http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.htmlYou have a 240V electric water heater because you have an upper and lower element
The upper thermostat works in the manner you have discovered.
In residential electric water heaters, the upper element is ON or the lower element is ON, or both elements are OFF.
This is called non-simultaneous operation.
Non-simultaneous operation means the elements are never turned ON at the same time.
Because water heater thermostats only turn off one leg of the 240V circuit, the upper and lower elements will always have power on the two screws, but not across the two screws.
This power is 120V and the circuit is not complete so the element will not heat.
So if you test any element, it will always show at least 120V
Only when the thermostat clicks ON is the 240V circuit completed, and the element turns ON.
Identify the problem:
1) The shortage of hot water is caused by a bad upper or lower thermostat or a bad lower element.
We know the upper element is working because you have some hot water. If the upper element was burned out, you would have no hot water because the upper thermostat would never click over and send power to lower part of water heater.
2) It sounds like your upper thermostat is clicking on and off, so I would test the lower element.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.htmlhttp://waterheatertimer.org/Do-it-yourself-water-heater-timer.htmlAdd a comment if you need more information, and I will help.
The do-it-yourself link above will give you full electrical how-to for self-fixing electric water heaters.
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