Hot water tanks
Amps = Watts/Voltage. 4500/240 = 18 amps. You would use a #12 copper wire which is rated at 20 amps. On a hot water tank there is only one of the elements on at a time. The incoming cold water is taken to the bottom of the tank through a pipe inside the tank. When the lower thermostat senses the cold water, the lower element turns on. As you draw hot water from the top of the tank the cooler water from the bottom will rise. When the top thermostat senses the cool water it shuts off the bottom element and turns on the top element. When this water is heated to the tank set point it shuts off and the lower element turns on to heat the rest of the water. When the total tank temperature is at the set point all elements turn off. By using this type of procedure there is always hot water at the top of the tank for use.
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No, typically only one heating element operates at a time in an electric water heater. The upper element is used first to heat the water near the top of the tank, and then the lower element is used if more hot water is needed. This helps to improve energy efficiency and the overall heating process.
A 50 gallon electric water heater with 2 elements is typically connected to a 240 volt power supply. Each element is designed to run on 240 volts to efficiently heat the water in the tank.
Rheem
An electric water heater in a hot tank is called an immersion heater and many of those run at 3 kW with a thermostat to control the max temperature. Power showers use a type of water heater that heats the water at the point where it is used, without a tank. They run at 6-8 kW and are also controlled by a thermostat.
The average size water tank is 4500 watts. The generator's supply will be large enough to operate the water tank. Larger tanks over 5000 watts will not heat correctly.
When you switch on the electric heater, electricity passes through the water in the bucket for warming.If any one comes in contact with the water when the switch is on, he/she is supposed to get electric shock. Nonsense! There are electric heater resistance elements in the water. No electricity is intentionally introduced to the water, if there were the water would be electrified throughout the piping network all the way back to the source including every house connected to the system. Before it ever got that far out of hand the circuit breaker would trip due to the direct short circuit eliminating the hazard. It sounds more like you have an element starting to fail and/or a grounding issue.[