Troubleshooting
After identifying the cause of the malfunction, you can proceed to repair and improve the safety of using the electric water heater. In most cases, it is possible to repair the water heater with your own hands. Let’s review the process of troubleshooting the most common faults and preventive measures to prevent them from happening again.
Picture 2: What to do if the water in the storage water heater is electrocuted?
If the cause of the boiler’s electric shock is the destruction of the heating element, it is easy to fix it yourself. The design of almost all boilers allows you to easily replace this part yourself, without attracting professionals. The process of repairing the water heater is as follows:
- De-energize the faulty appliance;
- Purchase a new heating element suitable for your model;
- Drain all the water from the boiler and remove it from the wall if necessary;
- Dismantle the damaged heating element and replace it with a new one.
After completing the repair, check the tightness of the tank and the absence of breakdowns. If everything is functioning properly, the water heater can be returned to operation.
It is better not to try to fix the connection and grounding errors with your own hands without the appropriate knowledge and skills. Faulty electric water heater is better to give under the warranty if it is new enough or to address for the help in the service center.
Work on the restoration or design of the grounding system is also best left to professionals. Amateurish approach to this issue can lead to failure of expensive equipment and even endanger the lives of the owners.
Safety disconnect device
To protect yourself and prevent emergencies, you should install a special ground fault interrupter, or RCD. This small-sized device is installed in a special panel. RCD is responsible for ensuring that the boiler does not electrocute. If malfunctions occur, the device will simply disconnect the boiler from electricity.
DANGEROUS. Electrocution ��������⚡The extraordinary and incredible electrical accidents. Danger
- Protects the water heater from breakage, de-energizing it at the slightest threat;
- permanent protection against electric shock;
- install the device will not take much time;
- does not require a large financial investment.
To be sure of your safety and the safety of your loved ones, it is important:
Suicide Water Heater & Deadly Experiments (Gone Too Far)
- choose a quality computer from a proven manufacturer, in a licensed store;
- if you have difficulties with installation or inability to cope with this task yourself, it is better to call a specialist who will perform the installation of the electric heating element;
- Take care to install special safety shutoff devices.
Why the boiler can electrocute
Owners of water heaters are often faced with such an unpleasant phenomenon as electric shock. Most often, ordinary people have no idea what to do in this situation. Why the Water Heater Strikes, and Is a Faulty Device Dangerous? Yes, it is dangerous! There are health risks in continuing to operate the boiler. The owner should call a specialist or replace the device with a new one.
Ways to fix the problem
There can be a variety of reasons why a broiler gets electrocuted:
Destruction of the heating element insulation. The source of the problem is in the destruction of the heating element’s shell or periclase. When this sheathing is destroyed, the heating coil is exposed, which is constantly under high voltage. When the sheath breaks down, the coil begins to actively interact with the best conductor of current, water. This results in slight electrical discharges, resembling a slight tingling sensation. You can fix the problem yourself by replacing the worn heater element.
Improperly wiring the boiler can also cause electrical discharges. Often many people confuse the zero and ground, connecting the heating element incorrectly. To correct this problem, the leads must be reconnected. The grounding cable is usually colored yellow-green. After installation, it is important to check the wires not only on the outside, but also in the socket. If in doubt, consult a professional.
Touching a bare wire on the housing can also cause electrical discharges. This problem occurs when the insulation on any of the wires is damaged or frayed. If a bare wire touches the case of a computer, it can cause it to leak. To solve the problem you need to disassemble the device and find the bare wire, which must be repaired or replaced with a new one.
The neighbor’s water heater is malfunctioning. This can also be the cause of the problem. In this case, the electricity will be transmitted through metal pipes. If such a situation arises, immediately turn off the boiler. After disconnection, you need to touch the water: if it no longer stings, then the cause is in the neighbor’s boiler. Need to notify the occupants of the breakdown immediately.
Types of Safety Cut-Off Devices
Available models RCDs vary in maximum current, cut-off speed and the number of phases to be connected. Some devices have a trip delay. Others do not have it. Therefore, it is customary to divide all such devices according to technical characteristics.
In terms of leakage current, circuit breakers come in 4 types:
- “AC”. AC at 50 Hz (the most common models);
- “A”. AC or pulsed current;
- “B”. AC and DC.
Andeli ADB1L-63, 2-pole, 25 A, 30 mA, AC type According to the number of protected phases RCDs are:
RCDs on the power cable
Separately, there are tripping devices that are installed on the cable. These devices are mounted directly on the water heater supply wire. It is not necessary to buy them separately. They are usually installed near the plug.
Electric cable with RCDs wins over conventional DIN-rail-mounted protection devices. In order to use them, there is no need to calculate leakage currents or do extra wiring work.
The boiler is electrocuted through the water
The design of the Termex water heater excludes the possibility of injury to the user in case of breakdown of the electric current. Causes for a person to feel a slight discharge with wet hands are incorrect wiring or a broken heating element. In the first case, the defect appears almost immediately after installation of the device or after its continuous operation. Bad wires and connection, negligent attitude of the master in most cases are promptly eliminated.
