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Water Heater Keeps Tripping Breaker? (Possible Causes & Fixes)

Very few people volunteer to take cold showers. So when the water goes cold AND your power goes, that’s a double whammy. You reset your circuit breaker, but it goes out again, and you’re not sure what to do about it.

Having to battle between hot water and working electricity can be frustrating. There could be a power supply issue between your electric water heater and your circuit breaker. Pinpointing the exact cause will both prevent an electrical fire and preserve the hot water supply.

You should never begin repairing a water heater before turning off its power supply. However, it’s essential to check the appliance’s power flow before disassembling any parts. A multimeter is a wise investment and a crucial tool in troubleshooting water heater and circuit breaker issues.

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How Does a Water Heater Work?

The water heater provides hot water to the entire household for bathing and household cleaning. It does this by siphoning water through a dip tube and heating it inside the water tank. Once heated, the water rises and moves through the heat-out pipe into the home’s water sources.

All water heaters are equipped with heating elements, thermostats, relief valves, drain valves, insulation, and anode rods. The only difference between the gas and electric water heaters is the power source: it depends on electric power. This is the only instance where water and electricity DO mix.

Why Is My Water Heater Tripping the Breaker?

Electric water heaters use a strong electrical voltage to operate. Therefore, it will often have its own dedicated circuit on the electrical system. Sometimes this power draw can be too much for the breaker, and the system will shut off.

There can be many reasons (or no reason at all) a water heater might trip the breaker. If the breaker continues to shut down after resetting several times, leave the breaker off and investigate. Also, don’t install a higher rated breaker to override the system, as this increases the potential of an electrical fire.

How Do I Find Out What’s Causing the Circuit Break?

There are several common causes for a water heater to trip the circuit breaker. In order to pinpoint them, you’ll need to systematically check all electrical components to see if they are fully functioning. Use the multimeter to measure the proper voltage and electrical flow of each component before attempting a repair.

The most common causes center around three areas: corrupted or damaged parts, damaged or ineffective wiring, and water leaks. Identifying the cause will direct how you approach and correct the problem.

Bad Heating Element

Water heaters have heating elements located at the top and the bottom of the water tank. They are usually made of metal and housed in a protective casing to prevent corrosion. Over time, the casing can split or crack and expose the metal directly to the water supply.

This can short circuit or burn out the element itself, either underheating or overheating the water. You’ll either notice a drop in the water temperature or the breaker or high limit switch will shut off. You should test the heating element’s electrical flow to identify this as the cause.

Make sure the breaker to the water heater is turned off, then loosen the wires from the heating element. Use the multimeter to test the points where the wires attach to the element. A 120-volt reading may mean a cracked casing or corrosion, while zero volts means the element has shorted.

Bad Thermostat

The heater alternates between the two elements to produce hot water for in-home usage. Each element has a thermostat built in to ensure only one is on at any given time. A functioning thermostat keeps the system running properly and the water temperature at a maximum of 180 degrees.

If a thermostat goes bad, the element may fail to shut off and possibly run concurrently with the other element. This causes the heater to exceed the 180-degree temperature and draw more electricity than required. This will subsequently overload the circuit breaker and trip the limit switch, breaker, or both.

You can check the thermostats with the same process used to check the heater itself. After safely disconnecting the power and wiring, use the multimeter to check the thermostat for resistance. Bad thermostats need replacing, though most recommend replacing the heating elements at the same time for best results.

Water Leaks

For the most part, the water heater components prevent water from entering the electrical system. Sometimes, a gasket can fail and open the possibility of water reaching the electrical system and tripping the breaker. This is a very dangerous scenario that could lead to serious electrical shock or fire.

Water connecting with the electrical system usually trips the main breaker automatically. If it doesn’t, shut the breaker off immediately and locate the source of the leak. Once you repair the leak, you can restart the breaker and make sure the water heater is operational.

Internal Wiring

If the heating elements and thermostats check out, there might be an issue with the heater’s internal wiring. You’ll have to check the heater’s wiring for burned connections, damaged wire, or signs of electrical arcs. You will likely smell smoke before you find any visual damage.

As always, make sure to turn off the power to the water heater before you begin troubleshooting. Open the outside panel to locate the water heater’s connection to the house’s wiring. Find and replace any damaged wiring or connectors before restarting the water heater.

External Wiring or Electrical Problem

You’ve checked for water leaks, tested the heating elements and the thermostats, and checked the internal wiring. All of those parts check out fine, but the breaking is still tripping. The issue has now moved from a plumbing problem to an electrical problem.

