Intermatic Electric Water Heater Timer Installation
Intermatic is a manufacturer of electric timers for electric-powered water heaters. The timer controls the on and off operation of the water heater automatically. The timer is typically placed between the main power supply wires and the connection wires of the water heater. Once the timer is properly installed and programmed, the operation reduces the amount of electricity the water heater consumes. In many cases, installing the timer reduces monthly utility bills and pays for itself in less than one year. If you aren't somewhat experienced working with electrical systems, hire an electrician instead of doing this yourself. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Shut off the electrical power to the water heater. Switch off the circuit breaker or pull the fuses that supply power.
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2
Locate the electrical connection for the water heater. Typically the electrical connection is near the top of the water heater storage tank. Remove the single screw that holds the cover to the tank housing. Pull the wires from the recessed electrical box. Twist the wire nuts in a counterclockwise direction exposing the twisted bare wire connection. Separate the two pairs of wires. Generally there is a red and black wire supplying power and a bare copper wire connected directly to the water heater metal housing. Remove the bare copper wire from the green screw. Pull the 3-wire cable assembly free of the water heater.
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3
Secure the Intermatic timer to a nearby wooden framing structure such as a wooden stud. Attach the timer to the wood stud with the screws provided by Intermatic. You may have to remove the internal mechanism to mount the timer. Grasp the top plastic tab above the timer board and pull down. The timer board will fall forward. Replace the timer board by inserting the lower metal tabs into the slots of the housing. Gently push the timer board back under the top plastic tab. Remove the lower wire protection cover before wiring the screw terminals.
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4
Feed the power supply wire, removed from the water heater in Step 2, through the lower wire opening in the Intermatic timer housing. Connect the three wires in the following order: Attach the bare copper wire to the green screw ground-terminal located on the metal housing of the timer. Connect the red supply wire to the screw terminal marked "Line 1." Secure the black wire to the screw terminal identified as "Line 2."
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5
Cut a piece of the 10 AWG 3-wire cable long enough so it will reach from the timer terminals to the water heater connection. Remove the outer insulation with the pocketknife to reveal at least 6 inches of the single wires under the outer sheathing insulation.
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6
Strip 1/2 inch from the ends of the single wires, with the wire strippers, to reveal the bare copper underneath. Run the cable from the timer to the water heater through the wire hole connectors. Tighten the on board cable clamps to the wires, if applicable, with the screwdriver.
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Connect the wires going into the water heater in the same fashion as removed in Step 2. Attach the bare copper wire to the green screw on the water heater housing. Twist the red wire from the cable to the red wire on the water heater with the wire pliers clockwise. Cover the bare copper ends with the wire nut. Perform the same task to the black supply wire and the black wire from the water heater. Replace the cover and the screw removed in Step 2.
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8
Finish connecting the timer by securing the bare copper wire to the green screw ground-terminal on the timer. Attach the black wire from the water heater cable to the screw terminal marked as "Load" or terminal number "4." Secure the red wire from the heater to the other screw terminal identified as "Load" or terminal "5." Replace the wire protection cover over the screw terminals. Turn the electrical power back on.
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Tips & Warnings
Some Intermatic timers may come with a backup battery installation. Follow the instructions for installing the battery on the inside cover of the timer.
AWG is the American Wire Gauge standard.
Follow all local electrical rules as these regulations may supercede those dictated in the National Electrical Code.
