Dafaq is this home water heater wiring?

RenegadeT

RenegadeT

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Stokesdale-Greensboro
No hot water this morning, figured thus was an easy drain hot water heater, slap in some replacement elements. Smelled burnt plastic as I was taking the upper cover and found this burnt wirenut. Not good, dI'd the electrician cut the wire too short and splice into 2 strands for the final 3"?
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Get some solid wire that's got high enough temp insulation and replace the damaged wiring. Looks like the wire nut came loose, which isn't surprising considering the thermal cycles from the high current switching on and off.

I'm not sure if this is something that Lowe's or HD carries (by the foot maybe?) because I haven't looked. The existing wires will have a temp rating stamped or printed on the insulation if you're trying to figure what type to get. Basically you should have all the info you need from the existing wires.

Check the bottom thermostat too, to make sure there's nothing wrong down there too.
 
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Well shoot, I'm now standing in lowes with a piece of damaged wire. My wire says TEW 105deg C 600 FT1.
All I can seem to find is 50ft of solid copper 12THNN (dunno what that is), rated for 90deg C AWM internal wiring of appliances.
 
It just depends on what your amp draw is. 12awg is good for 20 amps and that looks like what you have. Hard to tell from the pic tho.

Did you happen to look at the information on the heater?
 
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