UK Kettle Element Keeps Blowing

[Moedot7]

Hi,

I'm the landlord of a rented property.
I recently had the fuse box (dcu) changed from the old "wire type" to the newer mcb/rcd type.

It has been 5 months since it was replaced by a qualified electrician.

My tenant has informed me that he has replaced 4 kettles since then.

1. All kettles were of different make and models
2. There was no issue with the fuse in the plug
2a. Fuse was changed to check this
3. Happens in the morning when boiling the kettle
4. Only the mcb trips
5. The heating element of the kettle gets damaged
6. Kettle was only 3 weeks old
7. No limescale issues
8. Nothing else in the house is affected

I have spoken to a few electricians, they have no idea what the problem could be. I trust the tenant, he wouldn't make something like this up.

Can someone please help me with this issue.
If you need more details surrounding this issues please ask.

Thank you.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

As per James, within a single-phase installation it's borderline impossible for the wiring of the building to damage a kettle. All sorts of things might be wrong with the wiring, but they will either cause the kettle to not heat, or someone to get a shock from it, or cause a socket or fitting to overheat when the kettle is used. But not damage the kettle element itself. If the element is damaged e.g. through being switched on without water, the MCB might trip.

If the tenant is a reliable witness, I think something daft is happening to the kettles behind his back that he hasn't tumbled to yet.

 

[buzzlightyear]

either the tenant is not useing the kettles properly or their is a wiring fault possable reveset polarity.

 

[Pete999]

Which kettle Pete ? We're told that there have been 4 different ones in 5 months... allegedly all 4 now have failed elements.

Which leads me to think it may NOT be the Kettle at fault

 

[Lucien Nunes]

possible reversed polarity.

I don't think so, it's just a resistor! If you can show me a polarity-sensitive heating element, I'll heat my at.

 

[James]

could try leaving water in the kettle, at all times.
even overnight.

I have just had a mad vision of the pet cat standing on the "turn kettle on" button, switch, lever etc when its empty overnight.

 

[radiohead]

I'd bet on it being either coincidence, cheap kettles or boiling dry. The same complaint often comes up with lighting.
"The lamps keep blowing, must be a wiring fault"
There never is, it's always rubbish lamps.
And as stated above, there is no wiring fault that's going to kill a resistive load, I wonder as well if the OP has actually verified the element is at fault each time, could be .a different issue with each kettle

 

[freddo]

a poor neutral connection on the supply transformer could possibly be causing the voltage to the property to float up to 400v.

I'd guess a kettle would last a lot longer at 415 volts than most of the other appliances in the house! I'm struggling to think of a fault in a kettle element that would trip the MCB and not the RCD as well.

 

[davesparks]

5. The heating element of the kettle gets damaged

What is the damage and how was it identified?
Are these kettles available for inspection?

Do you have any evidence other than what the tenant has told you?

 

[static zap]

As well as under filling , some designs can be more prone to "Flash over" Bang heard-Phut-
Over filled /angled while filling !
-Not a tesco's white special ,but Morphy Richards-
(Washing up present in sink = Kettle at a funny angle)
--mine took out MCB but not fuse ! --

 

[Zerax]

What is the damage and how was it identified?
Are these kettles available for inspection?

Do you have any evidence other than what the tenant has told you?

Good points... and... do both the Landlord and tenant have alibis for the times when the alleged kettle failures happened ?

 

[dmxtothemax]

Are you sure it's not a genuine circuit overload ?
It's very easy to over load a circuit with out knowing
perhaps there's more on this circuit than you realise.
and also consider the fact that he may be using cheap chinese graded stock !

 

[ImpededLoop]

Are you sure it's not a genuine circuit overload ?
It's very easy to over load a circuit with out knowing
perhaps there's more on this circuit than you realise.

That's a good question. Does the tenant try the kettle again after the mcb has been reset? It could be too many appliances switched on and the kettle is the final appliance used that causes the mcb to operate.

 

[electric al]

Overload of the circuit is my guess and the plug fuses blowing and an assumption the kettles are dead

 

[DPG]

Overload of the circuit is my guess and the plug fuses blowing and an assumption the kettles are dead

But if the circuit is overloaded why would the appliance fuses blow?

 

[static zap]

5. The heating element of the kettle gets damaged

This fault defies logic ,unless other appliances can survive over voltage!
a) Is the kettle the only appliance plugged in the kitchen?
b) Is it a block of flats with 3 phase ?
c) Possibly another high demand device like a shower finding a weak neutral. ..any complaints of a missbehaving shower (else where in building) !
d) The alleged dead kettles are they quality -or cheapies ?
(punting for a posh one - to Boast about on social media !)