immersion overheating water

alanmc87 · 07-06-2012 05:18PM #1

Hi my immersion seems to be overheating the water. would have it on sink for a half hour and the water is scalding. It only seems to be drawing 3amps aswell only using a fluke open jaw meter. new thermostat maybe?

meercat · 07-06-2012 05:20PM

alanmc87 wrote: »

Hi my immersion seems to be overheating the water. would have it on sink for a half hour and the water is scalding. It only seems to be drawing 3amps aswell only using a fluke open jaw meter. new thermostat maybe?

doubt if its only drawing 3amps to be honest
rough guide 1kw=5amps

possibly wired wrong

meercat · 07-06-2012 05:22PM

alanmc87 wrote: »

using a fluke open jaw meter

you need to be on the individual core to test correctly

alanmc87 · 07-06-2012 05:23PM

seems to be wired correctly bath and sink are switching on fine and get 230 across them. just fitted a timeclock for the sink only.

meercat · 07-06-2012 05:25PM

alanmc87 wrote: »

just fitted a timeclock for the sink only.

should have fitted the clock before the switch
this would give you the option to choose sink/bath

alanmc87 · 07-06-2012 05:30PM

i get a reading of 24ohms on the sink and 16ohms on the bath. i took a feed+n + sw to the timeclock and joined the black cable in the immersion switch. they seem to be switchin over fine cant understand why its geting so hot.i thought that would be fine maybe not? just bought a fluke t5-600 thought i would of being able to measure current through the leads. but only seems to measure current through the jaw.

meercat · 07-06-2012 05:42PM

alanmc87 wrote: »

i get a reading of 24ohms on the sink and 16ohms on the bath. i took a feed+n + sw to the timeclock and joined the black cable in the immersion switch. they seem to be switchin over fine cant understand why its geting so hot.i thought that would be fine maybe not? just bought a fluke t5-600 thought i would of being able to measure current through the leads. but only seems to measure current through the jaw.

seems complicated(cant understand what you done tbh)
live neutral earth into timeclock
live neutral earth from clock to switch
cable from switch to immersion(blue/neutral black/sink brown/bath)newer immersions

meercat · 07-06-2012 05:45PM

if you need to test the current drawn(amps)
put the jaws of your meter around the neutral wire and test for sink and then bath
do not do this if you are not competent as the power needs to be on to test this

alanmc87 · 07-06-2012 05:52PM

i have a l+n+e from a 13a spur to the immersion switch. took a l+n+sw to timeclock the sw at the timeclock is used to switch the sink wire which is the black cable i joined it in the immersion switch in a connector.And the brown cable for the bath is still switched at the immersion switch. hope it is clearer m8. maybe there is no problem but seems very hot to me!

meercat · 07-06-2012 05:58PM

alanmc87 wrote: »

i have a l+n+e from a 13a spur to the immersion switch. took a l+n+sw to timeclock the sw at the timeclock is used to switch the sink wire which is the black cable i joined it in the immersion switch in a connector.And the brown cable for the bath is still switched at the immersion switch. hope it is clearer m8. maybe there is no problem but seems very hot to me!

no its not clear at all

my advise now is to get someone competent to have a look at this for you

you shouldnt have a 13amp spur for starters
think you need professional help here

alanmc87 · 07-06-2012 06:03PM

13a spur should be ok on a ring circuit??

meercat · 07-06-2012 06:04PM

alanmc87 wrote: »

13a spur should be ok on a ring circuit??

immersion should be on its own circuit(rcd protected)
an immersion will draw 13amps on bath alone

DublinDilbert · 07-06-2012 06:07PM

what sort of thermostat is fitted? what is its setting? can you see it turning on / off on your clamp meter?

The time switch should be fitted before the bath/sink switch as others have said...

alanmc87 · 07-06-2012 06:22PM

its an old element maybe 10 years old no thermostat is on the element. i have tested it and is switching on and of on the element no problem getting 230 when timeclock is on and 230 when immersion sw is on. and nothing when they are of. i am just finished my apprenticship but immersions are fairly new to me. the whole tank seems to be scalding when the timeclock is on for 30mins and checked for power when its on and only getting power on the black cable. its a 3kw element top entry cylinder

alanmc87 · 07-06-2012 06:25PM

what is the problem with taking the supply for the timeclock of the immersion sw

DublinDilbert · 07-06-2012 06:27PM

alanmc87 wrote: »

its an old element maybe 10 years old no thermostat is on the element. i have tested it and is switching on and of on the element no problem getting 230 when timeclock is on and 230 when immersion sw is on. and nothing when they are of. i am just finished my apprenticship but immersions are fairly new to me. the whole tank seems to be scalding when the timeclock is on for 30mins and checked for power when its on and only getting power on the black cable.

There has to be a thermostat, i'm wondering has someone removed it cause its faulty. The thermostat is usually in a pipe that goes down inside the cylinder and allows you to set the temperature.

