Troubling looking electrical wires, how bad really is it?

[NorthernRyland]

I've just noticed this wiring in the shower of a rental. Sorry the photo is dark but those wires are going into the shower and the hole isn't even sealed (usually there is a rubber ring I think)! Not only is the conduit not completed they've stripped the wire casing even well before inserting into the shower.

 

The way it looks water could easily splash in there even though this hasn't happened in the over 1 year I've been renting this little wooden cabin. How bad is this? Does it require immediate attention? 

 

[simon43]

Typical cr*p wiring.  There does seem to be an earth wire, but you should check that it's actually connected, both inside the shower unit and at the other end (where it should be connected to an earth rod).

 

The least that you could do is to pull that yellow plastic conduit pipe down to cover the wires so that water can't splash into the unit.  But TBH I would check the earth connection first!

[RichardColeman]

Looks bang average Thai electrics to me

[Jerno]

Hole and wires definitely should be sealed at the point entering the cabinet.

[sometimewoodworker]

It is definitely poorly done but there is no danger unless you splash water on the heater itself.

Should it be done properly? Of course. 
Could you manage to electrocute yourself if you try hard? Maybe.

Is it worth creating a a problem by demanding the landlord fix it? No

Should you spend your money? There is no guarantee that it is going to be safer if you do, it may just look safer.

 

If I were renting I think that the wiring like that could be argued to be safer, as nobody in their right mind would let water even splash onto the heater.

 

There are far worse wiring jobs than that.

[thaibeachlovers]

Simplest solution, Piece of plastic sheet duct taped to stop water splashing on the unit. The unit should be above the level of the shower head.

 

Does that unit have a button to check a cut out? I can't see one. I wouldn't feel safe using one without.

 

As said above, I'd be concerned to see if the unit is actually earthed. Just because the cable has an earth wire, it doesn't mean that it's connected at either end to earth.

[AhFarangJa]

My main concern, as pointed out by the poster above is the apparent lack of an RCB, I think that is what it is called. The button on the shower front that when pressed ( to test the system ) cuts off the electric.

[Phnom Penh Trader]

I would suggest wearing rubber shoes in the shower and possibly even a rubber wetsuit?

[nigelforbes]

We've finally found the reason why the oven and hob in our kitchen cease working periodically. At first we thought it was the units so the hob was replaced but the problem remained. Last week the oven blew up so that was replaced also, still the problem persisted. All the circuits has been rewired five years ago so the box, breaker and wire are all sound, up to the point where the wires go into the wall and are hidden by splash back tiles.

 

Off  came the tiles, only to reveal a congealed mass of melted wiring and joins, all using wire that was far too small. Fortunately there was nothing to catch fire so we were lucky, a decent breaker box helped also. But not one single appliance repair person/company passed comment on the quality and size of wire coming out of the wall, fortunately our new electrician spotted the problem straight away - it cost a paltry 2k baht to rewire properly.  Good luck finding a good quality electrician here, we did but we were super lucky.

[sometimewoodworker]

1 hour ago, Phnom Penh Trader said:

I would suggest wearing rubber shoes in the shower and possibly even a rubber wetsuit?

Like this

 

 or this?

 

having the top version and having worn it enough times that it needs replacing, I can tell you that after using it I needed a shower without it.

[Classic Ray]

36 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

We've finally found the reason why the oven and hob in our kitchen cease working periodically. At first we thought it was the units so the hob was replaced but the problem remained. Last week the oven blew up so that was replaced also, still the problem persisted. All the circuits has been rewired five years ago so the box, breaker and wire are all sound, up to the point where the wires go into the wall and are hidden by splash back tiles.

 

Off  came the tiles, only to reveal a congealed mass of melted wiring and joins, all using wire that was far too small. Fortunately there was nothing to catch fire so we were lucky, a decent breaker box helped also. But not one single appliance repair person/company passed comment on the quality and size of wire coming out of the wall, fortunately our new electrician spotted the problem straight away - it cost a paltry 2k baht to rewire properly.  Good luck finding a good quality electrician here, we did but we were super lucky.

Reminds me of the “electrician” who came to install my oven into my house in Chiang Mai. He asked what the green and yellow wire was for. I had to draw him a diagram and supervise him while he worked to be certain of my survival.

[Crossy]

OK, as others have noted, it's rough, but nobody is going to die immediately.

 

What I would do: -

 

There's loads of spare flexy water pipe so you could move the shower unit up and left a bit so the sheath of the cable can now go inside the shower unit. Splodge a bit of silicone around the cable entry if you wish.

 

Also, verify that the earth wire from the shower goes somewhere sensible, like an earth rod.

 

That shower doesn't appear to have a built-in RCD/RCBO, does the breaker box have any earth-leakage protection (if not sure please post a photo)?

 

[brianthainess]

10 hours ago, simon43 said:

But TBH I would check the earth connection first!

I have been told if the earth is not connected then you will not get hot water. This does have a EELS electric earth leakage sensor, i took the trouble to check Joven showers out on Lazada. 

[KhunBENQ]

16 minutes ago, Crossy said:

That shower doesn't appear to have a built-in RCD/RCBO, does the breaker box have any earth-leakage protection (if not sure please post a photo)?

