Before you buy a new one, check with your electric company. My rural electric Coop gives free water heaters if you will let them put in a switch that allows them to shut off the water heater remotely during peak demand periods, if necessary. If mine has ever been shut off, I didn't know it.
How do they work that remote turn off? (I've heard of the technology but not seen it yet.) Do they just use a switch with a really long knob? [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] Send a surge down the power line? [img]/forums/images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Radio Control? Phone line connection? [img]/forums/images/icons/confused.gif[/img]
<font color="blue">How do they work that remote turn off? </font color>
Attached is a picture. There's no phone connection and no visible antenna, so I assume they send a signal through the power lines. We've had it installed as long as the co-op has offered them. The one pictured is the second generation model as the co-op has upgraded them once. This is also the second water heater it's been on. The little dot that's above and to the left of the yellow sticker is a red light which comes on if power to your heater has been interrupted. As Chuck mentioned, if ours has been interrupted, I haven't noticed it.
<font color="blue"> Almost looks like a meter base with a metal cover on it. Is that about the right size?
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Yep. The gray part is actually plastic.
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