help please

[solo53]

Hi all, im wanting to help out my parents and they have come accross a bit of a problem in a house they have just moved into.

In the kitchen there is a control switch with one of those red light above it for hot water, but when switched on it doesnt light up, I have taken the switch off and checked the wiring with a volt stick and theres no live at all. Any idea what the problem could be as the hot water tank is still getting hot ?

There is also another switch where the water tank is which is just a standard on and off switch right next to the tank which then wires to the top of the tank and this is the same, no live at all, and again there is the same problem out on the hallway which is a electric heater on the wall.

I have done some very basic work and was hoping it would be something you guys could help me out with as im just trying to save them money where I can.

Thanks very much for any help and advice, much appreciated

 

[cbw]

Economy 7


Test them again at midnight?

 

[Big n Daft]

Get a qualified spark if that doesnt work.

 

[Kamikaze]

Could be economy 7 in which case use your volt stick between 12 o’clock at night and 7 o’clock in the morning.

 

[telectrix]

i'll 21nd cbw on this. sounds like it's on scrimpo rate 12midnight till stupid o'clock am,

 

[nickblake]

Yep sounds like the vampires hot water system only come on at night .......Eco 7

 

[cbw]

Just be carefull as economy 8 gives a little boost at lunch time so always treat it as live.....The best advice further up was get a qualified person to take a look......Volt sticks are from Christmas crackers and should be treated with due contempt/care.


Just to add, sometimes the old clocks go a bit funny....remember working on a system to hear that tell tale CLUNK at totally the wrong time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DurhamSparky]

clunk on at 9am clunk off at 5pm day time rate seen that done and one chap had utilised the fact he was an ex spark and did not tell any one other than his wife..! even fitted a change over switch to go back to mains!!

 

[solo53]

Thats great guys thanks,my dad did actually mention something about the economy 7 but he wasnt too sure.

 

[solo53]

Thinking about it the electric box does have 2 meters fitted, would this link to the eco 7 setup then i take it ?
Thanks again for the help, much appreciated.

 

[sirtaffy]

Good tip for you is to launch the volt stick as we all have tales to tell about those little blighters

 

[cbw]

I am glad we were able to help!!!!!

Just to reiterate what I and other have said.........GET RID OF THE VOLT STICK!!!!!!!!!!

 

[robsparky1975]

Always treaet something as live unless proven to be dead,the voltstick will not help you,and unless you are trained in the electrical field and have an appropriate voltage tester or similar should not be working on it for your own safety,unless your competent in which case if you are then fair enough.also i have had a case on an ECONOMY 7 or so we thought,and i tested a circuit at 3 in the afternoon,the client was on an old 1960s superdeal it came on at 2pm went off at 10pm,one to bear in mind for all

 

[nikmet]

If its not economy 7 sometimes the switch in the kitchen is for convienience and the supply is located elsewhere, often in the immersion heater cupboard for example, the power then travels across to the 'convienience' switch before returning to connect to the water heating element.
The water tank will be heated in the night via the other heating element that you described. the kitchen switch element will be for anytime boost. The difficulty will be searching for the location of the switch that feeds this.!!

 

[robsparky1975]

Agree with nikmet,couple of months back had that scenario,when dead testing,wondered why the readings were so high and found the switch in the kitchen supplying immersion on the 1st floor,makes sense really