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12-26-2018, 10:37 AM
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#1
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Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 96
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1500w water heater element ok to replace 1440w element?
I have a Suburban water heater with a 1440w 120v element that needs to be replaced but I can only find a 1500w element at Lowe’s. Will this be ok or do I need to order a1440 w element?
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12-26-2018, 10:40 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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I can't imagine that it would be a problem.
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2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
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12-26-2018, 11:21 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 28,566
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1500W at 120V AC=====12.5A
1440W at 120V AC=====12A
You can get OEM for $15
OR the one at Lowes for $7
9 1/2" from backside of flange to end of element
1 1/4" thread (1 1/2" wrench)
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Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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12-26-2018, 11:22 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 464
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Check the breaker size. 80% of 15 amp breaker is 12 amps. This might be the reason for the 1440 watt element. The 1500 watt would be .5 amps over the code unless you have 20 amp feed to the water heater.
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2000 Winnebago Adventurer
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12-26-2018, 11:32 AM
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#5
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Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 96
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It is a 15A breaker so the 1500w element would apparently be .5 over code. Might be a fire hazard? Or is that worrying too much? Trying to decide if I should just use the 1500w I have or order the 1440w. What would you do?
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12-26-2018, 11:52 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 28,566
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80% rule is for 'Continuous' Load
Added .5A is NOT going to cause fire/overheating/CB tripping
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Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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12-26-2018, 12:43 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 464
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NEC considers water heaters to be a continuous load. See 422.13.
422.13 Storage-Type Water Heaters. A fixed storage-
type water heater that has a capacity of 450 L (120 gal) or
less shall be considered a continuous load for the purposes
of sizing branch circuits.
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2000 Winnebago Adventurer
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12-26-2018, 12:52 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,078
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I have always used the elements from the big box stores, no issues
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12-26-2018, 03:05 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 2,812
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12.5 amps on a 15 amp circuit is fine. The fact that is probably a dedicated circuit with no possibility of any other load on it is the best part. How many people have plugged their 1500 cube heater into an outlet inside the coach that may have 2 or 3 other outlets connected to it?
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Foretravel tag axle 40 ft. 500 hp/1550 ft/lbs ism 1455 watts on the roof. 600 a/h's lithium down below.
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12-26-2018, 06:49 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Titusville, FL
Posts: 5,242
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ascdds
I have a Suburban water heater with a 1440w 120v element that needs to be replaced but I can only find a 1500w element at Lowe’s. Will this be ok or do I need to order a1440 w element?
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Don't let the theorists worry you. Make the swap. No problem at all. 1500 watts on a 15A circuit is something you should worry about for a little less than a millisecond in the real world.
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2023 Grand Design 2600RB, 2022 F-350 King Ranch tow vehicle, Titusville, FL when not on the road
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