ISOTEMP CALORIFIER PROBLEM

[fontmell]

Help please

Whenever 240v switched on immediately blows the Breaker - I have checked the wiring for something amiss but all seems OK Any one with a suggestion of what problem could be please or at 20 years old should I replace.

Thasnks in advance

 

[duncan99210]

Having had the same problem in mine (albeit a Quick not Isotemp) I’d suspect that your immersion heater has developed a fault in its insulation which is causing the circuit breaker or RCD to trip. Simplest is to replace the immersion heater which should cure the problem. However, although that sorted the problem for me in the short term, it started to happen again so I then replaced the calorifier as a unit.

 

[Pete7]

Sounds like a dead short in the heater element. After 20 years you could spend an afternoon wrestling the old heater element out and fit a new one, but you just know it will be a fight. Or you buy a new calorifier. You might choose this option after you have had a look inside the tank anyway. It isn't going to be pretty. You might shop around to see if there is any savings to be made: Surejust > Calorifiers

Its on our list of jobs to do as well.

Pete

 

[Clancy Moped]

Getting 20 years out of a calorifier is good going!

 

[PCUK]

20 quid against several hundred! Hmmm. A double insulted element Is essential.

 

[vyv_cox]

20 quid against several hundred! Hmmm. A double insulted element Is essential.

My original copper calorifier did not have a mains heating element but had a brass blanking plug for one. I intended to put one in at about 25 years old but it was impossible to remove the plug due to deposits. I replaced the calorifier and even with the old one out of the boat it took considerable butchery to get the plug out.

 

[Quandary]

Anothe vote for Surejust, they are traditional copper calorifiers made on the Islle of Wight, not nearly as pretty or shiny as Isotemp but a much more durable design.

 

[Catalina36]

Anothe vote for Surejust, they are traditional copper calorifiers made on the Islle of Wight, not nearly as pretty or shiny as Isotemp but a much more durable design.

Agreed, they're excellent. They have copper coils whereas some are stainless steel which has poor thermal conductivity.