jumping350 Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 (edited) So basically on the coldest morning of the year so far (in my opinion) my hot water has stopped working. In my cupboard there are 3 switches in a row 2 for water tank (thermostat) and one plug socket for shower pump. Turned hot water switches on and no lights on either come on and no hot water. Checked fuse board and the immersion fuse is fine. Unplugged the shower pump and put it in extension lead and it came on so that leads me to suspect there is something wrong in the switches. do hot water switches contain fuses? I opened up the main switch I use for hot water and all that resembled a fuse was this is this the fuse if so would all 3 switches run of this fuse? or would all 3 switches have blown? just find it odd theres no power to all 3 switches but fuse board switch hasnt tripped anyone have any ideas would be greatly appreciated im going to go buy some new switches now and report back Edited November 4, 2014 by jumping350 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Woah, let's back up a little here. You say you have no hot water. How is this normally heated? Boiler and cylinder? Combi boiler? Mains pressure storage unit (Megaflo et al)? I'm assuming it's not a combi with reference to the immersion heater, so probably the first or last one. Is there power to the switch itself on the live incomer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumping350 Posted November 4, 2014 Author Share Posted November 4, 2014 I just turn on a switch (to thermostat) for the hot water to heat up (im all electric in flat) , turns out there is fuse in there so I got another one but when trying to get fuse out about 10 plastic things fell out of switch and have no idea how to put back together! there is power going to the switch i tested it, its got to be the switch im waiting to finish work then going to collect a new (not so old skool)switch and see if that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumping350 Posted November 4, 2014 Author Share Posted November 4, 2014 oh and like a true numpty the pic above is the bulb for the hot water light Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Okay, so you've got a directly heated cylinder, and if you have power going in then I would agree it has to be the switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim BW Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Hope you get it sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHEZZA Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 (edited) oh and like a true numpty the pic above is the bulb for the hot water light Was about to say that's the neon not the fuse. You do not have to take the switch apart to get at the fuse if there is one it will be accessed from the front of the switch and will say fuse on it. What I think you have there is just a double pole switch with a neon lamp to show you when the switch is on. As regards to the switch working did you check that there was power at the input and output when the switch was turned on ? Let me now if i can help. Trust me I'm an electrician haha Edited November 4, 2014 by SHEZZA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumping350 Posted November 4, 2014 Author Share Posted November 4, 2014 Thanks guys Dan/Shezza just swapped the switch for a new one, put power back on and... ta da... lights back on and all three switches work again now, looks like they all run off that switch so good job I took the right one off! water is warm but will give it a while to properly heat it up before I jump to any more conclusions. Nice £3 fix though could of been worse if I had called out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHEZZA Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Thanks guys Dan/Shezza just swapped the switch for a new one, put power back on and... ta da... lights back on and all three switches work again now, looks like they all run off that switch so good job I took the right one off! water is warm but will give it a while to properly heat it up before I jump to any more conclusions. Nice £3 fix though could of been worse if I had called out Glad your back on. Don't wanna throw a spanner in the works though but one switch that operates all three doesn't seem right to me. You say 2 do the hot water and one the shower pump. Now I'm not worried about the shower pump as that won't take much current but when you say 2 do the hot water that worries me. Have you got 2 heating elements in the tank ? If so having one 20A switch which in theory operates both would cause the switch of over heat and fail and is what probably happened to the old one. Sorry to say this but I would recommend you get a proffressional to check it as you may have a potential fire risk there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumping350 Posted November 4, 2014 Author Share Posted November 4, 2014 i just have one heating element ive just traced the second wire and on the end of it is a block connector i tested both wires but neither are live so looks like that one does nothing anyway.the other two worked so assumed this one did too..still dont like the way its been left so may look into making that a bit safer. Hot water went cold again looks like its either the connection on the element now (i had same problem in summer) or new element needed. Il isolate power again tommorow and see if the connection is the problem. If its element im screwed as whole tank has to come out just to change it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHEZZA Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 (edited) i just have one heating element ive just traced the second wire and on the end of it is a block connector i tested both wires but neither are live so looks like that one does nothing anyway.the other two worked so assumed this one did too..still dont like the way its been left so may look into making that a bit safer. Hot water went cold again looks like its either the connection on the element now (i had same problem in summer) or new element needed. Il isolate power again tommorow and see if the connection is the problem. If its element im screwed as whole tank has to come out just to change it Ah that's good to know. Sounds like your on the ball , get that wire with the connectors removed/boxed off to make that safe. Probably did a second off peak element in an old tank. Edited November 4, 2014 by SHEZZA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 So you had both a plumber and an electrician turn up on your thread, lucky man! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flex Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 So you had both a plumber and an electrician turn up on your thread, lucky man! Bet they were both late 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
