What Size Circuit Breaker is Needed for a 5,000-Watt Water Heater?

What size double-pole circuit breaker is needed for a 5,000-watt water heater connected to a 240-volt system?

Option a) 15 amps

Option b) 20 amps

Option c) 25 amps

Option d) 30 amps

Answer:

For a 5,000-watt water heater connected to a 240-volt system, a 30-amp double-pole circuit breaker would be necessary to function without tripping the circuit breaker intermittently. So the correct answer is option D.

When considering the size of the circuit breaker needed for a 5,000-watt water heater connected to a 240-volt system, we need to calculate the amperage required to handle the load. This calculation involves understanding the power (wattage) of the heater and the voltage of the system.

The formula used to find the current (amperage) in a circuit is I = P/V, where I is the current in amps, P is the power in watts, and V is the voltage in volts. In this case, the power is 5,000 watts and the voltage is 240 volts.

By substituting these values into the formula, we get I = 5000/240 = 20.83 amps, which is approximately 21 amps. Since the available options are 15, 20, 25, and 30 amps, the closest and higher value is 30 amps (option D).

Choosing a 30-amp double-pole circuit breaker ensures that the water heater operates smoothly without causing the breaker to trip intermittently due to exceeding the maximum current capacity.