Thermal cut-out arrangement for an electric water heater

An electric water heater of the type which heats the water immediately before use as the water passes through a container, the heater comprising a closed container, a continuous electric immersion heating element extending within the container, a water inlet to and a water outlet from the container and a thermal cut-out device in circuit with the heating element and mounted on the exterior of the container and adapted to cut off electric current to the heating element at a predetermined temperature, wherein the heating element has a helically coiled portion and a generally U-shaped portion extending from said helically coiled portion, the closed part of said generally U-shaped portion extending substantially into thermal contact with the interior wall of the container directly confronting the thermal cut-out device, the helically coiled portion of the heating element being positioned between the water inlet and the portion of the container wall confronting the thermal cut-out device, and the water inlet being arranged so as to discharge cold water into the interior of the helically coiled portion such that the water moves in an unbaffled manner within the helically coiled portion toward the confronting wall portion of the container, whereby preventing "nuisance tripping" of the thermal cut-out.