Water heater tingle and fuse trip

[cheeryble]

I don't have full info on this but will do my best (wife was rushing out)

 

In our new house the electric shower heater has had some intermittent thing happen a couple of times.

What my wife calls a SHOCK from the shower hose as she holds it (so I guess a tingle)

...and the fuse tripped (meaning the main switch as all the power went out)

 

You guys may remember we built this house recently.

The contractor is his own electrician. He may not be a Crossy but he knows a lot more than a village sparky.

I'm sure we have an earth stake, its a Safe T Cut type unit and all wiring is run in conduit.

It's a 4.5kw heater.

 

The life said something like Ting the contractor said it must be because the PEA is supplying 5 instead of 15 amps. (???????? never understood this) and the recent addition of a tank and pump means we have to upgrade.

 

Sorry for poor info.

I'd just like to know the shower is safe.....why the tingle.......and get some clue about the supply.......and if it's undersupplied why did OUR fuse trip/?

 

Thanks

 

ps not connected to my enquiry a few months ago.

ops there's an earth.......albeit small wire.......to the heater.

pops believe its been used ok SINCe this happened a couple of evenings ago

 

 

 

 

[worgeordie]

In the photo the earth wire is connected,but where does it go,

if that is not 3 core cable,just looks like taped a piece of green

to the other one,that does not look like a good job at all.

regards worgeordie

[cheeryble]

13 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

In the photo the earth wire is connected,but where does it go,

if that is not 3 core cable,just looks like taped a piece of green

to the other one,that does not look like a good job at all.

regards worgeordie

Hi Worg

 

If you look very closely you'll see the green wire come in separately under one of the cables incoming.....it follows behind one of the cables. Sorry it'snot easy to see.

[transam]

Your "fitter" hasn't used the units cable clamp or from what I can see used the supplied clamping washer on the earth wire...Simple stuff that questions the blokes ability...????

[Crossy]

He's even wrapped the ground wire the wrong way round the screw.

 

Anyway, if a tingle is being felt task A is to find out where that earth goes.

 

Also can you post a photo of the breaker that's opening please.

 

[xylophone]

48 minutes ago, Crossy said:

He's even wrapped the ground wire the wrong way round the screw.

 

Anyway, if a tingle is being felt task A is to find out where that earth goes.

 

Also can you post a photo of the breaker that's opening please.

 

Agree.....it's not clear from the pic if indeed the earth wire goes anywhere!

[cheeryble]

He's even wrapped the ground wire the wrong way round the screw.

 

Anyway, if a tingle is being felt task A is to find out where that earth goes.

 

Also can you post a photo of the breaker that's opening please.

 

Sorry to be remiss I’ve had trouble getting this info.

All I know right now is that the little earth wire DOES enter the heater it’s tucked behind one of the other cables.

I can’t find a copper rod but pretty damn sure he would have used one.....under floor?

My missus says it’s fixed now.....I said what did he do......don’t know.

I have doubts he did anything but if I push her she says she doesn’t understand anything about elec.

She said the incoming supply will go up from 5 to 15.

This may well be necessary but I don’t see why a low supply would give a tingle.

I will not push any more I’ll wait to ask the builder direct when he comes again

 

 

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[transam]

It seems the units ELCB is not tripping, that is the units safety feature, there is a test button on the bottom left...You press that to see if the feature works, if it does a plastic thing will drop at the bottom, you push it back up to reset it. I would test it in case it has been "immobilised"...

[bankruatsteve]

52 minutes ago, cheeryble said:

I can’t find a copper rod but pretty damn sure he would have used one.....under floor?

 

She said the incoming supply will go up from 5 to 15.

Hopefully the green wire goes back to a CU that has proper earth.  

A 5 amp meter is actually 5/15 which can handle at least 15 amps measured accurately.

A 15 amp meter is actually 15/45 which can handle at least 45 amps measured accurately.

A "tingle" is (always) from ungrounded or poorly grounded equipment.  

[johng]

Quote

I'd just like to know the shower is safe.....why the tingle....

@cheeryble  if there is a "tingle" its not safe...try the test button as @transam suggests if it doesn't work  then stop using the heater !  

[transam]

The earth rod is 2 metres long and bashed into the ground, the top should be visible showing the earth wire connections so you can see no corrosion etc..