Touch one probe of the multimeter to each terminal on the lower thermostat.
Test upper thermostat electric water heater.
Connect the multimeter pin ends on point 1 2 as shown in the picture below.
The structure of an electric water heater is pretty simple.
The upper thermostat has two functions.
Start by checking the thermostat terminals for the supply of power.
Testing the water heater thermostat involves the checking of the heating element also.
One should be sitting on the top of unit 1.
Using the multimeter connections touch the top to legs at the same time.
This is important especially as open and grounded heating elements result in inaccurate tests.
Before you proceed further with the process of testing the heater thermostat take a screwdriver and the multimeter.
However they do go bad and testing water heater thermostats is still required.
Leave the upper thermostat in the lowest setting and test the lower thermostat.
While the other is found right on the bottom.
Test the water heater thermostat.
And when it comes to thermostats the device uses two of them generally.
To look for faults you will need to use a screwdriver.
Your water heater usually has two elements and two thermostats.
The reading on the multimeter should be zero.
Check the power supply of the thermostat.
If the water is hot enough at appointed temperature the meter won t show reading.
If the opposite thing happens that means your thermostat has defected.
If you get the reading of 240v on terminal 1 and terminal 3 then the power is on but if you get no readings then the power is off.
If you have a voltage stick you can use that as well.
If you want to test a thermostat on an electric water heater you will also need to check the heating element.
The meter should read 0.
The lower thermostat has only two terminals.
Use the screwdriver to set the lower thermostat to the highest setting.
In this case also check the current at the high limit switch.
First it allows the upper element to heat the water in the top of the tank.
When this water is hot enough it shuts the upper element off.
To look at the faults in the upper thermostat you need to turn off the lower one.