over heating immersion c flex

[maypole]

Hi first timer hear.loking for help.Some years ago I changed an Immersion element. 27Inch. since then the cabel has been melting . first time I changed the flex to 2.5 This has lasted for about 9 mounth now it is starting to go black on the cable the other side of the switch. Could it be the element or somthing else

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Can't see how you could overload a 2.5mm² flex with a load limited by a 13A fuse.

1) Are you sure it's a 2.5mm² cable - you aren't measuring it in another way?

2) Have you replaced the switch and cut back the cable to where it's clean and bright? If a loose connection caused overheating then the switch and the cable could be damaged to the point where they'll not work properly again until everything which overheated has been replaced.

 

[maypole]

Can't see how you could overload a 2.5mm² flex with a load limited by a 13A fuse.

1) Are you sure it's a 2.5mm² cable - you aren't measuring it in another way?

2) Have you replaced the switch and cut back the cable to where it's clean and bright? If a loose connection caused overheating then the switch and the cable could be damaged to the point where they'll not work properly again until everything which overheated has been replaced.

The flex that I changed is 2.5 heat resisent but now it's the cabal the other side of the switch. If I change the switch would I still need to change the element

 

[riveralt]

It unclear which cable you are talking about.

You have changed the cable that runs from the element to the Fused Connection Unit to Heat Resistant - Good.

Are you now talking about the cable that runs from the tank thermostat?
Or are you talking about the cable that comes into the FCU?

Photographs would help.

 

[maypole]

It unclear which cable you are talking about.

You have changed the cable that runs from the element to the Fused Connection Unit to Heat Resistant - Good.

Are you now talking about the cable that runs from the tank thermostat?
Or are you talking about the cable that comes into the FCU?

Photographs would help.

The cabal from the 13 amp socket to the mains has started to go black.
I can't send photo as it my daughter house.
My son in law wants me to buy a new element. Is there any need for this ???

 

[riveralt]

The cabal from the 13 amp socket to the mains has started to go black.
I can't send photo as it my daughter house.
My son in law wants me to buy a new element. Is there any need for this ???

Okay we will try and work without a photograph.

Couple of immediate issues - if the rating of your immersion element is 3kw I'm pretty certain it should be on its own circuit through a dual pole isolator back to the main board and protected by a 16Amp MCB. Second, it should not be plugged into another circuit via a 13amp fused plug. This could be the cause of your wiring starting to overheat.

What do the fitting instructions for the immersion element say regarding circuit set up?

 

[maypole]

The cabal from the 13 amp socket to the mains has started to go black.
I can't send photo as it my daughter house.
My son in law wants me to buy a new element. Is there any need for this ???

Okay we will try and work without a photograph.

Couple of immediate issues - if the rating of your immersion element is 3kw I'm pretty certain it should be on its own circuit through a dual pole isolator back to the main board and protected by a 16Amp MCB. Second, it should not be plugged into another circuit via a 13amp fused plug. This could be the cause of your wiring starting to overheat.

What do the fitting instructions for the immersion element say regarding circuit set up?

I don't have any fitting instructions for the immersion element Iv'e never seen any It is not pluged in to a 13 amp socket.

 

[riveralt]

I don't have any fitting instructions for the immersion element Iv'e never seen any It is not pluged in to a 13 amp socket.

So how is the cable from the immersion heater element connected to the mains?
I cannot believe it is just connected to a 13Amp socket as a spur.
Do you mean that it is via dual pole 20Amp switch? And is this 20Amp switch on its own circuit back to the main board protected by a 16Amp MCB?
This is why photograpsh are helpful - it takes several attempts to try and establish that I am seeing what you are seeing.

 

[maypole]

I don't have any fitting instructions for the immersion element Iv'e never seen any It is not pluged in to a 13 amp socket.

So how is the cable from the immersion heater element connected to the mains?
I cannot believe it is just connected to a 13Amp socket as a spur.
Do you mean that it is via dual pole 20Amp switch? And is this 20Amp switch on its own circuit back to the main board protected by a 16Amp MCB?
This is why photograpsh are helpful - it takes several attempts to try and establish that I am seeing what you are seeing.