You’ll likely need an electrician in the long run, but there are some things you can check to diagnose the problem. Check the wiring on the line for broken or loose wires. There could also be a bad connection in the panel, or the breaker itself is worn.

Any of the above issues can result in replacing part or all of the breaker. Be sure to use the same energy rating when replacing the breaker. A higher-rated breaker than the current system will allow more current to flow through and potentially overheat or catch fire.

Water Heater Maintenance

Proper maintenance of the water heater can prolong its life and delay the need for repairs. There are some simple tasks the homeowner can do that can save time and money. Regular maintenance can help your water heater run more efficiently and extend the heater’s life.

Be sure to set the water heater’s thermostat at a safe temperature, preferably 120 degrees for economy and personal safety. Likewise, sediment can settle in the tank and cause the heater to stop working too soon. It’s a good rule of thumb to flush the tank at least once a year.

The anode rod is a crucial part of the water heater, taking on the rust to keep the tank clean. Check and change the rod if you notice an abundance of rust. Finally, test your pressure valve every so often; be sure the water cools first before opening the valve.

Related Questions

When do i need to call the plumber.

As a new water heater is a significant expense, it’s understandable if a homeowner wants to DIY to reduce costs. Some diagnostic measures and part replacements can be easy to do with the right equipment. However, knowing what needs doing and being able to do it correctly are two different things. You should certainly call a plumber for any repairs outside your scope of expertise or anything they could complete faster. For instance, a homeowner can check voltage and resistance and replace a heating element with little effort. Conversely, replacing a dip tube could be problematic if you’re unskilled at using a blowtorch.Obviously, any repair that requires the presence of more than one person should fall to the plumber. Issues involving the breaker and circuitry will need an electrician’s attention. Ultimately, the homeowner’s comfort level will determine whether or not to call in the professionals. 

How do I choose the best water heater?

Choosing the “best” water heater will depend on the size of your home, household, and usage needs. You should aim to get a water heater that is energy efficient , preferably with an Energy Star rating of 3.48 or lower. Between lifetime energy costs and rebate incentives, getting an Energy Star certified heater is a smart, economical choice.Another consideration is the type of water heater. Although the tank style is the most common and the least expensive, tankless units are becoming more popular. Tankless heaters can produce hot water more quickly but may not be cost-effective.Two important factors in choosing a water heater are its necessary water use and its first-hour rating (FHR). Necessary water use estimates how many gallons each household member will need to use over time. The FHR measures hot water produced in the first hour and reflects its efficiency and peak usage capacity.

Stacy Randall is a wife, mother, and freelance writer from NOLA that has always had a love for DIY projects, home organization, and making spaces beautiful. Together with her husband, she has been spending the last several years lovingly renovating her grandparent's former home, making it their own and learning a lot about life along the way.

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Why Does Your Water Heater Keep Tripping the Breaker? – 3 Components You Should Check

Written by  Edwin Jones  / Fact checked by  Andrew Wright

Are you experiencing cold showers lately? The issue in your water heating system won’t solve itself unless you learn why does your water heater keep tripping the breaker. You can check the water heater, the circuit breaker, or even the wirings in between them.

However, you will need to look deeper into the situation and determine the steps required to fix it. Just a tiny reminder, if you’re not an expert in fixing this electrical issue, a problem check is enough, do not attempt to repair it.

Table of Contents

1. The Water Heater Itself

2. a short circuit in the wiring lines, 3. circuit breaker malfunction, perform a troubleshoot, what can you do to fix the issue, what’s really at fault.

So, what’s causing the problem? You need to know the different possible scenarios your heating system encounters. And because you’re experiencing constant breaker tripping, you should include all electrical factors involved in powering up the tank.

Your checklist should include the dedicated circuit breaker for your heating device, wirings connecting the breaker and heater, and the internals of the water heater. It’s essential to keep an eye on these factors as they are responsible for the malfunction.

We’ll tackle first your hot water tank, the main suspect for this breakdown. If you have had this device for quite some time now, signs of wear-offs might already be evident. You may notice some rusts, whirring noises, and leaks every time it operates.

Because of the tank’s old age, expect a persistent water heater tripping breaker. On the other hand, even if you’ve bought a brand new heater, failure in the thermostat is never impossible.

The thermostat regulates the temperature of the water heating element. If the thermostat malfunctions, the heater may get hotter than 180 degrees, which causes the breaker to flip due to overload.

