Immersion issue

Snake Plisken

Had this ongoing issue with my standard immerison tank in hotpress, when we moved in had the electrician fit a manual timer switch which failed after a couple of years, I replaced this with one I bought it woodies, wired it up myself but this burnt out after a couple of months same again with the replacement. So bought I decent electronic one in B&Q which nearly burnt the house down some internal fault in the timer caused shorting within it. After that I just did without the timer and just use a manual on off button, also I did find that the wires on the top of the element had melted and had been shorting off the metal cap that covers the element wires. Now when we heat the water there is like a fishy smell coming from the hotpress, I can hear the water kind of hissing and it does heat the water, although I think it overheats it a bit, could this be a faulty thermostat or the element failing?

Any ideas appreciated.

Thanks

Prenderb

Fishy smell sounds like the plastic in the switch melting/burning. I had to replace a shower switch (similar ampage) because of the same reason, and there was signs of melting/burning in there.

Loose connectins are one possible cause, but with the history you've outlined, it might be time to have an electrician look at the installation?

Usual disclaimer applies. I'm not an electrician.

Buford T Justice

If there's burning coming from the immersion itself, then I'd be looking into replacing the immersion in the tank if I was you. Should be better in the long run.

DoneDL

Dont use the immersion until a sparks checks it out, if the immersion is heating the water then you definitely have a wiring problem.

Snake Plisken

DoneDL wrote: »

Dont use the immersion until a sparks checks it out, if the immersion is heating the water then you definitely have a wiring problem.

So it's not an issue with the immersion element? I was going to replace it myself, I can't see the issue with the wiring I've checked it myself and can't see any short, I was thinking its a short in the element or fault with the thermostat, one point the sink/bath switch works only with the bath side which lead me to believe that the smaller part of the element for sink might be causing the issue.

mattjack

hi, sorry to hear bout your immersion problems.the fishy type smell your talking about is insulation from cables being pinched by the terminal screws in the actual immersion switch.if your having the type of problems your talking about you need to get an electrician to check all connections including the terminations at the connection point on top of the immersion.
.i,ve seen and corrected the type of problems your describing a few times over the years and a competent electrician will even check and change the element in your immersion if neccessary.
good luck.

meercat

agree with all the posters who said not to use immersion
that fishy smell is possibly bakelite from the switch or immersion melting
dont use until a sparks checks it out

Joey the lips

with due respect judging by your history i advise you get an electrician.

esox28

get an electrician, the only think i know is an immersion timer should be min rate of 16 amp