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Any electricians?

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coldplugs

coldplugs

Darth Vader
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I have a naive question regarding household wiring. One of the local farmers wants help installing a timer for an electric water heater. He found a timer marked for 250 volts and can't figure out how to wire it up.

I took a look & his water heater is a 240 volt unit. I know how to wire 240 volt household plugs etc where you have the 2 hot leads of 120 each, a neutral wire, and a ground. I think he needs a double pole timer for his 240 water heater and I don't think the 250 volt unit he has will work. (I think it's a SPST).

Before I embarrass myself with an electrician friend locally I figured I'd ask an international audience of experts. Anybody know?
 
You would be correct. The time is probably for 120
 
You need a timer with a DPST contact. This means that there would be one set of contacts for each 120-volt pole, and the unit would have two posible states, on and off. A single - pole unit wont do it since you would only one breaking one-half of the circuit. You also need to have sufficient current handling capacity. 240 volts is the nominal voltage in most parts of the country, so a unit rated 250 volts should be OK.
You should be able to pick one up at your local Home Depot or Lowes for approx. $40.
Be sure to follow all local codes and safety procedures and be sure to de-energize the circuit before you proceed.

Here is an example of a unit rated for 240 vac, 40 amps. Timer
 
angelfj said:
...
Be sure to follow all local codes and safety procedures and be sure to de-energize the circuit before you proceed.
Click to expand...

Standard save my a.. statement.
 
BAH!!!


DPDT is his ~truth~!
 
How's th cheeseburger factor?
 
I'm goin' ~hot~ now...
 
Jus' makin' sure ya have somethin' to think about.
 
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