9.6 38.4
Page 11
SERVICE PROCEDURE E32-I
WARNING
High voltage exposure. Be sure power is turned
OFF to water heater prior to performing this
procedure.
Element Screw Terminals
Illustration 1
Element Flange
Illustration 2

Heating Element Testing

NOTE
Disconnect
element
Wires
NOTE
Disconnect
element
Wires
Element Screw Terminal
Meter Probe