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Immersion elements blowing

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  • 17-08-2020 11:36am
    #1
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭


    Hi I have had this problem for years the immersion works on sink but blows on bath , I have had the element changed about 5 times and it still happens, element no BT11 , I think , can any one advice pls
    Its driving me nuts


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    #2
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    What is showing this, trip switch going off?


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    #3
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭redcatstar


    Bruthal wrote: »
    What is showing this, trip switch going off?

    Yes trip switch goes within mins of bath been turned on ok on sink


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    #4
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,462 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Have you talked to an electrician? My bath element is rated at 2.8 kW, the sink is 2 kW. It sounds like the circuit can't handle the bath load. Is the power coming from a dedicated circuit?


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    #5
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭redcatstar


    coylemj wrote: »
    Have you talked to an electrician? My bath element is rated at 2.8 kW, the sink is 2 kW. It sounds like the circuit can't handle the bath load. Is the power coming from a dedicated circuit?
    Thanks no electrician ever mentioned it but I never asked either. How could that be fixed


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    #6
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    It is usually the element casing which fails, but put up a photo of the breaker that is tripping, if possible.

    They trip breakers earlier when there is an RCD on them, often used to see elements directly exposed to the water when it was Just MCBs on them.

    If it is a failed element, and happens relatively often, it might be hard water and limescale build up, which causes the element itself to overheat. Either that, or the water is somehow more corrosive than normal.


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    #7
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,462 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    redcatstar wrote: »
    Yes trip switch goes within mins of bath been turned on ok on sink

    Did that happen with all of the five elements you've had fitted? Straight from new, or does it take a few months before it happens?

    Do you know the specs of the current element? Can you read the power rating from the top of the element?


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    #8
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭redcatstar


    Not sure wat you meant ,attaching 3 photos


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    #9
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭redcatstar


    Not sure wat you meant ,attaching 3 photos


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    #10
    moceri
    Registered Users Posts: 455 ✭✭moceri


    Replace with an INCOLOY element at the next failure. These are more robust.


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    #11
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭redcatstar


    2


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    #12
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭redcatstar


    3


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    #13
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭redcatstar


    Hi
    Can you explain wat that is pls


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    #14
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭redcatstar


    coylemj wrote: »
    Did that happen with all of the five elements you've had fitted? Straight from new, or does it take a few months before it happens?

    Do you know the specs of the current element? Can you read the power rating from the top of the element?
    Almost immediately wen put on bath
    15A 250v- is that wat you mean


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    #15
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭redcatstar


    moceri wrote: »
    Replace with an INCOLOY element at the next failure. These are more robust.

    Wat is this pls


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    #16
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    redcatstar wrote: »
    Wat is this pls
    Alloy more resistant to heat etc than copper clad elements.


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    #17
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    redcatstar wrote: »
    Almost immediately wen put on bath
    15A 250v- is that wat you mean

    Photo of the tripswitch that's tripping?


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    #18
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,462 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    redcatstar wrote: »
    Hi I have had this problem for years the immersion works on sink but blows on bath , I have had the element changed about 5 times and it still happens, element no BT11 , I think , can any one advice pls

    Have you replaced the BT11 gadget (as shown in the photo) five times? That's the thermostat, it's not the cause of the problem. Your problem is with the immersion element, specifically the bath part (it's a dual element) is drawing too much power and tripping the circuit.


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    #19
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭redcatstar


    coylemj wrote: »
    Have you replaced the BT11 gadget (as shown in the photo) five times? That's the thermostat, it's not the cause of the problem. Your problem is with the immersion element, specifically the bath part (it's a dual element) is drawing too much power and tripping the circuit.

    Oh that's not the problem so is the problem the tank or were can I find it pls, haven't a clue


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    #20
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭redcatstar


    Is that long piece the element and on top the thermostat pls


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    #21
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,462 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    redcatstar wrote: »
    Oh that's not the problem so is the problem the tank or were can I find it pls, haven't a clue

    There is a small silver cylinder at the top of your immersion tank, underneath it is the top of the heating mechanism which consists of two heating elements which go down into the tank. The shorter element is rated at about 2 kW and is powered when the switch is set to 'Sink', the longer element is rated at closer to 3 kW and is powered when the switch is set to 'Bath'.


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    #22
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,462 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    redcatstar wrote: »
    Is that long piece the element and on top the thermostat pls

    No, that whole thing is the thermostat. The rod is what picks up the temperature of the water, it's not a heating element. The neutral connection goes through it, it's common to both the sink and bath circuits so it cuts off the power when the set temperature is reached.


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    #23
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭redcatstar


    coylemj wrote: »
    There is a small silver cylinder at the top of your immersion tank, underneath it is the top of the heating mechanism which consists of two heating elements which go down into the tank. The shorter element is rated at about 2 kW and is powered when the switch is set to 'Sink', the longer element is rated at closer to 3 kW and is powered when the switch is set to 'Bath'.

    Ok so I wont be able to see this myself but do I take it then when the thermostat is taken out, the element is under that and can be taken out and replaced


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    #24
    meercat
    Registered Users Posts: 4,745 ✭✭✭meercat


    Bruthal wrote: »
    Photo of the tripswitch that's tripping?

    Can you post a picture of the tripswitch op?


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    #25
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,462 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    redcatstar wrote: »
    Ok so I wont be able to see this myself but do I take it then when the thermostat is taken out, the element is under that and can be taken out and replaced

    I wouldn't assume that. The immersion is not 'under' the thermostat.

    Changing the thermostat is something an amateur can do. I'd be getting a professional to install a new immersion element.


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    #26
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    coylemj wrote: »
    Have you replaced the BT11 gadget (as shown in the photo) five times? That's the thermostat, it's not the cause of the problem. Your problem is with the immersion element, specifically the bath part (it's a dual element) is drawing too much power and tripping the circuit.

    Or the element is split. If each time it's replaced it works for a while, months or a year, it's the element itself likely the problem.

    A photo of the tripping breaker might help to get some idea


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    #27
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭redcatstar


    meercat wrote: »
    Can you post a picture of the tripswitch op?

    This?


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    #28
    Cerco
    Registered Users Posts: 2,041 ✭✭✭Cerco


    Could be the bath element touching the side of the cylinder, causing a hot spot that causes the casing to degrade over time. Then it shorts off the cylinder.......puff.
    Did you inspect the faulty elements Op?


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    #29
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭redcatstar


    meercat wrote: »
    Can you post a picture of the tripswitch op?

    This ??


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    #30
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    Cerco wrote: »
    Could be the bath element touching the side of the cylinder, causing a hot spot that causes the casing to degrade over time. Then it shorts off the cylinder.......puff.
    Did you inspect the faulty elements Op?

    Yes that's something I was going to say earlier, forgot to add it. It sometimes ends up bet unto the cylinder heating coil from central heating. I have replaced them before where it was hard to avoid. Ended up slightly changing the plane of the cylinder threaded hole to get around it.


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    #31
    redcatstar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 141 ✭✭redcatstar


    coylemj wrote: »
    I wouldn't assume that. The immersion is not 'under' the thermostat.

    Changing the thermostat is something an amateur can do. I'd be getting a professional to install a new immersion element.

    I've always got an electrician well 2 of them and that's wat they always do ,strange and upsetting, thank you for helping


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