Electric Hot water tank Tripping daily

[Plumber69]

Both elements and thermostats were changed, 240 coming into tank. What would be the next steps to test. Tank is 1 month old

 

[Phog]

The branch circuit. Is the new water heater the same power rating as the old one it replaced was? Ensure sufficient wire gauge & breaker size. Perhaps also switch the breaker with an adjacent one of the same current rating, to see if the breaker itself is functioning properly.

It could also be a short somewhere in the water heater internal wiring, for example where a wire is pinched. (Usually you will also see signs of this, such as shiny/melted or scorched wire insulation).

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Fitter30]

How many watts are the elements and breaker.

 

[Reach4]

You could throw your clamp-around ammeter on one of the hots, and compare the current to the breaker marking.

Daily seems to imply it can take a long time for the trip to happen.

One other thing: when the WH is cold, the top element will come on first. Then when the top is hot, the bottom one will come on.

A problem downstream of the top thermostat could cause a delay in the current rise on startup.

 

[Jadnashua]

Is it the breaker that is tripping, or a safety on the WH?

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

Make sure the panel isn't a Zinzco - notorious for burning down houses

 

[Dj2]

Make sure the panel isn't a Zinzco - notorious for burning down houses

Haha.
I replaced and upgraded to 200 Amp a Zinzco panel, 2 months ago, with a Siemens.
It was OE to this rental house that was built in 1955.....