Electric water heaters should usually be fed with a minimum of what size copper conductors?

Electric water heaters typically require a minimum of 10-gauge copper conductors to ensure safe and efficient operation. This size conductor is necessary to handle the electrical load of most residential water heaters, which can draw significant amperage.

The larger diameter of a 10-gauge wire reduces the resistance in the electrical circuit, helping to prevent overheating and maintaining performance efficiency. In addition, using the appropriate wire size is crucial for compliance with electrical codes, which are designed to minimize fire hazards and protect electrical systems.

Conductors that are too small, such as 12-gauge or 14-gauge, may not adequately support the required load, leading to potential safety hazards such as overheating, tripping breakers, or even electrical fires. Similarly, a size like 8-gauge would be unnecessarily large for most standard residential water heater applications, resulting in higher material costs without any practical benefit. Therefore, 10-gauge is the recommended and standard choice for electric water heaters in most scenarios.