I think so.

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I was sweating it.  That pop, fizzle, crack, and small reams of smoke... made me nervous.  Still?  I can't afford a plumber, or electrician, or whatnot this month.  And a month without hot water is pushing it even for me.

Everything that panned out led me to a bit more.  First, no spraying after turning on the water.  No leaks.  So, on to removing the lower thermostat.  It was dry fore and aft, top to bottom.  The plate, the plate abutment zone, the fiddlies and else.  Dry clean through.  And, it was simple.

I didn't replace the upper thermostat.  I did run half a dozen crosswise tests.  I just didn't want to replace what wasn't needed to be replaced, for a dozen reasons.  I tested the elements, again, again.  Good.  Then I got the part, the lower thermostat, new, down.  Gingerly figured out how to get the shot, old, bottom thermostat out.  Clips, metal.  Still, was careful.  Pot metal, trash, easy to break, meant to break.  Got it out.  Looked over the new one, fitted it in, after checking three times for moisture, where it was to go.

Click.  Nice.  In.  Then I got the wiring set up.  Not so tight anything stripped, but right to the tightness it would go... shifting things, or trying to, to make sure there wasn't hidden space in the connections.  Good, all good.  Next?  To power it up.

Oh... I... really didn't want to do that.  Damned thing made me jump out of my skin last time.  Ah, but the breaker box had been on a screw.  That screw was too tight to remove the box.  But, where the box was, I couldn't open it to check fuses.  Bleh!  So, I loosened the screw.  It was too tight to put it back. I was barely able to get it off.  Just loose enough so that it would fit slightly snug.  I can take if off if needed, but it won't just bump off.  Done.

With that arranged, and else ready?  Snap!  Those fuse switches are loud and strong.  On?  It... didn't make any sound, or burp, gurgle, nothing.  I still had the multimeter down there.  I checked the voltage... 242?  Okay.  It is rated for 240 to 250.  Good enough.  I was sweating this whole time.

The reset button?  That is closer than I wanted to get.  But... so be it.  I clicked on it.  Nothing.  It didn't need reset.  I adjusted the temps, higher on top, lower on bottom.  The device only heats one element at a time.  And, with a temp difference, it causes the water to migrate.  It is supposed to be more efficient.  True?  Dunno, but... know that it will cause flow, in the tank, not a bad thing.  I think, to my mind.

So...  So?  I guess I just have to wait an hour and see.  Having even cold water back online in nice though.  *flush*  I had a bucket of water, since I have a sceptic tank.  Just add a bit of water.  But I was running out of that.  I hate leaving even pee in, though should have.  Only flushing every other time on that, and every bm of course.  But no.  Still, I have it back flushing.  Plus, I refilled the bucket in case I had to turn the water off.

I've got a nervous headache.  But, I think I did it.  I'll find out before long.  Plus, with the top thermostat probably running until it got to temp, I won't know about the bottom one until later.  And I won't know about the water heating at all for... what... an hour?  I'll check at about 17:00. perhaps an half hour after.

Nice, if it works.  Not even bad if it doesn't.  I have learned a lot.  Both good and bad lessons.  If often it's the bad ones that stick more definitely?  Later.