Fuse for towel rail?

[jwadd215]

UK:

Hi,

I have a heated towel rail which doesn’t have much writing on it so I’m unsure of the brand and googling the text has turned up nothing, and I was wondering what fuse I should use in the switched fused connection unit?

It came with a 13A but I suspect they haven’t amended it when installing, it is wired into the socket ring main and I think it is 450W as per the attached picture, it also doesn’t seem to work so I think the element may be faulty but the fuse is fine.

Thanks

 

[DefyG]

A 3 or 5A fuse would normally be used.

 

[Avo Mk8]

If you have a multimeter, you can check if the element is ok by measuring its resistance between L and N, which should be a bit over 120 ohms. Many 'generic' versions are available to replace it.
If you have to replace the element, obviously take the whole towel rail off the wall and turn it upside-down to do the swap, otherwise you'll lose the (hopefully corrosion inhibited) water inside .

 

[jwadd215]

If you have a multimeter, you can check if the element is ok by measuring its resistance between L and N, which should be a bit over 120 ohms. Many 'generic' versions are available to replace it.
If you have to replace the element, obviously take the whole towel rail off the wall and turn it upside-down to do the swap, otherwise you'll lose the (hopefully corrosion inhibited) water inside .

I’m not that skilled with this multimeter but the 2.44 image is Average and the second is without changing any settings and the reading rises to around 1,239 and continues, highest it got was 1,445

 

[Avo Mk8]

That is saying that the heating element is effectively open circuit. 2.44 Megohms to start with, and the changing value indicating it's probably got some damp inside the element casing, maybe through corrosion.
So it's had it, and needs to be replaced with a new one - any brand that takes your fancy will do.
You could fit one equipped with a thermostat or heat regulator, which has the advantage of the thing not steaming away when the room is already like a sauna!

PS The down side of a thermostat is that the towel rail effectively becomes part of your heating system. When it's cold weather the towel rail is on, but when it's hot weather, the towel rail goes off and the towels don't dry!

 

[jwadd215]

That is saying that the heating element is effectively open circuit. 2.44 Megohms to start with, and the changing value indicating it's probably got some damp inside the element casing, maybe through corrosion.
So it's had it, and needs to be replaced with a new one - any brand that takes your fancy will do.
You could fit one equipped with a thermostat or heat regulator, which has the advantage of the thing not steaming away when the room is already like a sauna!

PS The down side of a thermostat is that the towel rail effectively becomes part of your heating system. When it's cold weather the towel rail is on, but when it's hot weather, the towel rail goes off and the towels don't dry!

Thanks, it’s only about two years old.

 

[Avo Mk8]

Thanks, it’s only about two years old.

It's a pity because that looks a good quality PTC element from a reputable German company. Worth checking the towel rail is sufficiently full of liquid to ensure a replacement doesn't pack up as well!
If there's nothing else obviously wrong with the towel rail, you could try reporting the failure to Jeka who might offer to replace it