350zedd Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 So you had both a plumber and an electrician turn up on your thread, lucky man! Good job it wasn't on his step or he'd be seriously in debt!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHEZZA Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 So you had both a plumber and an electrician turn up on your thread, lucky man! Good job it wasn't on his step or he'd be seriously in debt!! Haha most probably , but he'd have hot water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
350zedd Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 So you had both a plumber and an electrician turn up on your thread, lucky man! Good job it wasn't on his step or he'd be seriously in debt!! Haha most probably , but he'd have hot water. That's the good thing about this forum, there's a huge pool of knowledge out there which can benefit everyone. :group: ..........and save you money! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHEZZA Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 i just have one heating element ive just traced the second wire and on the end of it is a block connector i tested both wires but neither are live so looks like that one does nothing anyway.the other two worked so assumed this one did too..still dont like the way its been left so may look into making that a bit safer. Hot water went cold again looks like its either the connection on the element now (i had same problem in summer) or new element needed. Il isolate power again tommorow and see if the connection is the problem. If its element im screwed as whole tank has to come out just to change it I'd also check the rod thermostat inside the element first before replacing the whole element as that could be faulty. Though it sounds like your tanks agianst the wall where the element is, so could be tricky to remove that though it only slides in and out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHEZZA Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 So you had both a plumber and an electrician turn up on your thread, lucky man! Good job it wasn't on his step or he'd be seriously in debt!! Haha most probably , but he'd have hot water. That's the good thing about this forum, there's a huge pool of knowledge out there which can benefit everyone. :group: ..........and save you money! That's true I've saved quiet a lot this year when it comes to repairs on my zed thanks to this forum. Though having said that ive spent double what I've saved on mods thanks to Zeditis. Haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumping350 Posted November 4, 2014 Author Share Posted November 4, 2014 i have been lucky to get both! shame neither of you are close or I prob would have just paid you to do it,this forum is great which is why I asked here, there are so many people from all walks of life and generally on here everyone just wants to help each other and its great. Im slightly lucky in that I know pretty much whats what its just if its something I dont recognise I get stuck! Rod or element doesnt make a difference as you mentioened neither will come out without removing tank! Would like to find the wise guy who put the boiler in its the stupidest thing ive ever seen! But yeah have saved loads of dollar on here from advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Rod or element doesnt make a difference as you mentioened neither will come out without removing tank! Would like to find the wise guy who put the boiler in its the stupidest thing ive ever seen! Oh wonderful, I just love it when people install stuff like that...! Does my nut it. Why on earth some guys don't think about repair work rather than just how easy they can make life for themselves, I'll never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumping350 Posted November 5, 2014 Author Share Posted November 5, 2014 (edited) the worst thing is its a relatively new build so it was the builders of the property that did it!! Anyhow still have warm water, there is no cut out switch and upon inspection of the wiring the blue wire seemed to be a bit singed and the earth wasnt as great as it good be, so cut off blue wire and re stripped, re situated the earth back better in its housing and the brown live seems to have been soldered to the connector (as screw on connector bit seems to have been snapped off) on the element so just left that alone. Everything is back neater than it was installed with no loose wire hanging from element to hot water switch etc so its my last hope really so fingers crossed, if it doesnt work then my mate will come round Saturday to take tank out and change element (he said mates rate then uttered 2 grand under his breath and laughed ) Edited November 5, 2014 by jumping350 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Two grand is mates rates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumping350 Posted November 5, 2014 Author Share Posted November 5, 2014 (edited) he wishes il do half the job before he gets here so there is literally the hard stuff of lifting the tank and blow torching/undoing the old element and by that point il say ok i know what im doing you can go now haha Edited November 5, 2014 by jumping350 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumping350 Posted November 8, 2014 Author Share Posted November 8, 2014 (edited) thought id give an update.....managed to get element out and change it without taking tank out, fixed the ballcock issues (replaced washer) to stop it leaking out the overflow pipe and replaced the whole thermostatic shower as it was playing up and now have full working hot water and a shower that is amazing for £130 all in, including cost of my mate ohh the mrs will be happy..... what can i buy off the supercharger list now she will be in a good mood Edited November 8, 2014 by jumping350 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Well done Darryl - bank those brownie points as quick as possible. Spouses forget quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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