Abstract: An electric water heater of the "instantaneous" type heats the water immediately before use as the water flows through a closed small volume container having a water inlet and a water outlet. An electric high wattage immersion heating element in the container is in circuit with a protective thermal cut-out device mounted on the exterior surface of the container. The heating element has a helically coiled portion with a generally U-shaped portion extending therefrom into thermal contact with a portion of the interior wall of the container directly confronting the thermal cut-out device. The helically coiled portion is positioned between the water inlet and the confronting wall portion and the water inlet is so positioned that the water moves in an unbaffled manner within the helically coiled portion toward the confronting wall portion thereby preventing "nuisance tripping" of the thermal cut-out.