Could smoke alarm wiring affect water heater?

[davidc123]

Hi,

I have a water heater (PulsaCoil 2000) that is connected to the off peak power supply, so that the water is only heated when there is off peak electricity coming through.

Over the weekend I turned off all power in the flat at the main switch, and unwired the smoke alarms - replacing them with battery operated ones. I taped the wires up so that they weren't exposed and put them back in the ceiling.

However since then the heater has stopped heating water. The boost still works, so its just the off peak that's faulty. I know nothing about electronics around the house so I'm just wondering if it could have anything to do with replacing the smoke alarms? Particularly the wiring?

If not, any ideas what's wrong? The boiler itself doesn't report a fault so I suspect its something to do with the power.

Thanks,
David.

 

[Steve]

Over the weekend I turned off all power in the flat at the main switch, and unwired the smoke alarms - replacing them with battery operated ones. I taped the wires up so that they weren't exposed and put them back in the ceiling..

Two things.

1. Remove the cable as well. Taped up live wires are dangerous.

2. Mains smoke alarms may be there for a reason - especially in a flat. You may have just decreased the level of safety throughout the building. Why did you replace them?

However since then the heater has stopped heating water. The boost still works, so its just the off peak that's faulty.

Can you post a picture of the mains electrical equipment in your house, in particular, the switch you turned off to isolate the flat, and the other switches and boxes around it.

Do you have any other off-peak equipment (storage heaters?)

 

[bongos]

Over the weekend I turned off all power in the flat at the main switch, and unwired the smoke alarms - replacing them with battery operated ones. I taped the wires up so that they weren't exposed and put them back in the ceiling.

What possible benefit does this have?

Taping up the conductors is not a suitbale way to safely isolate them. They should be terminated in a suitable junction box or similar.

 

[davidc123]

1. Remove the cable as well. Taped up live wires are dangerous.

2. Mains smoke alarms may be there for a reason - especially in a flat. You may have just decreased the level of safety throughout the building. Why did you replace them?

1. Can't take it out completely, it's coming from deep within the ceiling.

2. Yeah I realise this but the old ones were broken, and the girlfriend bought battery operated ones so just using them.

Can you post a picture of the mains electrical equipment in your house, in particular, the switch you turned off to isolate the flat, and the other switches and boxes around it.

Do you have any other off-peak equipment (storage heaters?)

Can't get a picture right now, but its a standard looking switchboard with a big 'main' switch, and about 10 others (all 'on'). No other off-peak equipment that I'm aware of.

 

[bongos]

I realise this but the old ones were broken, and the girlfriend bought battery operated ones so just using them.

Take the others back and get replacement mains powered ones. What make were they/how old were they? Generally they should last for ages with minimal maintenance.

Can't get a picture right now, but its a standard looking switchboard with a big 'main' switch, and about 10 others (all 'on'). No other off-peak equipment that I'm aware of.

Sounds like you will probably have a teleswitch and at the set time your whole house will switch to off peak but if this is the case i'm not sure how the heater would know when it's off peak time. Is there a timer with it?

 

[davidc123]

Is there a timer with it?

Yeah, a Horstmann Economy 7 Quartz.... This thing:

According to the boiler's manual it takes knows when its off peak because the supplier pipes it through the offpeak supply.

I'll read up on this timer's manual, see if there's anything of interest...

Thanks for the help.

 

[333rocky333]

Afaik, that timer has a standard supply and will switch on at the time set on the clock.
The clock is set by yourself to times within your off peak tariff to be cheaper running.
If the times are out or the boost control operated then the heater may be on regardless whether on or off peak day or night.

 

[Steve]

Can't get a picture right now, but its a standard looking switchboard with a big 'main' switch, and about 10 others (all 'on'). No other off-peak equipment that I'm aware of.

When you can, please get us a picture of the meter and surrounding boxes. Do you know if you have a teleswitch? It seems a bit odd to have an off peak supply for a single appliance (which is probably no more than 3kw for a few hours). You'd possibly be better off on a normal tarrif (on an eco7 tarrif they charge more per kwh for daytime use) , as you dont use enough during off peak to justify it (unless you have your washer, dryer and dishwasher on timers)