Hot water heater. Did I eff something up?

Long story short. I just replaced the top element in my hot water tank. Put it all back together, hooked the leads back up.

I ohmed it out and it ohmed good. I turned power back on and went to test continuity and when I touched the screws one of the tested probes sparked and it smoked my mulimeter.

So my question is simple. Did I do something wrong? There are only two leads going to the element and they are not marked and the element is not marked for specificity either.

So what did I do? Was it just dumb luck that my multimeter smoked on the element I just changed?

I am keeping a close eye on it, and water seems to be getting hot again so its working properly. I just don't want a damn electrical fire or something stupid.

did you have your multimeter set to measure amps instead of volts?

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Originally Posted by NickS VR4

did you have your multimeter set to measure amps instead of volts?

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And if it was set to measure amps, is your MM capable of handling the current it would have been measuring?

Usually to test continuity you don't even use the Amperage jumpers so not sure why I added that statement lol

Just had it on audible continuity setting.

I ran down to the hardware store and bought a new multimeter.

Now I am getting 240 to both thermostats like I should.

I have no power at the elements, other than 120 off each side, which should be right since the water is hot.

Can't test continuity in a live circuit with a meter. It'll blow the meter... How it tests ohms/continuity is the meter sends battery voltage through the circuit and measures the voltage on the other probe.

That was a duh moment on my part. Thanks Matt.

Everything still seems to be working well. I took an awesomely hot shower last night.

should be able to open the amp meter up and replace a fuse, we used to burn a fuse a week in a meter when i was fresh in college

Nah man, it literally smoked. The audible beep was going off constantly until I pulled the battery.

Measuring voltage with a multimeter is just detecting the voltage potential between two points. Your multimeter in this case is set up "in parallel" with the circuit.

Measuring current or continuity now makes your multimeter part of the circuit with current flowing through your multimeter. Your multimeter in these cases is "in series" with the circuit. Your multimeter will have an internal fuse which will blow in the event of overcurrent. Like the guy above said, test for continuity on an uncharged circuit.

why would you need something to heat "hot water"? it's already hot. ;)