If the heating elements break down, the protective sheath of the heating element can be destroyed, the bare conductors transmit an electric discharge into the water. You can repair the water heater as follows:
The water heater is de-energized, all liquid is drained from the tank.
The equipment is dismantled from the wall and disassembled. Removing the failed heating element.
The new element is installed in the regular socket, after which the equipment is brought to its original state.
The water heater is installed on the wall and checked.
Electrocution in Water
Make such operations can almost every owner of equipment, having a small experience of repair and a standard set of tools. If you have difficulties with the restoration of the boiler, the qualified specialists of our company can make the repair.
RCD installation
Safety Device A conscientious craftsman, whom you have caused to install the water heater, be sure to advise to put RCD (ground fault interrupter). It is a little device that is placed directly in the panel and is responsible for ensuring that your boiler does not electrocute you. That is, if there is a problem it will simply cut off the power supply than will save you the trouble, and the boiler from more severe damage. Installing RCDs does not take very much time and does not take very much money, but the device is very useful, and in matters related to electricity, to trifle and even save money is not worth it.
These are all reasons why the water heater can not work properly, giving its owners a skin-visible discomfort. What to do in these cases and how to eliminate them, we also told. We want to remind only one thing: electricity and water are very dangerous combination, and if you are not qualified to work with them, it is better to call a specialist electrician.
Electrocution through water
Perfectly serviceable and recently purchased water heating tank suddenly begins to strike the owner with an electric discharge upon contact with liquid. This is felt as a slight prick on the fingertips, accompanying a person when touching the faucet. It becomes clear that rinsing your hands with electrified water is a painful procedure. Every time you open a tap, the owner of the boiler will feel fear. What could be the cause?
- The device was not grounded during installation. Carefully watch the installation of a newly purchased boiler: lack of grounding can lead not only to injuries, but also to premature breakdowns.
- Failure of the heating element in the tank, more specifically, the destruction of the element’s protective sheath that protects it from contact with the liquid.
- Incorrect connection to the mains. This could be the result of improper installation.
How to proceed in this situation? If possible, refuse to use the tank until a specialist arrives. Only after a professional technical inspection can issue a conclusion, and to make a sequence of actions to eliminate the malfunction.
Failure of the heating element
One of the most common reasons, as a result of which the water is electrocuted, is a significant destruction of the protective layer of the heating element. This part ensures the efficiency of the entire system, but has a low power. Externally the element looks like a simple metal tube. The main task of the heating element is to supply the electricity needed to boil water. A special nichrome thread is provided to perform these functions. Possessing high conductive properties, this material provides the necessary liquid heating.
The heating element is operating under critical conditions. The constant moisture that surrounds the heating element, increases the risk of corrosion, and hence the formation of scale. The combination of factors leads to the wearing out of the heating element and the bare nichrome filament. As one of the best conductors, the water with which nichrome interacts can give you an electric shock if touched.
It is quite simple to fix this problem. To do this it is necessary:
- disconnect the boiler from the electrical grid;
- drain all water from the storage tank;
- Remove the spent heating element and install a new part.
When selecting spare parts, pay attention to their manufacturer. The ideal is to buy parts from the same company as the tank itself. Specialists do not recommend buying cheap low-quality analogues.
Errors when connecting to the network
In rare cases, the root of the problem may be negligence during installation of the device. The water heater will start to electrocute if the craftsman incorrectly connected it to the power grid. As a rule, the problem is detected during the performance test, but in some cases the error is detected after a certain period of time. Reconnecting the wires connecting the tank and the electric meter can help correct the problem.
It is very important to adhere to all the rules when installing and using a household appliance. Negligent handling can lead to serious breakdowns.
Malfunctions can also occur if the connection wiring was cheap or of poor quality. Its service life is quite limited, and it can only be used as a temporary replacement. High cable wear and tear creates not only an electrical shock hazard, but can also cause a short circuit. For these reasons experts urge not to save on the quality of wires.
The main reasons
The defect can appear both on new and used water heaters. Most often it is felt as a slight tingling sensation when touching the leaking water, the faucet or the body of the boiler. The main reasons for this malfunction are as follows:
Picture 1: The main reasons why the boiler can be electrocuted
Failure of the heating element
If the water heater is old and has served a sufficient period of time. the destruction of the heating element is the most likely cause of failure. Because of constant temperature fluctuations and hard water, limescale builds up on the body of the heating element. In the absence of proper maintenance and timely cleaning of the heating element, its casing is gradually destroyed, which leads to electrical breakdowns. To determine the fault of the heating element is possible by testing it with a multimeter.
Poor grounding
When installing and connecting the boiler, it must be grounded according to all operating rules. Lack of grounding can lead to the accumulation of charge on the body of the water heater and the premature failure of its elements.
Faulty wiring
Damaged wiring inside the case or poor quality connection of the water heater to the power supply network can also lead to breakdowns. An external inspection of the wiring and electrical connections of the boiler will help to determine the presence of such a fault.
All manipulations aimed at identifying the causes of malfunctioning must be carried out in safety conditions and with the appliance completely de-energized. If you have any doubts in determining the true cause of the boiler’s electric shock, do not try to repair it yourself, but call for specialist’s assistance.
