I have a Rheem 82V52-1 Fury Electric Water Heater. The breaker keeps tripping atfer about five minutes of use. I uncovered the Bottom Element and Tested it with a Multimeter. Reads about 6 Ohms, Seems to have water dripping out of the head of the Element. Do I need any special Element for this? Or can I pick up a generic one at lows that fits its specs of 240V/208 5500W?

Turn power off. Open covers and inspect for burned parts.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html#trip-breaker

Test elements. Marathon takes specific element, and does not use generic element from hardware store.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

It could be element shorted to ground through steel tank, so don't touch tank when breaker is ON.
Or you have undersized 12 gauge wire and 20 amp breaker and the heat has loosened breaker on the busbar. Breaker trips when heat exceeds breaker limit. Jiggle breaker and listen for crackling sound.

To restore hot water now:
Turn off circuit breaker, and open top cover then Push in reset button on top of heater to restore functionality. Put back insulation and factory cover.
To fix water heater: test and replace bad element.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
If problems continue
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html#trip-breaker
http://waterheatertimer.org/Troubleshoot-household-electricity.html

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

Copy following link for troubleshoot walk-thru for electric water heater tripping breaker:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html#trip-breaker

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

You posted under Rheem 40 gallon electric water heater, which is two-element 240Volt heater.
If this is not your heater, add a comment.

If you suddenly have no hot water, that narrows the suspect list.

Step1:
Check for tripped circuit breaker.
Open top cover on water heater and push in reset button on upper thermostat.
If reset button is tripped out, and will not push back in, then replace upper thermostat.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html
Put ear against tank and listen for bubbly-fizzing sound that says heater is ON.
If reset is not tripped, then move to step 2

Step 2: use tester or multi-meter and test across top two screws on upper thermostat for 240Volt.
If heater is not getting 240V, then test circuit breaker.
Move water heater wires from 240V breaker to another same-amp 240V breaker and see if that restores power.
You may need to replace breaker:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-circuit-breaker.html
If problem persists, then you might have a line problem between breaker and water heater.
Open cover on top of heater, and check connections on top of heater.

Step 3:
If heater is getting 240V, then upper thermostat or upper element is bad.
I suggest 30 minute troubleshooting which could save you a service call, and will be valuable information in the future:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

Add a comment for more free help.
Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, fixya expert speaks with you over phone while you work on timer.

You have electric water heater.
Electric water heaters are fully repairable by homeowner, excluding hybrid type.

Rheem electric water heaters:
http://www.rheem.com/products/tank_water_heaters/electric_water_heaters/
Rheem fury series manuals and models
http://www.rheem.com/product.aspx?id=09DF2BDD-5E11-4D32-B574-84ACFB8A4619

Age of Rheem water heater is shown first 4 digits of serial number located on side of tank: for example 0705 means July 2005.
Serial number also shows model number & wattage of elements in case you need to buy new generic 4-bolt type 4500 Watt element from hardware store.

A) If your water heater receives very cold incoming water, it may not heat fast enough to keep tank warm.
Add a tempering tank.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Tempering-tank.html
Add insulation over entire water heater except TP valve. Insulate pipes completely.
Read more information:
http://waterheatertimer.org/9-ways-to-save-with-water-heater.html

B) 40 or 50 gallon water heater is 240Volts and tank will have 2 access panels on front.
Rheem ships all water heaters with 4500 Watt elements.

Narrow down the suspects:
C) Water heater has some hot water.
This tells us upper element is working.
And that water heater electricity is working.
And that reset button is not tripped.
And that heater is not experiencing run-away overheating event.

That gives us 3 solid suspects.
1) lower element is burned out. Test lower element using inexpensive multi-meter from Home Depot.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
Replace element with same wattage shown on label, and clean out sediment:
This will restore water heater to full 99% efficiency.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-clean-sediment-out-of-electric-water-heater.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/Clean-sediment-out-of-water-heater.html

2) Upper or lower thermostat is bad. Replace both thermostats for about $25.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html
If you want to test thermostats and all parts before replacing anything:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

3) Burned or shorted wire. Turn off power. Open covers on side of tank. Remove insulation. Inspect parts for signs of high heat and burning. Especially lower element. Tighten any loose wires. Replace part that shows signs of burning.
Put insulation and cover back over thermostats so cooler outside temperature doesn't cause thermostat to misread tank temperature.

Rheem 4500 watt element

You have electric water heater.
Electric water heaters are fully repairable by homeowner, excluding hybrid type.

Rheem electric water heaters:
http://www.rheem.com/products/tank_water_heaters/electric_water_heaters/
Rheem fury series manuals and models
http://www.rheem.com/product.aspx?id=09DF2BDD-5E11-4D32-B574-84ACFB8A4619

Age of Rheem water heater is first 4 digits of serial number located on side of tank: for example 0705 means July 2005.
Serial number also shows model number & wattage of elements.

A) If your water heater receives very cold incoming water, it may not heat fast enough to keep tank warm.
Add a tempering tank.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Tempering-tank.html
Add insulation over entire water heater except TP valve. Insulate pipes completely.
Read more information:
http://waterheatertimer.org/9-ways-to-save-with-water-heater.html

B) If cold outside temperatures are not to blame, your water heater may have a bad thermostat or bad lower element.

C) 40 or 50 gallon water heater is 240Volts and tank will have 2 access panels on front.
Rheem ships all water heaters with 4500 Watt elements.

Narrow down the suspects:
D) Water heater has some hot water.
This tells us upper element is working.
And that water heater electricity is working.
And that reset button is not tripped.
And that heater is not experiencing run-away overheating event.

That gives us 3 solid suspects.
1) lower element is burned out. Test lower element using inexpensive multi-meter from Home Depot.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
Replace element with same wattage shown on label, and clean out sediment:
This will restore water heater to full 99% efficiency.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-clean-sediment-out-of-electric-water-heater.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/Clean-sediment-out-of-water-heater.html

2) Upper or lower thermostat is bad. Replace both thermostats for about $25.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html
If you want to test thermostats and all parts before replacing anything:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

3) Burned or shorted wire. Turn off power. Open covers on side of tank. Remove insulation. Inspect parts for signs of high heat and burning. Especially lower element. Tighten any loose wires. Replace part that shows signs of burning.
Put insulation and cover back over thermostats so cooler outside temperature doesn't cause thermostat to misread tank temperature.
Rheem element

If I understand correctly, you have electric water heater.
Heater suddenly stopped heating.

Four things cause sudden loss of water heater.
1) Reset button located under the top cover is tripped > turn off power, remove cover, press reset button > if reset keeps tripping, go to the troubleshooting link shown below.
2) Electric power to heater is interrupted > check circuit breaker > test for voltage > look for loose wire on breaker
3) Upper element burned out > test and replace element
4) Upper thermostat bad > replace upper thermostat

Reset button is best suspect.
Here is a link for complete troubleshoot and homeowner repair of electric water heater:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-water-heater.html

Hi , when a breaker trips immediately, that can indicate a problem in the circuit. But the circuit stays on for a bit , then trips, so there is a problem with the heater. Could be that a thermoastat or heating element is shorted out. You can replace these items yourself, I would check the heat element first. Or there may be some corosion residue around the heater terminals.

you have a couple things that may cause this. you may have a bad element a bad thermastat a tripped eco (emergency cut off ) or problem with electric suppling heater.if you have no electric backround or training you should call a pro

I would say you have a bad element in the bottom.If the water is cold and heat until the top thermostat reach it tempture,then switch the bottom element and then the breaker trip.So replace the bottom element.