Heat Pump Water Heater Circuit
Bradford White AeroTherm (RE Series) Hybrid: Breaker & Wire Size
The circuit the Bradford White AeroTherm (RE Series) Hybrid needs, transcribed from the manufacturer's own spec sheet, with the conductor and ground derived for the stated breaker.
Circuit Spec
| Voltage | 208/240V (240V dedicated) |
| Circuit | dedicated 240V circuit |
| Nameplate element wattage | 4,000 W |
| Nameplate amps | 16.67 A |
| Design amps at 125% (NEC 422.13) | 20.84 A |
| Manufacturer-required breaker | 25 A |
| Conductor for that breaker | #10 Cu |
| Equipment ground | #10 Cu |
| Load-sized circuit (code minimum) | 25A on #10 Cu |
The breaker is the manufacturer-stated value; the conductor and ground derive from that breaker. Under NEC 422.11(E) the overcurrent device must not exceed the rating marked on the appliance, so the nameplate on your unit always governs.
Models & Capacities
Representative models in this line: RE2H50S10, RE2H80T10. Capacities: 50, 80 gallons. The circuit spec above applies across the line as published by Bradford White; confirm against the rating plate on the specific unit.
A Dedicated 240V Circuit
Every 240V hybrid is a dedicated-circuit appliance; Bradford White states a dedicated 25A / 240V circuit for this line, on #10 copper with a #10 ground.
Source
Circuit data transcribed from the manufacturer: Bradford White AeroTherm (RE Series) Hybrid specification, accessed 2026-08-12.
Bradford White's own Installation & Operation manual 238-52169-00C (effective Feb 2022) prints '25 Amp minimum recommended' and a 4000/3004W upper element for the AeroTherm RE2H50S/65T/80T line, so it takes a 25A minimum / 240V dedicated circuit on 10 AWG copper. An earlier Bradford White printing (spec sheet C1900, 07/22) and the reseller copy this entry used to cite both show 4,500W and a 30A minimum, so an older unit in the field may be wired to 30A; that is not a fault and 10 AWG serves both. Follow the rating plate on the unit in front of you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size breaker does the Bradford White AeroTherm (RE Series) Hybrid need?
Bradford White specifies a 25A breaker on a dedicated 240V circuit for this line (models RE2H50S10, RE2H80T10). Under NEC 422.11(E) the overcurrent device must not exceed the rating marked on the appliance, so the nameplate governs. The conductor for a 25A breaker is #10 copper with a #10 copper equipment ground.
How many amps does the Bradford White AeroTherm (RE Series) Hybrid draw?
With its 4,000W element on, it draws 16.67A at 240V (amps = watts / volts). A fixed storage water heater 120 gallons or less is a continuous load under NEC 422.13, so the circuit is sized at 125%: 20.84A design. In heat-pump mode the draw is far lower; the circuit is sized for the element.
Does the Bradford White AeroTherm (RE Series) Hybrid need a dedicated circuit?
Yes. Bradford White states a dedicated 25A / 240V circuit for this line, and every 240V hybrid is a dedicated-circuit appliance. For comparison, a standard 4,500W resistance tank draws 18.75A at 240V, 23.44A at the 125% continuous sizing (NEC 422.13).
What wire size for the Bradford White AeroTherm (RE Series) Hybrid?
#10 copper conductors for the manufacturer-required 25A breaker, with a #10 copper equipment ground sized to the breaker per NEC Table 250.122. Sized from the load alone: 4,000W / 240V = 16.67A, x1.25 continuous = 20.84A (NEC 422.13), which lands on a 25A code-minimum breaker with #10 copper. The manufacturer's marked maximum governs the installed breaker (NEC 422.11(E)).
Compute Your Unit's Exact Amps
Read the watts off the rating plate and enter them below to get the exact draw at 120V or 240V. The rating plate governs over any typical value.
Other Heat Pump Water Heater Circuits
Rheem ProTerra Plug-in Heat Pump (Dedicated Circuit)
120V plug-in, 15A breaker on #14 Cu.
Rheem ProTerra Plug-in Heat Pump with HydroBoost (Shared Circuit)
120V plug-in, 15A breaker on #14 Cu.
GE Profile GeoSpring 120V Plug-in (FlexCapacity)
120V plug-in, 15A breaker on #14 Cu.
Rheem Performance Platinum ProTerra Hybrid (30A)
240V dedicated, 30A breaker on #10 Cu.
Rheem Performance Platinum ProTerra Hybrid (Low-Amp, 15A)
240V dedicated, 15A breaker on #14 Cu.
A.O. Smith Voltex AL (Anti-Leak) Hybrid
240V dedicated, 30A breaker on #10 Cu.
A.O. Smith Voltex Hybrid (HPTU, prior generation)
240V dedicated, 30A breaker on #10 Cu.
State ProLine XE Voltex Hybrid
240V dedicated, 30A breaker on #10 Cu.
GE Profile GeoSpring 240V (FlexCapacity)
240V dedicated, 30A breaker on #10 Cu.
Amps Chart (All Lines)
Every line on one table: watts, amps, breaker, conductor, ground.
120V vs 240V
The two product classes side by side: circuit, wiring, and recovery.
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