Reliance Electrical Short or Overcurrent in Heater Circuit

Reliance water heater trips the electrical breaker repeatedly

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Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

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Possible Causes

Shorted heating element to ground, Damaged wiring insulation, Incorrect breaker size, Internal control board short (hybrid/tankless)

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Do not repeatedly reset a tripping breaker. Turn it OFF and leave it off until the fault is found. Risk of fire or shock.

Steps to check:

  • 1. Inspect wiring: With breaker OFF, remove access panels and inspect all visible wiring for burns, melted insulation, or loose connections. Repair or replace damaged wires.
  • 2. Test elements for ground fault: Disconnect wires from each element and measure resistance from each terminal to the metal tank. Any continuity indicates a shorted element that must be replaced.
  • 3. Verify breaker size: Confirm the breaker and wire gauge match the heater’s nameplate rating (e.g., 30A for a 4500W/240V heater).
  • 4. Check control board (hybrid/tankless): If elements and wiring are good, the control board may be shorted. Look for burn marks and replace the board if necessary.
  • 5. Restore power after repair: Only after correcting the fault should you reset the breaker and test operation.

Warning: If you are not comfortable testing live circuits, contact a licensed electrician or technician.

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Repair Difficulty

Hard 4/5

Required Part

Heating Element
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