It Is not connected to a 13Amp socket it is via dual pole 20Amp switch
on its own circuit back to the main board protected by a 16Amp MCB?
It Is the cabal from the 20Amp switch Thit is going a bit Black Do you think It could be the 20amp socket that is at fault. Sorry about the picture but ihave only been told about It By my Daughter
Have just had an email from my son in law and he wants me to go and get a new element.I think he is wrong but if that is what he wants Thanks for your help

 

[electronicsuk]

It Is not connected to a 13Amp socket it is via dual pole 20Amp switch
on its own circuit back to the main board protected by a 16Amp MCB?
It Is the cabal from the 20Amp switch Thit is going a bit Black Do you think It could be the 20amp socket that is at fault. Sorry about the picture but ihave only been told about It By my Daughter

Please stop wasting our time. This is a socket:

This is a 20A DP switch:

So, exactly what do you have and where is the problem? How have you gone from having a 13A socket, to a 20A switch, which is now apparently a 20A socket?

If you have decided upon having a 20A switch protected by a 16A OCPD in the consumer unit, please now tell us whether it is the flex on the load side, or the fixed wiring on the supply side of the switch, that is at fault.

Have just had an email from my son in law and he wants me to go and get a new element.I think he is wrong but if that is what he wants Thanks for your help

Complete waste of money.

 

[riveralt]

It Is not connected to a 13Amp socket it is via dual pole 20Amp switch
on its own circuit back to the main board protected by a 16Amp MCB?
It Is the cabal from the 20Amp switch Thit is going a bit Black Do you think It could be the 20amp socket that is at fault. Sorry about the picture but ihave only been told about It By my Daughter
Have just had an email from my son in law and he wants me to go and get a new element.I think he is wrong but if that is what he wants Thanks for your help

What is the size and type of cable that is going from the switch back to the main board. As a minimum it should 1.5mm T&E but better 2.5mm T&E - grey cable.

If the cable is the correct size then it is possible that you have a loose connection at the switch and this is causing the problem with the cable.

With the power off - open the switch and check that all the conductors in the terminals are undamaged (not burnt or broken) and not loose.

If they are burnt or broken then you will have strip back the insulation until you get clean copper and reconnect the conductors in the appropriate terminal.

 

[maypole]

It Is not connected to a 13Amp socket it is via dual pole 20Amp switch
on its own circuit back to the main board protected by a 16Amp MCB?
It Is the cabal from the 20Amp switch Thit is going a bit Black Do you think It could be the 20amp socket that is at fault. Sorry about the picture but ihave only been told about It By my Daughter
Have just had an email from my son in law and he wants me to go and get a new element.I think he is wrong but if that is what he wants Thanks for your help

What is the size and type of cable that is going from the switch back to the main board. As a minimum it should 1.5mm T&E but better 2.5mm T&E - grey cable.

If the cable is the correct size then it is possible that you have a loose connection at the switch and this is causing the problem with the cable.

With the power off - open the switch and check that all the conductors in the terminals are undamaged (not burnt or broken) and not loose.

If they are burnt or broken then you will have strip back the insulation until you get clean copper and reconnect the conductors in the appropriate terminal.

Thank you for all your help I will have to go over to my Daughts and have a look For myself. Sorry If you fell I have wasted you time?? I have neaver said it was connected to a 13Amp socket.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I have neaver said it was connected to a 13Amp socket.

Well you said it was:

The cabal from the 13 amp socket to the mains has started to go black.

and then you said it wasn't

It is not pluged in to a 13 amp socket.

so hopefully you can see why people were a bit confused.

 

[riveralt]

Thank you for all your help I will have to go over to my Daughts and have a look For myself. Sorry If you fell I have wasted you time?? I have neaver said it was connected to a 13Amp socket.

Well actually you said

The cabal from the 13 amp socket to the mains has started to go black.

So I am assuming then that this has got nothing to do with the immersion heater element and the problem is solely with the 13amp socket - or am I getting confused now?

 

[cumbriahandyman]

the problem is solely with the 13amp socket - or am I getting confused now?

There is no socket!