Next is the water heating element. As many people overlook these parts, they don’t notice much that rusts build up on their casings. As a result, the element’s casing cracks, exposing the electricals to water, leading to a short circuit.

Another thing to check is the overall wiring of the electric water heater. Wires tend to deteriorate over time, not to mention pests who chew the insulations. Handle damaged wires with extreme caution. Not only can short circuits happen, but the risk of electrocution as well.

When we talk about wirings, it’s not only the water heater’s cables alone. Look out for the connections between the dedicated CB and the water tank. There are instances where they’re not adequately fished through the conduits/wire protectors, making them vulnerable to external conditions.

It is hard to determine where the short circuit comes from if you’re a DIYer and don’t have the right equipment for a fault search. Generally, wires are inside tight spaces that only mice can get through, so there are only two ways you can find the damage.

The first is by pulling all the cords out and checking them physically, and the second is by using special tools like a multimeter . Either way, damage found in a series of wires can be a good reason why an electric water heater keeps tripping the breaker.

There are many ways a circuit breaker can reach its limits. Although this is the least examined whenever the water heater trips breaker, you should monitor its situation every once in a while.

Like other appliances or electrical devices, a breaker’s usability declines after years of continuous usage. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a CB should last for at least 30-40 years, depending on the consistency of voltages and power ratings.

Make sure you get the right size of breaker for your water heater . For example, if you have a 4500-Watt tank, installing a 25-amp breaker would be a bad idea because it won’t give space to adjust for the continuous load.

So, to avoid water heater breaker tripping, 30-amps are often the best to power the whole heater without causing a problem. On the flip side, if you use a breaker with a much higher amperage than what’s intended, it won’t detect any anomalies from your heating device.

Yes, it would be nice if the breaker never trips again, but you won’t enjoy it as much if your house is on fire due to the undetected overheating of wires.

Now that I’ve mentioned the possible causes of this electrical problem, you’ll need to perform a troubleshoot to conclude which is the reason the hot water heater breaker tripped. These are some helpful steps for every detrimental aspect at hand:

Turn off the power source for the water heater and inspect the upper and lower thermostats and heating elements. Using a multimeter, check the wirings of the thermostat to see if it has any impedance (Ohmic resistance).

With an open thermostat, you should have a reading of 0 ohms, and if you have a closed thermostat, 0.5 to zero ohms is acceptable. Otherwise, you have a bad thermostat that needs replacement.

If the thermostats are good, proceed to remove wires from the two terminal screws of the water heating element. Set your multimeter to the continuity setting (with sound), then touch the screws with the two probes. If the multimeter didn’t beep, it means the element is faulty.

However, if it beeps, which is a good sign, do another step: put one probe to one terminal screw and the other to the tank itself. Then, with one probe still on the tank, put the other probe on the second terminal screw.

If the multimeter didn’t make a sound for both screws, your heating element is fine. Lastly, check if there’s any visible damage on the tank’s external.

After you pinpoint the root of the problem, the next is a component replacement or a wiring maintenance job. The best thing you can do is acquire the proper materials needed, but I highly discourage you from getting all the work done yourself.

Contact an electrician or your trusted plumber if the water heater circuit breaker keeps tripping. The worst thing we want to avoid is to miss other serious complications that we didn’t tackle in this tutorial, complications that only an expert contractor can resolve.

Altogether, the answer to your question “why does your water heater keep tripping the breaker” is simple: you either have a faulty breaker, a bad heating element, or damaged wiring.

With these anomalies, it is necessary for you to find out where the problem takes place. Is it the internals of the water heater? A short in the wrong lines? Or just the circuit breaker?

You can use a multimeter to assist you in your fault search, but ask for professional assistance when you proceed to repair and maintenance.

Read more: Reasons why a space heater , a refrigerator and etc trip the circuit breaker.

I am Edwin Jones, in charge of designing content for Galvinpower. I aspire to use my experiences in marketing to create reliable and necessary information to help our readers. It has been fun to work with Andrew and apply his incredible knowledge to our content.

Check ELCB Water Heater

How to check water heater elcb+rccb.

