Yes, I understand this but not how a short impacts the flow. I thought that in many situations the wires in the water heater wouldn't melt and the hot water heater would become a live. A person touches the heater and the current flows through them to the ground. The RCBO trips and power is shut off. This scenario is what kills people ( I think :) ) A heating element corrodes and ruptures, or vibration shakes a 230V live wire loose so that it touches the copper heating tank, internal water stream, or metal shower chassis. In that scenario, Live does not touch Neutral. It only touches the water and the metal casing. Because no short to Neutral exists, the current draw does not exceed the breaker's amp rating (e.g., 20A or 32A). The "overcurrent fuse" sits there completely blind while 230V sits directly in the water pipe waiting for someone to turn the valve. Is this as common as the internet gurus claim? I haven't a clue.....
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