Here is the spec sheet and your unit is a 13kw.
Tankless water heater wire gauge.
Recommended minimum wire gauge.
For example a 20 amp hot water heater needs 12 gauge wire a 25 amp hot water heater requires 10 gauge wire and a 30 to 40 amp hot water heater requires 8 gauge wire.
The water heater should not have wiring coming out of it for splicing.
This electrical wiring project is about how to connect the wires from the circuit breakers to a ecosmart 18 tankless water heater.
1 x 30 amps.
2 x 40 amps dp.
Electrical wire for electrical repairs and home remodel projects.
4 x 40 amps dp.
3 x 40 amps dp.
1 x 60 amps dp.
There should be terminals on the bottom of the unit which would accept a minimum of 6 gauge wire 240 volt coming from a 60 amp double pole breaker.
This way you are sure to protect the wire gauge of the circuit.
If the existing cable is 12 2 type tn copper with tw or thw insulation then a 2pole 25amp breaker would be correct.
More about electrical wiring for a water heater.
1 x 40 amps dp.
Details the electrical requirements for the stiebel eltron tankless water heaters including amperage electrical service required wire gauge and breaker sizes that are recommended by the manufacturer etc.
Wire a hot water heater with wire that s sized to accommodate the heater s current requirement.
Wire connections for a ecosmart 18 tankless water heater.
Wires to the tankless water heater reviewing the electrical question.