In North America it takes two "hot" wires to obtain 240 volts.
The size of wire needed for a hot water heater depends on the heater's wattage and the distance from the electrical panel. It is recommended to consult a professional electrician to determine the appropriate wire size for your specific hot water heater.
10/3 wire with 30 amp double pole breaker from panel box to water heater.
does a water heater require a ground wire?
Any ground wire has to be connected to an independent ground wire that returns directly to the distribution panel and not to the neutral of the circuit.
The wire size is dependent upon the wattage size of your water heater. The higher the wattage the larger the wire size. A standard 3000 watt heater will use a two pole 20 amp breaker connected to 2C #12 wire.
Look to see if the 30 amp panel is fed with a two wire or a three wire. If it is a two wire then you are out of luck. If the panel is fed with a three wire then the panel should have the neutral terminated in the panel. It is this neutral that you need for 120 volt connections. You didn't state how many panel slots there are in the panel. If you are able install a 15 amp breaker into the panel and connect the wires going to the load. The black wire will go to the breaker and the white wire will go to the neutral bar in the panel.
To properly ground a water heater, follow these steps: Turn off the power supply to the water heater. Locate the grounding screw or terminal on the water heater. Connect a copper grounding wire to the grounding screw or terminal. Securely attach the other end of the grounding wire to a grounding rod or the main electrical panel. Turn the power supply back on and test the water heater to ensure it is functioning properly. Grounding helps prevent electrical shocks and ensures the safe operation of the water heater.
To ensure the proper grounding of your water heater for safety and efficiency, you should hire a licensed electrician to install a dedicated grounding wire connected to the water heater's metal casing and the main electrical panel. This will help prevent electrical shocks and ensure the water heater functions properly.
On a 120/240 volt distribution system the ground wire is terminated at the point where the service neutral terminated in the distribution panel. It is usually a double lug the neutral wire connecting into one hole and the ground wire connecting into the other hole. Through this lug assembly there is a machine screw that is inserted through the lug assembly and it screws into the metallic enclosure of the distribution panel. This action bonds the metal enclosure, neutral wire and ground wire bringing the point to a common potential of zero.
To properly wire a double pole breaker for 240V, connect the two hot wires to the breaker terminals, the neutral wire to the neutral bus bar, and the ground wire to the ground bus bar in the electrical panel. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and local electrical codes for safety.
The recommended wire size for a 240V electrical circuit is typically 10-gauge wire.
Yes it can be done that way. Just make sure to use a double-pole breaker to ensure each wire is on an opposite phase.