Heating Element Testing - Bradford White 6A Service Manual

Test for Open or Burned Out Element.
1. STOP, DANGER! Turn power "OFF" to water heater.
2. Open control panel access door.
3. Disconnect wires from heating element.
4. Set multi-meter to "ohms" setting.
5. Touch probes of multi-meter to screw
terminals of heating element
(see illustration 1).
6. Reading should be 12.8 ohms (±6%) for a 240
volt, 4500 watt element, see table below for other elements.
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
For commonly Used Elements
Element
Wattage 208
2000 21.6
3000 14.4
4000 10.8
4500 9.6
5000 8.7
6000 7.2
9000 4.8
Test For Grounded Heating Element
(damaged heating element with short circuit to ground).
1. STOP, DANGER! Turn power "OFF" to water heater.
2. Open control panel access door.
3. Disconnect wires from heating element.
4. Set multi-meter to "ohms" setting.
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
Voltage Rating of Element
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
6.4 25.6
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SERVICE PROCEDURE ACE-I

Heating Element Testing

DANGER
High voltage exposure. To avoid hazard to
Life or property, be sure power is turned
OFF to water heater while performing this
procedure.
Element Screw Terminals
600
180
120
90
80
72
60
40
Element
Screw Terminal
Element Flange
Illustration 2
NOTE
Disconnect
element
Wires
Illustration 1
NOTE
Disconnect
element
Wires
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