My Hayward electric spa heater 11KW is coming on for thirty minutes, then throws the breaker. If I switch back on it will throw it again in another 30 mins or so. It appears to be heating then throws the breaker. What do I do to fix this?

Electric heating eliment is shorted together or to ground. .

It's a bad heater element.

Hi and welcoe to FixYa, I am Kelly.
11,000W is the maximum power that it could draw. Given the wattage is over 10,000 I am certain that your Spa / Tub heater is 220 VAC If it is 220 VAC then you will need a 50 Amp breaker. If it only 110 VAC you will need a 100 Amp Breaker. (Gasp!)

Amp consumption will always vary.
Heater on / Off
Number of Blowers and pumps in operation at any given time. Then add lights to the equation. My best guess at any given time it is in "full operation" it will average 6,000 - 7,500 watts. When not in full use it the average amp usage would drop substantially.

Thanks for choosing FixYa,
Kelly

50 amp

It does make a difference as to input voltage. But usually at 11KW this would be a 220V unit and require a 50 amp breaker. 11,000W divided by 220VAC = 50 amps. 230 or 240V input the same 50 A breaker.

Thanks for choosing FixYa.

Kelly

Their is a chatter guard built into the safty circut and it's job odley enough is to stop this from happening. Your heater needs the buffer this provides to keep the thermostat from cycling on and off when you are close to the set point. Good luck with this all the info you should need is in your book.

No, it is not.