Help.. Emersion Problem

[david76]

I do not have central heating; I use an emersion to heat all of my water.

Last night my emersion failed. I checked that the element was receiving a charge with my current detecting screwdriver and it appeared it did. So I bought a new element today and changed it and wired it back in. However, it still does not work. I have again checked that the element is receiving a charge and it is.

I am wondering whether the timer box is actually sending a charge, but it’s not sufficient.

Any ideas,

Thanks

 

[scatmanjohn]

Electrician with appropriate test equipment required.

When you say you changed it, i take it you changed the whole lot, not just the thermostat.

 

[david76]

Yep. The whole lot

 

[hi-spec plumbing heating]

how can you say it's getting a charge then say the timer maybe faulty.
it is getting power or it isn't.

 

[david76]

Thats why I am stumped.. I turn the timer on and my screwdriver tells me theres a charge. I turn the timer off and it does not. Thats why I changed the element and thermostat, but its doing exactly what the other element did???

 

[hi-spec plumbing heating]

have you a multi tester ?

 

[david76]

No... I can get hold of one tomorrow. What strength of current should I be looking for?

 

[hi-spec plumbing heating]

230/240v

 

[scatmanjohn]

What strength of current should I be looking for?

230/240v

 

[hi-spec plumbing heating]

ya so whats up ?

 

[JohnD]

Info:

Neon screwdrivers are not reliable for testing. You can buy a multimeter in the high street for £5 - £10 that will be quite adequate for testing voltage.


ha ha

Current is measured in Amps not Volts. I noticed it too but thought not worth complaining about.

Voltage is what you should be looking for

 

[scatmanjohn]

ya so whats up ?

Is that question for me?

 

[david76]

Sorry Guys confused now...

What should the multimeter say if the current is good?

 

[hi-spec plumbing heating]

ya so whats up ?

Is that question for me?

yep

 

[JohnD]

Sorry Guys confused now...

What should the multimeter say if the current is good?

If the VOLTAGE is good it should read about 230v give or take about 5%. That will indicate that the supply is (probably) OK and is the first thing you should test. It will go on and off with the switch.

Current is measured in Amps and varies with the appliance connected and working. So if the immersion heater is not running it will be nil. If it is heating it will be about 12Amps. But for what you are trying to test today, you should be looking for volts, not amps. So "Current" is not what you should be measuring.