6 months ago I bought a 1200w infrared panel heater for a relative. This was based on good experience with one I have had for 6 years. The manufacturer didn't sell in the UK anymore, so I picked another one somewhat at random with some research. Infrared heating in the UK doesn't seem widespread so it is quite hard to gauge information on them.
It was sold with a 13AMP plug and I also got a thermostat so it could be hard wired. I am generally competent with basic electrics but this was fitted by an electrician as a new circuit was wired to a secondary CU. The circuit has nothing else on it, protected by a 16AMP breaker and there is a 13AMP fused box which the thermostat runs off. On the same CU there is a separate lighting and socket circuit, this is fed off the main house CU.
For 5 months all seemed ok, but I found out the heater stopped working. The symptoms were that only the socket breaker had tripped and this also tripped the breaker at the main CU that the secondary CU is connected to, nothing was tripped on the heater circuit. On further examination, the cause was melted wires in the heater, the box where the mains enters and the wires are joined from the panels internal electrics. This could have caused a fire and left scorch marks on the wall, the box rests against it when the panel is wall hung.
Early on it became apparent the supplier has no clue about electrics, just being a reseller, and despite offering a panel replacement under warranty I doubt I will get any kind of analysis on the fault. I am getting a new panel soon but it is sticking in my mind what if there is an inherent design flaw or have I just got unlucky, or lucky as you may think.
I assumed the wires would be joined by terminal blocks not some thin rubber case with some undetermined method joining the wires together. Could poor wiring connections have caused arcing, perhaps which led to the wires overheating?
I just need some level of confidence before I connect the replacement panel or what others steps I can take.
It was sold with a 13AMP plug and I also got a thermostat so it could be hard wired. I am generally competent with basic electrics but this was fitted by an electrician as a new circuit was wired to a secondary CU. The circuit has nothing else on it, protected by a 16AMP breaker and there is a 13AMP fused box which the thermostat runs off. On the same CU there is a separate lighting and socket circuit, this is fed off the main house CU.
For 5 months all seemed ok, but I found out the heater stopped working. The symptoms were that only the socket breaker had tripped and this also tripped the breaker at the main CU that the secondary CU is connected to, nothing was tripped on the heater circuit. On further examination, the cause was melted wires in the heater, the box where the mains enters and the wires are joined from the panels internal electrics. This could have caused a fire and left scorch marks on the wall, the box rests against it when the panel is wall hung.
Early on it became apparent the supplier has no clue about electrics, just being a reseller, and despite offering a panel replacement under warranty I doubt I will get any kind of analysis on the fault. I am getting a new panel soon but it is sticking in my mind what if there is an inherent design flaw or have I just got unlucky, or lucky as you may think.
I assumed the wires would be joined by terminal blocks not some thin rubber case with some undetermined method joining the wires together. Could poor wiring connections have caused arcing, perhaps which led to the wires overheating?
I just need some level of confidence before I connect the replacement panel or what others steps I can take.
