Immersion heater wiring - help needed please

[ivrytwr3]

Hey all,

Before anybody says "get a qualified electrician" - i can't, i can't afford it and so i am asking for some help so we can hopefully have hot water for the winter!

The immersion heater we have heats the hot water only (a boiler does the central heating). The water has suddenly become scalding hot and i believe the thermostat(s) have gone and so i have bought replacements.

I have googled how to replace the thermostat and it looks straight forward as long as that is the problem - if it isn't then anything else is out of my capability and i will have to get in a professional. I have took a couple of pics, can someone tell me if the current thermostats are wired correctly?

Lastly, what do you recommend setting the ew thermostats too? The last ones were set at 60 each.

 

[ayjay]

its an old type stat though corbrauk but i get your point he would need to get the latest immersion heater to comply
its the same with taps, there is a mixer trv under sinks nowdays

 

[ackbarthestar]

I have heard that in one case the thermostat failed, close circuit, the water pressurized inside the cylinder and after a few days it ruptured the cylinder spraying steam and then disgorging boiling water all through the house.

Then if I remember, the element burn out and blew the fuse. Did quite a lot of damage.

IMO, the thermostat has not been correctly set to the correct temperature. Most thermostat temperature scales are clearly marked on the top. If the thermostat was second hand out of an older cylinder, I believe they call it reconditioned !, they may have lost their graduated markings and what you think to be minimum is in fact the top end of the scale.

Some sparks on this site are and should be weary about giving technical advice on a public forum since it would effectively make them liable if something amiss were to occur. So I wouldn't take it as an insult, its just the more experienced guys protecting themselves from possible litigation..

 

[ivrytwr3]

bottom stat is the E7 and is set to 60

top stat is boost switch controlled and set to 60

WHat do you suggest i set top and bottom too?

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I have now set the bottom to 50 and will report back tomorrow!

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As for 'free advice' i do appreciate it and if i could afford it i would be paying a sparky to come out and do this - i can't because i can't afford to at the minute and i really would like some food and hot water for my family!

As it happens i have a room thermostat that is waiting to be installed. As i can't afford to do it, nor do i feel capable to do it myself, i will wait to pay a professional.

Anyone willing to come to Lincs to fit a room thermostat?!

 

[Knobhead]

Reel 'em in

 

[vjsmarwick]

My guess is the ones worrying about a little free advise being given may be the ones that would sell their grandmother if they could make a fast buck lol I see it more like I help with a little advise today you help me tomorrow none of us know everything but I do know to kill liegoneers your water does have to reach at least 60c.

 

[ackbarthestar]

My guess is the ones worrying about a little free advise being given may be the ones that would sell their grandmother if they could make a fast buck lol I see it more like I help with a little advise today you help me tomorrow none of us know everything but I do know to kill liegoneers your water does have to reach at least 60c.

Lol, Good philosophy in an ideal world. Although, you have missed the point.

Registered electricians tend not to go for a fast buck, since it is not in their interest to be labelled with the DIYers and lone rangers .

Don't you think? :teeth_smile:

 

[ivrytwr3]

The top thermostat is set to 60 and i turned the bottom down to 50. The wtar was still very hot (not scalding now) but the hot water didn't seem to last very long - we usually get 2 - 3 baths where we only got 1 and half to 2 - strange?

I have turned it inbetween 50 and 60 now on the bottom and left the top at 60 (for quick blasts of the immersion when we need it) and we will see how ot gets on.

 

[ivrytwr3]

and i have an electrican coming round this week to fit the thermostat at a good price.

 

[ayjay]

i thought you had already fitted new stats?
just switch off the top immersion heater
then use the one at the bottom but turn it down low
if you run out of hot water in the day switch the top one back on for a couple of hours
the bottom one heates the whole of the water the top only a bit at the top

 

[ivrytwr3]

I haved fitted new stats

the top immersion heater is turned off, we use that to 'boost' but it is very rarely used.

bottom one is switched on, but power only comes on in the early hours as it is E7

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I am having room thermostat fitted, not new immersion heater stats.

 

[joe-sims]

ok sounds stupid but well my GF did this the other day belive it or not... you are actually turning down the temp on the stats them selfs right ???

 

[ivrytwr3]

ok sounds stupid but well my GF did this the other day belive it or not... you are actually turning down the temp on the stats them selfs right ???

Yes, 2 stats, both with temperatures on and i am adjusting them both.

 

[gizmo]

Are you certain the immersion heater isn't connected to the boiler at all ?
If as you say that you've replaced both older stats, with what we are assuming are new, not new to you, but brand new, then the chances of both stats failing at the same time is pretty high. is the central heating on in the morning at all ? Because my guess, and that's all it is, is it's to do with the boiler, although the pictures don't show enough pipes for us to tell whether it is or not.
I don't mind helping the general public with solutions to simple (to us) problems, it's when the idiots on here claim to be sparks that ask such dumb stupid questions, that i wonder if our trade is that bad now they're giving away certificates with crisp packets ! !

There, rant over ! Ivry, hope this helps in stopping you getting ripped off by some of the (and i use this term loosely) 'sparks' on here that just haven't a clue !