Burnt out water heater switch

[DavyWavy]

Hi all, just joined EF hoping to solve a problem. I live in a 3 year old flat in a block and my immersion heater stopped working. I have discovered the problem to be a burnt out switch (photo attached). As you can see it's pretty bad to the extent that the plastic has melted. My question is why should this happen, especially in a modern property? Cheers, Dave

 

[DavyWavy]

Excellent! forget burnt out switches......now digging out my Floyd albums Cheers for the help.

 

[littlespark]

You want to check a few of the other accessories for loose terminals and/or unearthed metal backboxes.

You wont get much comeback with the NHBC 10 year warranty, I'm afraid, but finding and rectifying any faults would make the property safer.

Average 3kW immersion/ 230v supply (nearer 240v in reality) gives you 12.5 to over 13Amps running current. The fuse was never going to last long.
Agree that it should have been a double pole switch without a fuse.

 

[KEV 1 N]

Does the Property have gas?

 

[Strima]

TI should say that I bought the property brand spanking new from one of the biggest developers in the country!

They tend to be the worst offenders for using cheap accessories, a few pence saved on a switch in your house turns into thousands saved on a large estate.

Also it is recommended that domestic properties get a periodic inspection every ten years to ensure the installation is still safe to use, not essential or the law but worthwhile.

 

[ruston]

Haha, get the point but nevertheless a 3 yr old property - this could have been a lot more serious than no hot water for a while! So basically can we say that stranded wire, folded over, (un-ferruled), tightened securely in a 13A D/P switch should be ok?

Get on to the to the sellers to sort that out .
It could have been a lot more serious .
Do not fix it yourself or you may jeopardise any future claims.

 

[pirate]

I have made my views known on "new builds" on here many times...

so, no rant tonight...but you have seen some very good advice here OP!

 

[telectrix]

I have made my views known on "new builds" on here many times...

so, no rant tonight...but you have seen some very good advice here OP!

but would you buy a new build ship with radar, sat nav., ekectrickery, etc. or do you prefer something like the Mary Rose?

 

[pirate]

Ah, Mary Rose...

she shivered me timbers many a time!