RCB is THE live saver.

"Joven" made in Malaysia?

Hard to believe that it doesn't a built in RCB.

 

The installation is dirt ugly and somewhat careless but no immidiate danger.

 

This model looks close and has a sensitive 10 mA "ELCB".

https://joven-electric.com/product/instant-water-heater/sc33-series/sc33p

 

But it's up to the OP to examine. It has a 2012 energy label so not that new.

 

 

[Sophon]

Looks like the Joven 500:

 

And yes, no mention of earth leakage protection in the specifications on their website

[NorthernRyland]

12 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Also, verify that the earth wire from the shower goes somewhere sensible, like an earth rod.

Yeah I'll need to track that down outside or find the land lord. Good idea many people pointed out.

 

12 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

That shower doesn't appear to have a built-in RCD/RCBO, does the breaker box have any earth-leakage protection (if not sure please post a photo)?

 

Yeah I think I've seen that button on other models (it said press to test or something?) but this seems to be the cheapest entry level Joven and is missing one. 

There's a picture of the breaker but I don't know what to look for. If there's an earth maybe it's hidden in the back and I nee to track it down outside.

[BKKBike09]

I like the fact that whoever installed it appears to have had an old shower hose lying around and has recycled that as an inlet hose, although it's about a metre too long hence the convoluted fitting ...

 

Is this one of the heaters with the RCB underneath?

[Crossy]

3 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

There's a picture of the breaker but I don't know what to look for.

 

Can you get a closer photo of the actual breakers, it does look like you have no earth leakage protection ???? 

 

If you could do a photo with the lid off the box we can get an idea of what's actually been wired, it LOOKS a neat job, but looks can be deceiving ???? 

[NorthernRyland]

4 minutes ago, Sophon said:

Looks like the Joven 500:

Yeah it's Joven 500 but from 2012. It says clearly on the side it needs to be connected to ground and has warnings etc...

 

I'll go outside a little later and track down the wires. This is a crappy little wooden cabin (weekend getaway) which is built to the bare minimum of standards in all regards so you can expect anything.

[NorthernRyland]

3 minutes ago, Crossy said:

If you could do a photo with the lid off the box we can get an idea of what's actually been wired, it LOOKS a neat job, but looks can be deceiving ???? 

You mean remove the metal cover? I don't think I even have a screwdriver here so I'll need to track one down.

[NorthernRyland]

7 minutes ago, BKKBike09 said:

Is this one of the heaters with the RCB underneath?

No I just see the water pipes underneath.

[Daffy D]

All of the above but also important is to make a "Drip Loop" on the wire going into the shower unit.

 

A drip loop is where you bend down the ingoing wire just below the level of the hole where it goes into the shower unit.

 

The idea is that water that splashes onto any part of the ingoing wire will drip off the loop and not trickle into the unit it's self.

 

A drip loop is good to have on any electrical installation no matter how good the seal may appear to be. 

 

[Grumpy one]

Just sing  " Always look on the bright side of life " when you shower.  

[blackshadow]

get the owner to have a GOOD SPARKIE to come and re wire 

YOU should know that water and elecctric do NOT like each other !!!!

[blazes]

12 hours ago, simon43 said:

But TBH I would check the earth connection first!

TBH, I'd get the hell out of there....

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

My main concern, as pointed out by the poster above is the apparent lack of an RCB, I think that is what it is called. The button on the shower front that when pressed ( to test the system ) cuts off the electric.

Sometimes the button is underneath, like the one I had.

 

Problem is the unit is rented, unless OP wants to buy one with safety cut out and take it when he leaves ( which is what I'd do ).

[Peterphuket]

3 hours ago, Phnom Penh Trader said:

I would suggest wearing rubber shoes in the shower and possibly even a rubber wetsuit?

You forgot to mention rubber gloves!

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

No I just see the water pipes underneath.

If it had a button it'd be obvious. No way I'd be using one without a safety cut off, regardless if earthed or not. You can buy your own unit for not too much and change it with that one- change back when you leave and take it with you. Just make sure it's not too powerful or it may trip the circuit breaker. Get one same power as the existing one if hot enough.

[NorthernRyland]

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

If it had a button it'd be obvious. Sorry, but no way I'd be using one without a safety cut off, regardless if earthed or not. You can buy your own unit for not too much and change it with that one- change back when you leave and take it with you.

If you don't mind could you please post a picture of a unit which has this? I don't exactly know what you're referring to. One of these units isn't more than 2000 baht I think so I'm happy to buy a new one if I need to.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, NorthernRyland said:

If you don't mind could you please post a picture of a unit which has this? I don't exactly know what you're referring to. One of these units isn't more than 2000 baht I think so I'm happy to buy a new one if I need to.

I'm not in Thailand so can't help you. If you go to one of the big stores you'll see plenty on display, and the safety cut off button will be obvious. If wanted, get a popular brand like Hitachi.

I guess you'll have to pay the electrician yourself, unless your landlord is super helpful.

 

If needing more technical advice I'll leave it up to Crossy.