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Thread ID: 89702 2008-05-09 03:28:00 Dead Hot Water Cylinder - fix or replace Morgenmuffel (187) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
667597 2008-05-09 08:26:00 good point coldot, sometimes the old ripple switchs play up, especially if there has been a few spikes down the line. ring your power co.
Yes I think it is on the ripple switch thingie (kind of hoping it'll turn back on tonight), dammit i didn't think to check with the power company, who should I be ringing Contact is our supplier, but I have no idea who the local contractor would be

As to replacing the thermostat or element, as I have no way of testing them to see if they are faulty I would probably leave that to the repairer to check

As our hotwater cylinder is located out in the basement in an area no one goes, I doubt the switch has been bumped, Infact it hasn't I have checked it now

Is there anything in the control panel thingie on the side of the cylinder (I have to climb over a pile of crap to get to it), from memory I think all it contains is the temperature control switch
Morgenmuffel (187)
667598 2008-05-09 08:27:00 if they have electrical registration and do all the paper work for the job, then yes. if no reg then no they shouldn't.



Plumbers and Gasfitters get a Tradeperson's Electrical Work Cert but the extent of electrical work seems to be about the same as a householder.
PaulD (232)
667599 2008-05-09 08:47:00 By the way thanks all, I really appreciate

Ok this is a vent I find it cathartic and it saves me yelling at those around me so by all means ignore the following

It really has just been the week from hell this week
Saturday we were informed smelly unhygenic teenage stepson had been kicked out of his flat (yet again), and was coming to live with us (yay ****ing yay)
Sunday the dishwasher shat itself (yet again) shearing the nut off the spinning arm (thank god I paid the extra $20 bucks for a 5 year warranty), Monday Wife and toddler both sick (yet again), Daddy playing nursemaid while trying to deal with grumpy customers
Tuesday the bright spot was that it looked like I would finally be able to get the roofing contractor in to replace a section of severly rusted roofing and internal guttering (think metal the is like weetbix and crinkles in the laps when you stand on it)
Friday the ****ing stupid crapassed hot water system broke down, the only person who was happy was smelly unhygenic teenager
Morgenmuffel (187)
667600 2008-05-09 12:13:00 Well according to contact it probably isn't the ripple circuit as I just went out and checked it and it is going around so hopefully (possibly ) I will have hotwater in the morning Morgenmuffel (187)
667601 2008-05-09 20:44:00 Yes I think it is on the ripple switch thingie (kind of hoping it'll turn back on tonight), dammit i didn't think to check with the power company, who should I be ringing Contact is our supplier, but I have no idea who the local contractor would be

As to replacing the thermostat or element, as I have no way of testing them to see if they are faulty I would probably leave that to the repairer to check


If you call the power co and its not the ripple control they charge you heaps. If you call a plumber (well based on my husbands charges anyway) and its not the element he only charges a small fee.

No hot water is usually the power cos fault or a dead element.
pctek (84)
667602 2008-05-09 22:25:00 If you call the power co and its not the ripple control they charge you heaps. If you call a plumber (well based on my husbands charges anyway) and its not the element he only charges a small fee.

No hot water is usually the power cos fault or a dead element.

Well I has a luke warm (the colder side of luke) (4 minute) shower this morning, and for the next person it was even colder

--------------------------------
Oh well guess I have to call a plumber, any recommendations for the Invercargill area,
I guess I better wait till Monday
Morgenmuffel (187)
667603 2008-05-10 02:53:00 PM'ed. pctek (84)
667604 2008-05-10 02:54:00 Look under RHEEM in the white pages. They are very helpfull - at least in Wellington they are. Peter H (220)
667605 2008-05-11 00:46:00 I don't know whether this may be or relevance or not but last year we had to get an electrician in as we had a similar problem. When the missus went for a shower the water was barely tepid. I checked as far as I could but could not find any fault. Power was getting to the thermostat and to the element (just barely). The electrician tested averything and could find no fault other than the power from the thermostat to the element was way below what it should have been. The problem was that the wires to the element had corroded. Simply by peeling the insulation back to where there was bright copper and reconnecting solved the problem. He also fixed a problem where the caraven was "live" due to a faulty power switch.
All up cost was only $55-cash.
Isolate the cylinder from the the power board and just have a look at the wiring. It's worth a try rather than getting an electrician or buying a new cylinder.
Gordon62 (11771)
667606 2008-05-11 01:28:00 I don't know whether this may be or relevance or not but last year we had to get an electrician in as we had a similar problem. When the missus went for a shower the water was barely tepid. I checked as far as I could but could not find any fault. Power was getting to the thermostat and to the element (just barely). The electrician tested averything and could find no fault other than the power from the thermostat to the element was way below what it should have been. The problem was that the wires to the element had corroded. Simply by peeling the insulation back to where there was bright copper and reconnecting solved the problem. He also fixed a problem where the caraven was "live" due to a faulty power switch.
All up cost was only $55-cash.
Isolate the cylinder from the the power board and just have a look at the wiring. It's worth a try rather than getting an electrician or buying a new cylinder.

Hi Gordon

I wish that was the issue, I just checked the wires visually and they look as clean as the day they were installed

took some photos of cylinder as well (nigel.geek.nz)
Morgenmuffel (187)
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