Keep replacing top thermostat. Works for a day. Wiring right?

I'm looking at this..


And mine is wired like this.


It appears my T2 and T4 are reversed. Would this cause my thermostat to stop working?

Have I damaged my thermostat or will reversing the wires fix my problems?

Was concerned because this new thermostat was not exactly like the original Rudd one and had my neighbor an electrician came and help me and he wired it like this. I woke up this morning, had no hot water, put a voltmeter on it and it was pretty much dead,
Replaced it this afternoon myself just as he had it, and we had hot water.. tonight.. same thing, no hot water. I have replaced all the elements and both thermostats, wifes gonna wake up angry when she takes cold shower in am.. any help is really appreciate. Thank you.

I would wire it according to the diagram if they supplied one for you.

It appears my T2 and T4 are reversed.

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Make sure your thermostats fit tight against the tank after you corrrect the wiring.

Using the photo you provided the heater would have run first on the lower element then once the upper thermostat reached temp it would have switched to the upper elememt but the only control on the upper would be the manual reset high limit.

Rewire it the way the diagram shows then push the red reset button on the upper stat, I do not think you could blow anything electrical the way you have it wired but it will trip the manual reset high limit.

The way it should work is when you first power it up cold the upper stat powers the upper element.
Once the top of the tank comes up to temp the upper stat switches the upper element off and powers up the wires to the lower stat.
The lower element then heats till the lower stat reaches temp and turns off the lower element.

Once the heater shuts off, drawing a few galons of water will cause only the lower element to cycle. If you draw a large amount of water the top thermostat will switch removing power from the lower stat and applying power to the upper element.

From a cold tank you should always have the top element on first so the tank can provide hot water faster.

Just wanted to follow up and say, Thanks everyone so much, I did just that and its working fine now.
I checked my voltages off and on throughout the day and the explanation you gave, my voltmeter and the scalding hot water told me everything was working perfectly now..
Again, Thank you very much.

Glad it worked out now back both stats down to 120 so it's not scalding. Unless you have a tempering valve 120 is the max you should set a residental heater to.

Glad it worked out now back both stats down to 120 so it's not scalding. Unless you have a tempering valve 120 is the max you should set a residental heater to.

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No

A 1996 report titled, "Risk Factors for Domestic Acquisition of Legionnaires Disease," concluded from case studies in 15 hospitals that "a portion of sporadic cases of Legionnaires' Disease may be residentially acquired and are associated with domestic potable water." This study agreed with previous reports that found 6% of the homes studied had Legionella pneumophilla. The Legionella exist in the biofilm on the inside of pipes. A report issued in June of 2000 by the State of Maryland supports this position and investigated the presence of Legionella in the hot water distribution systems in hospitals and institutions. The report hypothesized that the source of Legionella was the public/municipal water system. Legionella grows rapidly between 77 degrees F and 108 degrees F. The solution for preventing the Legionella is heating the water to 140 degrees F.

Feel free to have your TANK temp whatever, but the OUTLET should be tempered for safety purposes. Where I live, they require a tempering valve...but, you can set it to what you want. It is a rare house that needs 140-degree water at a fixture.

Jerome2877 said:

No

A 1996 report titled, "Risk Factors for Domestic Acquisition of Legionnaires Disease," concluded from case studies in 15 hospitals that "a portion of sporadic cases of Legionnaires' Disease may be residentially acquired and are associated with domestic potable water." This study agreed with previous reports that found 6% of the homes studied had Legionella pneumophilla. The Legionella exist in the biofilm on the inside of pipes. A report issued in June of 2000 by the State of Maryland supports this position and investigated the presence of Legionella in the hot water distribution systems in hospitals and institutions. The report hypothesized that the source of Legionella was the public/municipal water system. Legionella grows rapidly between 77 degrees F and 108 degrees F. The solution for preventing the Legionella is heating the water to 140 degrees F.

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What don't kill You makes You stronger...

125°F is recommended, as safe. For the tank too.

Thanks for the info on Legionnaires' Disease, I run my heater around 150 but temper it outside the heater.

When I replace my 50 gal with 75 or 80 I am going to run it cooler as I feel it stresses the tank runing it so hot, only reason it's so hot right now is my jetted tub needs it that high to allow the undersized heater to fill it with bath temprature water.

Around here almost no one has tempering valves on their heaters and most are set at 120 to 130 to prevent scalding

Please be aware, that when you replace an upper thermostat that you follow the wiring diagram that comes with it, because there are thermostats with T2 and T4 reversed. If you install one of these the way the original one was, you will have the same problem this person did.

The most dangerous thing in that water heater was driving to the hardware store. As long as you are not a leggionaire, 120' is a acceptable risk in life.

A ride on a packed subway is likely the greatest risk to life. You can taste the virus's in your mouth when you come off the mountain after a few months.

Anyone know of any instances where a residential water system was caused with Legionnaires disease?
If there are such cases, then is there any info. ref. the w/h temp?

In the above thread i meant, of course, "has caused Legionnaires."

As a matter of interest, perhaps, warm water sitting in rarely used, or abandoned without being capped off, supplies for furnace humudifier's or coolers ( mentioned in the post above about thermostats ) could also, potentially, create Legionnaires conditions?

In Las Vegas the new Aria Hotel and casino was hit with an outbreak of legionaires disease and found evidence of it coming from the hot water distribution system.

I believe it was in 2010 or 2011

Hackney plumbing said:

In Las Vegas the new Aria Hotel and casino was hit with an outbreak of legionaires disease and found evidence of it coming from the hot water distribution system.

I believe it was in 2010 or 2011

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http://www.arialasvegas.com/facts/

diseases and bankruptcy from casino's is a simple proof of natural selection at work.