If there's no thermostat the water can get very warm. You need a thermostat otherwise you'll end up boiling over and sending water up the expansion pipe into the coldwater tank in the attic.

meercat · 07-06-2012 06:32PM

alanmc87 wrote: »

its an old element maybe 10 years old no thermostat is on the element. i have tested it and is switching on and of on the element no problem getting 230 when timeclock is on and 230 when immersion sw is on. and nothing when they are of. i am just finished my apprenticship but immersions are fairly new to me. the whole tank seems to be scalding when the timeclock is on for 30mins and checked for power when its on and only getting power on the black cable. its a 3kw element top entry cylinder

if its an old immersion then possibly
blue/sink
black/bath
brown/neutral
this was the old color scheme(all changed since)
check your wiring again

all immersions have a thermostat somewhere

meercat · 07-06-2012 06:33PM

DublinDilbert wrote: »

There has to be a thermostat, i'm wondering has someone removed it cause its faulty. The thermostat is usually in a pipe that goes down inside the cylinder and allows you to set the temperature.

If there's no thermostat the water can get very warm. You need a thermostat otherwise you'll end up boiling over and sending water up the expansion pipe into the coldwater tank in the attic.

agree

meercat · 07-06-2012 06:35PM

alanmc87 wrote: »

what is the problem with taking the supply for the timeclock of the immersion sw

best practice to place the clock first

otherwise there may be a live wire at the immersion even if clock is turned off

Yzf R6 · 07-06-2012 06:38PM

Definitely thermostat,either faulty or set too high.

alanmc87 · 07-06-2012 06:46PM

i cant see a thermostat on the element ha it should be visible right?? the connections are correct as i tested for R and got 24ohms across sink (black cable) and 16 across bath(brown cable). seems quiet high for a 3kw element 40ohms?

alanmc87 · 07-06-2012 06:59PM

guessing ill replace the element it could be 20 years old anyway but never noticed a problem with it b4

Diggerdunne · 07-06-2012 08:22PM

maybe put up a pic of the immersion and see if we can see the thermostat....

K.Flyer · 07-06-2012 08:50PM

alanmc87 wrote: »

i cant see a thermostat on the element ha it should be visible right?? the connections are correct as i tested for R and got 24ohms across sink (black cable) and 16 across bath(brown cable). seems quiet high for a 3kw element 40ohms?

The readings are not too far off. But there should be a thermostat on the neutral (blue) cable before it joins the common pillar of the elements. Is there a small approx 10mm hole (pocket) in the centre of the unit? This is where the thermostat should be located.
The immersion should be, as said in an earlier post, be wired directly to the board. Incorrectly wired immersions can cause fires, best to get a qualified person to sort it out for you.

alanmc87 · 07-06-2012 09:00PM

DSC00369.jpg

Diggerdunne · 07-06-2012 09:04PM

maybe there is a wrap around stat on the cylinder????

alanmc87 · 07-06-2012 09:07PM

IM AFRAID NOT M8 STRANGE ONE ??

Yzf R6 · 07-06-2012 09:14PM

Take off all lagging and look for a stat,if you can't find one your probably better off buying a new immersion heater for your own peace of mind and not to mention your electricity bill.Have you had the heater long?

K.Flyer · 07-06-2012 09:21PM

Yzf R6 wrote: »

Take off all lagging and look for a stat,if you can't find one your probably better off buying a new immersion heater for your own peace of mind and not to mention your electricity bill.Have you had the heater long?

+1

That unit looks very odd (and old), I can easy say I have changed hundreds of immersions over the years and not seen one like that.

alanmc87 · 07-06-2012 09:21PM

IV LEAVED HERE FOR 25 YEARS (ALL MY LIFE) IT HADNT BEIN USED MUCH ONLY FOR THE BATH,USED THE GAS TO HEAT IT USUALLY AND NEVER GOT NEAR AS HOT (WATER). IT COULD BE THERE LONGER MY DAD IS HERE 35 YEARS ILL FIND OUT 2MORO. ILL GET A NEW ELEMENT. WOULDNT NEED TO DRAIN THAT TANK ATTAL WOULD I ?? I TINK ITS HERE 20 YEARS NOT SURE. IT WAS ON A RADIAL. BUT SOMEONE TAPPED OF IT FOR THE ATTIC CIRCUIT. SO NEW SUPPLY FOR THE ATTIC????

K.Flyer · 07-06-2012 09:24PM

alanmc87 wrote: »

IV LEAVED HERE FOR 25 YEARS (ALL MY LIFE) IT HADNT BEIN USED MUCH ONLY FOR THE BATH,USED THE GAS TO HEAT IT USUALLY AND NEVER GOT NEAR AS HOT (WATER). IT COULD BE THERE LONGER MY DAD IS HERE 35 YEARS ILL FIND OUT 2MORO. ILL GET A NEW ELEMENT. WOULDNT NEED TO DRAIN THAT TANK ATTAL WOULD I ??

A certain amount of draining down will be required. Its getting it out without damage to the cylinder I'd be worried about.
Remember to measure the height of the cylinder as you will need it to size the immersion element correctly.

immersion overheating water

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