Why would the wires on my newly installed water heater spark and trip the breaker when power is turned on ?
Question:The water heater is filled.
Answers:
If there is a spark, then there is a short. One of the two hot wires is making contact with the ground wire or part of the water heater. Perhaps a wire nut was not put on all the way, the wires were stripped back too far, or a nut is missing.
Perhaps it wasn't wire correctly. A wire might be rubbing by some metal and shorting. You better get an electrician in there or who ever installed it back in to do it properly. A sparking appliance is a good way to burn the place down. I'd keep the breaker tripped until it's fixed.
The water heater is wired incorrectly.
incorrectly wired or the elements are shorted due to air in the tank.did you open the nearest valve to the heater to purge the air? OOPS
No, they *shouldn't*.. If a company installed the heater, leave the power off and tell them to come back and do it right. If you installed it yourself either call a plumber or get a really detailed how-to book out of the library and see if you can figure out what's wrong. Is the connection you're using for electricity grounded?
there is a short to ground somewhere. could be incorrect wiring or defective heating rod. Make sure that you have a dedicated 220 volt circuit and the two hot legs are attached correctly. If you didn't install it call the service person and have them re-do it (on their dime)
it will burn the HW heater up if a ele HW is on without water to it . You have a wire touching each other or ground check all wireing that you can see where the electric line comes in there is a small plate remove it and check the wireing there its a short somewhere for sure
possibly the heater is a higher amperage than the breaker
if it is the breaker will trip or the heater has been connected wrongly you should call back the people who fitted the heater
you have a loose wire or a short [bare wire touching a ground
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