Not having an earth does not automatically make it dangerous there are reasons the manufacturer might not want it to have an earth and instead make it class 2 (double insulated) A big reason could be for it being plugged into PME / TNCS earthing arrangement (youtube john ward PEN failure if want to understand more) also with these units being outside most of the time a metal cased item with exspsoed conductive parts is subject to corrosion
Great video and I do get that now. However it appears to be a vicious circle. On the other side is that if there is no break in the neutral before the N/E split, and the metal housing of the heating element shorts live, someone dies. I would have thought there is much more chance of that happening than the N/E breaking no? And given that the company have started making it that way suggests the noticed this and put it right??
Aren't modern houses grounded using a dedicated rod now? Mine is 11 years old.
The instructions clearly state must be plugged into an RCD protected socket (for extra protection), most houses from 16th edition have the socket ring final circuits RCD protected,
It is protected via a 30mA RCD.
A double insulated device is not dangerous in good condition, if you take a double insulated electric drill smash the case so badly you can touch live terminals inside and presenting a shock risk, this does not mean the product was originally dangerous.
I get that, but I haven't smashed it open, the ceramic heater has naturally broken down and shorted against the metal casing of the heater making the entire spa go live. Wouldn't it of been the proper way to ensure that this is protected against should it happen? This is the point I'm trying to get at.
Banging in and earth rod as you say (without testing the rod for its effectiveness) is not a solution
I'm not using it, I only did that so that it was relatively safe whilst I was conducting tests. I'm not saying its a permeant and adequate fix.
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If that was mine I’d skip it and buy a new pump unit for the spa, I wouldn’t be risking getting in there at all, it’s dangerous.
Thats excellent thank you for confirming this.
I will be skipping it but my point is I think they should be liable for making a product that can easily be made to make the water live without any apparent safety features. Well, I mean it happened didn't it! I was electrocuted... lucky it wasn't 230v or I'd likely be dead!
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Not having an earth does not automatically make it dangerous there are reasons the manufacturer might not want it to have an earth and instead make it class 2 (double insulated)
I have just read this:
Class II[edit]
Class II symbol
A Class II or double insulated electrical appliance is one which has been designed in such a way that it does not require a safety connection to electrical earth (ground).
The basic requirement is that no single failure can result in dangerous voltage becoming exposed so that it might cause an electric shock and that this is achieved without relying on an earthed metal casing. This is usually achieved at least in part by having at least two layers of insulating material between live parts and the user, or by using reinforced insulation.
Assuming that that is all correct, There is only the one insulated case that is between the metal housing of the heater and the outside world. However there is NO insulated casing in between the metal/ceramic heating element and the water that runs straight through it and so no insulation from making the water live.
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I have just checked the label and it does in fact have the Class II label. However my question above still stands, how can this be two pieces of insulated material between the end user and the live live parts should it fail? Or doesn't it matter if it fails and goes live? The fact that the water has gone live AND that they have completely redesigned their pumps for safety surely suggests their initial design was floored no?