Can I Put A 110 Volt Element In A 220 Volt Water Heater?
I have gone off grid and dont have power from utility company anymore but cant supply enough power yet for 220 volt. I want to convert my water heater to 110 volt. Can I put a 110 volt screw in type element in place of a 220 volt element? Do I also need to change thermostat too?
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8 Responses to “Can I Put A 110 Volt Element In A 220 Volt Water Heater?”
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November 3rd, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Do not listen to any one of these people who say that you can’t do this.They do not know about electricity or water heaters.You will NOT have to change thermostats.The only change that will have to be made after the element is changed is the breaker in the panel.You will have to change it to a single pole breaker[single pole 30 amp] and one of the wires will have to be connected to the neutral bar.Also make sure that the element that you get is not larger than 2500 watts.It will take longer to heat the water but it will work.A 2500 watt element at 120 volts will draw 20.4 amps.Is your generator large enough for this?
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:13 pm
No, you cant do that without switching all kinds of stuff…. cheaper to buy a 110v water heater.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:42 am
If you’re off-grid, the voltage may not be your only issue. Do you have enough power (watts) available to heat the water? Remember that to heat the water energy is added; the energy is provided from electricity. Even a small 6 gallon 120V water heater uses about 1400W of power. Most 40 gallon, 240V units use about 6000W. Switching from a 240V coil to a 120V coil won’t change the power needed to heat the water – but will require twice the current (Power = Voltage X Current). A solar water heater with powered temperature maintenance may be a better choice for you.
November 4th, 2009 at 5:54 am
no
November 4th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
No, but you can use a 220V element in either one. The same thermostat can be used for either.
November 4th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I have seen a lot of jury-rigged things in my day. Remeber though, that you’re dealing with electricity and water. Play it safe and get a 110 volt water heater.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
If the water heater has a 220v power supply, your element will burn out.
After conversion to 110v power supply, your element will work but the thermostat also has to be changed.
It will take a longer time to heat the water say 40-gallon type especially when the demand is highest in the mornings. It all depends on how many people live in your house (including very small children), whether you take bath or shower, whether the dishwasher runs in the mornings and if the clothes washer also will run say, in the weekends. If you have small babies, the demand is ever more because of beddings, clothes and other things that comes with the bringing up a small child.
All this put a heavy demand and the water heater will find it difficult to keep up.
November 4th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
If it fits, Probably OK but you must also change the power source to 110V.
In most cases the thermostat is only a switch and should be OK.
Note also that the power consumption in watts would be the same for the same BTU.
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