How does the reset work? I am helping a friend troubleshoot his water heater. One of the wires that connected the pig tail to the power block fried inside the water heater cover. I decided to remove the burnt wire and restrip them down to fresh clean wiring before reconnecting them and plugging in unit. Did the element possibly fail and cause the burnt wires? I can't tell how the reset button works. The heater will not heat up

Faulty reset/temperature cut out or loose connection at wiring block.

Hope this helps..I have also attached a link that may be useful.

No Hot Water
REASON REMEDY No power Check fuses or circuit breaker, replace or reset. Check with utility if necessary Wrong wiring connections at heater terminal Correct according to manufacturer's instructions Leaks around heating elements (1) Tighten element (2) If necessary, clean and replace with new gasket Loose wiring connection Locate loose connections. Clean carefully (remove all oxidation). Reconnect properly Lightning Inspect: (1) fuse (or circuit breaker). (2) Heater elements, and (3) thermostat, replace if necessary, see "grounding instructions" below High voltage Check utility for correction Short Locate short circuit and correct Wrong piping connections Reconnect pipes to proper fittings according to manufacturer's instructions Undersize service wiring Check with utility co. or electrician Improper calibration Replace thermostat Faulty thermostat Replace Faulty thermal cutout Replace Open thermal cutout Reset Top heating element burned out Replace
http://www.bradfordwhite.com/sites/default/files/product_literature/48494-A.pdf

On all models, you must remove the cover to access the thermal safety reset. MAKE SURE YOU DISCONNECT THE POWER BEFORE OPENING THE CASE. On Mini™ models, the safety thermal reset button is a round, flat, black button located between the wiring block and water connection pipe.
here's a video....
http://www.stiebel-eltron-usa.com/tankless-faqs
if it helps please click helpful :) & let me know thanks!

Call Rheem
Reset breaker fully off and then fully on.
Test for 240 Volt across top two screws on upper thermostat
Press reset button located on upper thermostat
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html#reset

Gene

Water Heater Timers Save Money

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

top element fried unless temp was met at time of test

Jan 2013
1) Did you fill tank with water before applying power?
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html#new

2) add comment for more assistance as needed.

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

10/15/2012
Hi Liz.
This is a live answer. And you can add a comment after trying following step, and I will comment back..
Replace battery, and then reset the timer using reset button located to left of display screen.
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/eh40-english.pdf

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

Two-element water heater is 240Volts.
No hot water means: ECO reset button tripped, upper element bad, upper thermostat bad, or 240Volts is not reaching water heater.
Circuit breaker can be delivering power on one leg of the 240V circuit, so water heater appears to have electricity but is only receiving 120V.
Test for 240volts across top two screws on upper thermostat.
Look for loose wires and burned connections.
Push in reset button real hard.
Replace both upper and lower thermostats.
Remove wires and test upper element for continuity.

Open following links for do-it-yourself troubleshoot walk-thru:
http://waterheatertimer.org/B220C.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-water-heater.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/Test-electricity-to-water-heater.html

You have electric water heater.
You replaced elements and thermostats but heater still won't work.
And tank was completely full of water, and water was running out of a faucet before turning power ON.
If elements are not fully immersed in water, they will instantly burn out.
If upper element is burned out, then tank will have NO hot water.
If lower element is burned out, and upper element is not burned out, then tank will have some hot water.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-it-works.html

If elements did not burn out, then that leaves 1 main suspect: the electricity.

1) Push in ECO red reset button on upper thermostat. If ECO is tripped out, then heater will not work.

2) Click circuit breaker all the way one direction and then back the other direction to make sure breaker is latched.

3) If tank has 2 elements, then it is 240volt.
If 1 leg of 240Volt circuit is not working, then 240V appliance will not work.
240Volt circuit needs both hot wires to complete the circuit:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-wire-EH40-hot-water-heater-timer.html#120-240

Buy cheap multimeter from Home Center and set dial to 240-250-277VAC
Tape tester leads to woods sticks to keep hands away from power.
Power is ON
Test across top 2 screws on upper element should show 220-240 volts.
If you have 240 at top two screws, then skip down to step 6.
If no reading across top two screws, then move to top of tank.

4) Open connection point where wire connects to heater.
Test across both insulated wires should get reading of 220-240 volts.
If no reading, move to circuit breaker box.

5) Mark water heater breaker.
Turn off all breakers except water heater breaker and main breaker. (and breaker to light fixture where box is located)
Do not hold or touch or lean against anything metal.
Stand on dry boards and wear dry clothes.
If main breaker is OFF, the big wires that connect to main breaker are still HOT.

Remove box cover.
240Volt breaker has 2 wires connected with screws.
Test across both screws for 240Volt.
See if wires are loose.
If there is no reading, then breaker is not working on one leg.
To double check, move water heater wires to another same-size 240V breaker and then put ear against water heater to listen for bubbly-fizzing sound.

6) If you are getting 240 to water heater, then wire inside tank could be loose.
Do 30 minute troubleshoot:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

Add a comment for more free help.
Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, fixya expert speaks with you over phone while you work on timer.

If you're talking about the wire leads on the thermostat, they will not pull out -- there built into the thermostat.

The wires fried because of loose connections which cause arcing -- I've seen this many times. The thermostat may still be good -- I'd suggest not replacing it unless it's proven bad or is obviously burned/smoke/charred.

There should be a cover with one or two screws holding it. Remove this to access the connections of the breaker box wires to the thermostat. This is 10 AWG wire and difficult to work with -- just make sure all connections including wire nuts are as tight as you can get them.

And you may only need to cut the burned end of the (breaker box) wires off and reconnect -- depends on how far back they are burned.

Charlie