Electric water heater trips its breaker
An instant trip almost always means a dead short: an element shorted to the tank, a pinched or burnt wire, or water in the junction box. A trip after minutes or hours points to a weak/overheated breaker connection, loose terminals heating up, or a breaker sized too small for the heater. Test everything with power off and verified dead; never keep resetting a breaker that trips instantly.
Cross-checked ~60 min moderateBrands: All
Before you start
- 240 V: switch the breaker OFF and verify 0 V at the element terminals with a meter before touching anything
- Do not repeatedly reset a breaker that trips instantly; burning smell, discoloration or buzzing at the panel = leave it off and call an electrician
- Panel work beyond resetting the breaker belongs to a licensed electrician
- Never energize an element unless the tank is completely full (dry-fire destroys the element)
Diagnostic steps
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