120V Electric Keggle - 1500W vs. 2000W

[Ohio-Ed]

For a 2000 watt element, you need a 20amp circuit. That means a 20amp breaker, 12 awg wire, a 20 amp GFCI and a 20 amp plug. Any undersized component will cause heat and will trip the breaker.

What kind of GFCI & plug are you using?

I assume you have a 20 amp breaker and probably 12 awg wire... the most likely culprit is the GFCI & plug. A 20 amp plug usually has one of the spades turned sideways. The GFCI should have one of the openings shaped like a "T".

The other thing to keep in mind is anything else on the circuit could put you over 20amps.

 

[pfleming]

For a 2000 watt element, you need a 20amp circuit. That means a 20amp breaker, 12 awg wire, a 20 amp GFCI and a 20 amp plug. Any undersized component will cause heat and will trip the breaker.

What kind of GFCI & plug are you using?

I assume you have a 20 amp breaker and probably 12 awg wire... the most likely culprit is the GFCI & plug. A 20 amp plug usually has one of the spades turned sideways. The GFCI should have one of the openings shaped like a "T".

The other thing to keep in mind is anything else on the circuit could put you over 20amps.

Those are all good suggestions. Unfortunately, I build two elements that are exactly identical (with the minor exception that the one that doesn't work has a shorter cord) and one works and the other doesn't. In addition, I have a 20amp breaker, 12 awg wire, a 20 amp GFCI and a 20 amp plug. I think I might just be screwed.

 

[mattd2]

Have you tested it with just the faulty element plugged in? Could it be a leak through to the other element ground? (not too elec savy so check this statment)

 

[jfkriege]

There could be some sort of short in the element. I know that I burned one out a bit ago (grain husk got stuck in a valve under recirc and dropped fluid level to expose the element), and when I plug it in it trips my GFCI breaker immediately.

Next time, plug in the element for 3 seconds before potting it and see if it gets warm at all. Seriously though, no more than 2-3 seconds.