Bradford White Water heater elements

[Donnybrook]

My electric hot water heater stopped working over the weekend. It's a Bradford White RE350S6. It was installed new in 2017 as part of our new home build.

I did some troubleshooting and determined the lower heating element was bad. I looked up the part number to be replaced 415-48642-00

415-48642-00 - Bradford White 415-48642-00 - Heating Element Kit, 2 Elements (208V/3500W & 240V/4500W)

Bradford White 415-48642-00 - Heating Element Kit, 2 Elements (208V/3500W & 240V/4500W) - Kit includes 2 elements and 2 gaskets<br><br> Heating Element Kit, 2 Elements (208V/3500W & 240V/4500W)

www.supplyhouse.com

and that part doesn't match what I pulled out of the water heater.

This is the type of heating element I pulled out: Apcom RC04704524 Heating Immersion Element 4500W 240V

Apcom RC04704524 Heating Immersion Element 4500W 240V: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Apcom RC04704524 Heating Immersion Element 4500W 240V: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

I've contacted Bradford White and the plumbing company that installed the water heater and don't have any answers yet.
Replacing the heating element isn't difficult. The specs on both elements are the same, however the design is different. I don't know why the OEM heating element wasn't in the tank.

Is one heating element better than the other?

I picked up a set of replacement heating elements from Home Depot: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbil...DGcgncuolAOKCAI74TF3mliQvyV8DyIfzgzWPMBp4K0Ng

Is it ok to use these for replacements?

 

[hj]

The "straight"elements are high watt density. I would only use them for the upper elements. The folded back ones are low watt density and are all that I ever used.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Jeff H Young]

Whats the problem with uysing the ones you purchased? Id use them