Faulty storage heaters

[Selfmade]

Hi folks


Was called to three storage heaters which have stopped working (all storage heaters in property). Two of the connection units into which the heaters are wired have neons, and the customer says these light up when the storage supply is on over night (so problem is not with supply or house wiring). She said she was away over Christmas and switched off the heaters and after she returned and switched them back on, two of them did not heat up. The other one stopped working more recently.


I have checked continuity through two of the heaters and got a path through all devices and wiring except the thermostat. So I have concluded that it is this which is at fault. What seems odd is that the thermostats have all broken within a few weeks of each other. I wondered if anyone had any ideas about why this may have happened? Also, the customer is a tenant and said her landlord (I believe without even looking at the heaters or getting a spark to do so) said that it must have been something she (the tenant) had done that had caused the fault. I find this rather implausible. Does this seem likely?


Would be grateful if anyone could cast any light on this.


Sam

 

[01jasjon]

Ok. I'll check the thermal fuse (hopefully it's that) if it's not then I'll be back on here to ask what else it may lol. Thank you

 

[HandySparks]

Thanks for the advice guys. I am electrician but haven't worked on immersion heaters before so just wanted a bit of advice. I'll check out the thermal link on it tonight. I couldn't find a diagram which shows you where the cut-outs etc are. If any has got a website link for it that would be great.

If you're an electrician, then some simple continuity testing of the wiring and components inside the heater should pinpoint the fault pretty quickly. There's not much in them, you know.

 

[01jasjon]

Checked the thermal link and it works ok. Not sure what else to check.

 

[davesparks]

Check the stat and the elements, there's nothing else in there.
Also check the supply fuse/mcb, circuit wiring and the isolator switch.

Temporarily power the heater with a bit of flex and a 13A plug If you want to test it live

 

[01jasjon]

Yeah I'm gonna have a look at it over the weekend didn't have enough time tonight. Checked all the supply side and its sound so it's defiantly something in the heater. Reckon it could be the element. I'll dig out my multimeter and test it.

 

[davesparks]

It needs a good hoovering in there!

 

[Knobhead]

I am electrician but haven't worked on immersion heaters before so just wanted a bit of advice. I'll check out the thermal link on it tonight. I couldn't find a diagram which shows you where the cut-outs etc are. If any has got a website link for it that would be great.

You sure about either of those?

Ok. I'll check the thermal fuse (hopefully it's that) if it's not then I'll be back on here to ask what else it may lol. Thank you

Keep on guessing, you'll find it eventually.

Reckon it could be the element. I'll dig out my multimeter and test it.

As an “electrician” you have to did your meter out?

DIY Dave strikes again.

 

[davesparks]

Yeah I'm gonna have a look at it over the weekend didn't have enough time tonight. Checked all the supply side and its sound so it's defiantly something in the heater. Reckon it could be the element. I'll dig out my multimeter and test it. G]

THE element??

Have you even looked at the unit properly?

How many elements were in there when you looked at it, if there was only one then I think your problem might be that someone has stolen some of your elements!!

 

[Knobhead]

I think your problem might be that someone has stolen some of your elements!!

And people get at me!

 

[01jasjon]

Haha some great feed back. "Dig" yeah because I don't have to use it very often. My voltage/continuity tester is the main tester I use each day.

 

[telectrix]

not very often i use my multimeter either. analogue megger, fluke T3, and analogue ELIT on a daily basis. MFT only sees the light of day for EICs and EICRs.

 

[01jasjon]

Cleaned the storage heater out and checked everything over and all seems to be working fine. It started working for two evenings and now has packed in again. Going to buy a new thermostat.

 

[shanky887614]

not very often i use my multimeter either. analogue megger, fluke T3, and analogue ELIT on a daily basis. MFT only sees the light of day for EICs and EICRs.

im the opersit i use my dmm all the time.

i dont like voltage indicators, i prefer a dmm/mft etc instead