Thermal Cutout Tripping On Emersion Heater

[irishsailor]

Guys

I have looked at a recently new fitted emersion heater, the thermal cutout has tripped 3 times within a few weeks, cna anyone shed any light on this and what tests can I do to find problem??

Chris

 

[malcolmsanford]

To be honest it's either a faulty cutout that is energising too early, the stat may be sticking closed and energising the cut out or finally the stats calibration, for me new stat,

 

[pushrod]

Guys

I have looked at a recently new fitted emersion heater, the thermal cutout has tripped 3 times within a few weeks, cna anyone shed any light on this and what tests can I do to find problem??

Chris

Do you mean the mcb?

 

[irishsailor]

No mate the cutout on the on the element it has a small reset button on it

 

[pushrod]

No mate the cutout on the on the element it has a small reset button on it

Cheers, not familiar with that type. Have heard though that you do get what you pay for in terms of quality with immersion heaters and that some of the cheaper ones can be very unreliable. Is it still under warranty?

 

[irishsailor]

Yes mate will excahnge it

 

[telectrix]

pay a few quid more for the corrosion resistant type. as previously said, some of the cheapies are pants

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Cheers, not familiar with that type. Have heard though that you do get what you pay for in terms of quality with immersion heaters and that some of the cheaper ones can be very unreliable. Is it still under warranty?

Stats with cutouts are now compulsory as replacements,and lack of a thermal cutout on a PIR should be a code 2.

 

[pushrod]

Stats with cutouts are now compulsory as replacements,and lack of a thermal cutout on a PIR should be a code 2.

cheers for that wirepuller Would that be a 2 if one was installed now without a cutout and a code 4 for an existing one?

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Code 2 whatever is the NIC advise,makes sense IMO...I think the cutouts were brought in when a tank boiled and burst,with the result of scalding water pouring through the ceiling below,scary... and not at all an unlikely scenario.
You need to be careful when obtaining replacements as I almost got one from my local CEF recently without the cutout,turned out their entire stock didnt have cutouts.....How many of us when fitting a new stat hang around to check it switches off ok?.....I always advise the client to check the water temp very carefully after I've fitted a new stat,and will always come back and adjust if required,I'd hate to be responsible for someone getting seriously scalded because the stat I fitted didnt have a cutout,so check carefully what you are buying.

 

[pushrod]

cheers, i never knew any of that

 

[davelerave]

a backboiler can cause it

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Good point...a solid fuel backboiler has an unrestricted gravity circuit to the hot tank,and they can literally boil the water if none is drawn off and the fire is raging.....

 

[Marvo]

Thermal cut-outs can nuisance trip if the electrical connections to them aren't good and tight. Loose connections get hot and the heat gets transmitted into the device causing it to trip. Otherwise check the control t/stat and thermal cut-out calibration is correct.

If it's intermittant and you can't pin the problem down maybe replace both the control t/stat and thermal cut-out to play it safe.