immersion heater and a shower pump

[malcolmsanford]

Andy not sure if immersions have changed, as I don't do a lot with them now but everyone I worked on you had to drain the tank before removing the element as they were immersed in the water. To be honest I tend to go with pushrod on this and think they are covered under Reg 554.3. and therefore not to be connected via a BS 1363 socket and plug.

As I don't work on them enough and someone definately told me they do not some under these set of Regs I certainly wouldn't argue with them.

 

[tonys]

Immersion heater

Water heating by electricity is usually done by an immersion heater mounted in the top of the hot water cylinder. The heater contains an insulated electric resistance heater and a temperature sensor. Domestic immersion heaters (usually rated at 3 kilowatts in the UK) run on the normal domestic electricity supply. Electric shower and tankless heater also use a immersion heater shielded or naked which is turned on by the water passing and turned off when the tap is closed. A group of heater working each one or together provide different heating levels. Electric showers and tankless heaters usually have since 3kilowatts to 7.5kilowatts according the voltage supply. Industrial immersion heaters (such as those used in electric steam boilers) may be rated at 100 kilowatts, or more, and run on a three-phase supply. 11
[edit] Electrode heater

With an electrode heater, there is no wire-wound resistance and the liquid itself acts as the resistance. This has potential hazards so the regulations governing electrode heaters are strict.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_heating#cite_note-0

 

[andyb]

Good points Tony, as I said I'm not clear myself.
The IEE in their on site guide usually include a reference to the regs,
In this case they do not.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Wikipedia is a wonderful tool

 

[tonys]

Andy

Ill will always trust the advice of an NICEIC Engineer over the majority of members on here. IQ is another one who I trust, hes another qualified Engineer.

 

[tonys]

Wikipedia is a wonderful tool

So you still not agreeing with me then Malc, you not that confident in a NICEIC Approved Contractor QS then lol

 

[malcolmsanford]

No mate you copied and pasted that to perfection, we now know what an immersion heater is, what I would like to know is if it's covered by regulations 544.3 as I think it is, but as I said I can't remember the last time I did an immersion and certainly not in the last 5 years.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Don't quite see the problem here.
Immersion heaters have been required to be permanently connected via a DP switch for about 30 years.

 

[tonys]

Don't quite see the problem here.
Immersion heaters have been required to be permanently connected via a DP switch for about 30 years.

We are talking about a plug top and given it disconnects both live and neutral conductors at the same time, then it is also acceptable imo

 

[malcolmsanford]

Spin yes that or a FCU.

What the discussion is about that Pushrod seems to think that immersion heaters are covered by Regs 554.3 and in that set of regs 554.3.3 states that an immersion heater can not be connectedvia a plug and socket. I tend to agree with him, but as I've stated I don't normally work with immersions and when I do it is always connected up with either a 20amp double pole Switch or a Double pole 13amp FCU, and never thought of doing them by a plug or socket.

Tonys seems to think that an immersion does not come under these regs and so connecting via a socket and plug is ok.

Now I don't know this part of the regs well enough to say aye or nay, hence the discussion, which is why I think most of us use the forum as it opens up a good debate.