I installed a new GE 50 gallon electric water heater recently, replacing a very similar unit (not GE, and it lasted about 16 years). While it has been working, we've noticed we run out of hot water really fast, like one long shower and it's gone. This was never a problem before.
I got to poking around with my multimeter (right after the thing was depleted). Well, first I turned everything off, just to reset it. Feeling the tank near the heater elements, the upper one was warm, but the lower was cold. With it on, I can measure 240 volts across the upper element, but nothing across the bottom one. But it looks like no voltage is even being sent down there from the mechanism at the top. Is this normal? Looking at the circuit diagram in the book, it kind of looks like it's an either/or thing, but I can't tell for sure:
http://products.geappliances.com/Ma...?RequestType=PDF&Name=AP12168-7 (GE Elec).pdf
I'm kind of hoping there is a problem here because otherwise I'm just stuck with this poorly performing water heater.
I got to poking around with my multimeter (right after the thing was depleted). Well, first I turned everything off, just to reset it. Feeling the tank near the heater elements, the upper one was warm, but the lower was cold. With it on, I can measure 240 volts across the upper element, but nothing across the bottom one. But it looks like no voltage is even being sent down there from the mechanism at the top. Is this normal? Looking at the circuit diagram in the book, it kind of looks like it's an either/or thing, but I can't tell for sure:
http://products.geappliances.com/Ma...?RequestType=PDF&Name=AP12168-7 (GE Elec).pdf
I'm kind of hoping there is a problem here because otherwise I'm just stuck with this poorly performing water heater.