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John1397
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Will a hot water heater element that is rated 220 volt AC by 2000 watts when only applying 110 volt AC just put out 1000 watt instead?
Hard to say, but remember that the power ratios with the square of the voltage, not linearly with it. Plus who knows what the control electronics will do with only 110Vac input. Probably better to just spring for a new heater module or a new water heater. How old is it?John1397 said:Will a hot water heater element that is rated 220 volt AC by 2000 watts when only applying 110 volt AC just put out 1000 watt instead?
No. Power P = V * I = V^2/R = I^2 * R.John1397 said:if applying only 110 volts to this same piece of wire it just seems to me it would only produce half as many watts.
As pointed out earlier, a 2000W rated element operated at half voltage delivers only 500W. It is useful perhaps to work out each scenario using the power formula @berkeman posted.John1397 said:I know they make 2000 watt X 110 volt elements except I didn't want to change elements as the water heater works fine with a 2000 watt 220 volt element.
I'm not following your line of thought.John1397 said:Basically your hooking two 110 volt lines to each side of the element and I only want to hook one 110 volt line and ground to both terminals of the element.
Except the controller likely won't work, unless it's super-simple like @jim hardy has on his water heater...John1397 said:well if it puts out 1/4 as many watt it should take 4 times as long to heat water. should work.
I researched yesterday and found that I use about 20 gallons of water a day.John1397 said:well if it puts out 1/4 as many watt it should take 4 times as long to heat water. should work.
That would work pretty good I think you could just hook solar panel directly to bottom element would not even need to use an inverter only cost you would have for solar panel and piece of wire.jrmichler said:Set the lower (solar PV) element to a higher temperature then the upper (grid) element may allow near 100% solar hot water during the sunny season.
That may or may not work, depending onJohn1397 said:That would work pretty good I think you could just hook solar panel directly to bottom element would not even need to use an inverter only cost you would have for solar panel and piece of wire.
Asymptotic said:The AC only ratings are probably dictated by thermostat switch contact ratings. A typical rating is 250V/10A, 125V/15A for AC, but unrated for DC (or, if it is, it would be limited to 30 volts at the 125 VAC current rating). The arc that occurs when the contacts open extinguishes when AC crosses zero volts, but a DC arc sustains until their separation distance becomes great enough. Not only does this generate a lot more heat, but in a physically small switch like a thermostat the distance between contacts may never open up enough to fully extinguish the arc, and they'll melt in short order.
OmCheeto said:I may abscond with your idea and create a hybrid hot water system.
That's definitely a bad idea. You need 110V DC to have the similar power, but 110V DC is just not a thing you want to play around with at home (especially when water is involved).John1397 said:I think you could just hook solar panel directly to bottom element
An electric hot water heater uses heating elements, typically made of metal, to heat the water in the tank. These elements are powered by electricity and convert the electrical energy into heat energy, raising the temperature of the water. The heated water then rises to the top of the tank and is delivered through the hot water outlet when a faucet is turned on.
No, a 2000 watt 220 volt electric hot water heater is not designed to run on 110 volts. It requires the higher voltage to operate the heating elements and heat the water effectively. Attempting to run the heater on 110 volts could cause damage to the unit and potentially be a safety hazard.
No, it is not possible to convert a 2000 watt 220 volt electric hot water heater to run on 110 volts. The heating elements and other components are designed specifically for the higher voltage and cannot be easily altered. Attempting to convert the heater could also void the warranty and potentially be dangerous.
A 2000 watt 220 volt electric hot water heater will use approximately 9.1 amps of electricity. This may vary slightly depending on the specific model and usage, but it gives an estimate of the amount of power required to operate the heater.
The time it takes for a 2000 watt 220 volt electric hot water heater to heat up will depend on several factors, including the starting temperature of the water, the size of the tank, and the efficiency of the heater. On average, it can take anywhere from 1-2 hours for the water to reach the desired temperature. Some models may have a faster heating time, so it is important to consult the manufacturer's instructions for specific information.