In recent years, we have found that many people have accidentally died due to problems with the water heater. How can we reduce the risk of accidents? There are many precautions when purchasing an electric water heater. The most important thing is to ensure that there is an Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) in the water heater. Regular inspections, including the use of the situation, detection of leakage and leakage, etc., can ensure the safety of home use. In addition, the water heater should be replaced with a new one after 7 years of use, because the safe water heater will have a certain crisis with time and various factors. “Long-term use, the machine liner may have scale, affecting internal operations, the water pipe will become smaller and the water no longer hot. Furthermore, some internal parts also have the risk of aging, the grounding wire is broken or bitten by the mouse.Thus, it is difficult to find the cause with the naked eye.” ELCB inspection method 1: 1. Press the water heater test “TEST” button first, the water heater light is OFF , indicating that it actively cuts off the current supply. 2. Wait a moment, press the reset “RESET” button and the light will be ON again. 3. This means that ELCB/ELB is not broken/damaged and can be used. If the light is still on after pressing “TEST” , it means the breaker is out of order. ELCB inspection method 2: 1. According to the ELCB/ELB of the water heater, if the hot water and the water pump are interrupted, only the ordinary water flow, indicating that the water heater has no leakage, the leakage circuit breaker is operating normally, and the water heater can be used with confidence. 2. Push the fallen ELCB/ELB back to the original place, the water heater can be operated as usual to restore the hot water supply. 3. If ELCB/ELB is pressed but it won’t fall, furthermore, hot water and water pump continue to be supplied and operated, it means that ELCB may have problems, so please contact the technician immediately.

In addition to elcb , consumers also need to periodically check the residual current circuit breaker (rccb) . first, press the t-letter button to test whether the circuit breaker that was originally facing up will automatically trip or the home appliance will automatically go out. if the home appliance is automatically turned off, the rccb will operate normally. if the home appliance does not automatically turn off or the circuit breaker does not trip, it represents a fault in the circuit breaker. do not use any electrical appliances in your home, especially water heaters, electric kettles and electrical products containing metals. seek qualified electrical technicians right away..

What you need to know before purchasing a water heater. 1. Adhere to the brand of water heaters that have built-in ELCB leakage circuit breakers. 2. Water heaters must use insulated water pipes. Do not buy water heaters that use metal showers and hoses. 3. It must be ensured that the hot water machine is SIRIM certified. 4. The waterproof function data of the case is IP25 or IPX5. 5. Choose a brand with credit and pay attention to the product warranty period.

Electric water heater safe use reminder. 1. do not install or repair the water heater by yourself. you must find a professional electrician. 2. install a two-pole circuit breaker outside the bathroom. as a dedicated power switch for the electric water heater, be sure to use separate lines and sockets. 3. install the water heater at the height of an adult. average height is eye level. if the position is too high, it is difficult to control the button of the water heater. too low, then it is easy to let the heater itself wets. 4. perform an elcb leakage check between two weeks to one month to prevent leakage. 5. conduct 4 rccb test leakage circuit breaker inspections a year to ensure that the grounding device in the home is in good working condition. 6. when using, it is recommended to slowly increase the temperature to prevent burns. 7. if you buy a second-hand house, you should ask a professional electrician to check the circuit at home before the decoration. 8. when an electric shock occurs, disconnect the power switch for the first time., source http://www.misterleaf.com.

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What is an Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) & Its Working

Early earth leakage circuit breakers are voltage detecting devices, which are now switched by current sensing devices (RCD/RCCB). Generally, the current sensing devices termed RCCB, and voltage detecting devices named Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB). Forty years ago, the first current ECLBs were introduced and about sixty years ago the first voltage ECLB was introduced. For several years, both the voltage and current operated ELCBs were both referred to as ELCBs due to their simple name to remember. But the applications of these two devices gave growth to the significant mix-up in the electrical industry. The manufacture of ECLB includes Fuji Electric, Major Tech, Siemens, ABB, Avera T&D, Telemecanique, Camsco, Crabtree, Orion Italia, Terasaki, MEM, and V guard.

What is an Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB)?

An ECLB is one kind of safety device used for installing an electrical device with high earth impedance to avoid shock. These devices identify small stray voltages of the electrical device on the metal enclosures and intrude the circuit if a dangerous voltage is identified. The main purpose of the Earth leakage circuit breaker (ECLB) is to stop damage to humans & animals due to electric shock.

An ELCB is a specific type of latching relay that has a structure’s incoming mains power associated through its switching contacts so that the circuit breaker detaches the power in an unsafe condition. The ELCB notices fault currents of human or animal to the earth wire in the connection it guards. If ample voltage seems across the ELCB’s sense coil, it will turn off the power, and remain off until manually rearrange. A voltage sensing ELCB doesn’t detect fault currents from human or animal to the earth.

The ELCB notices fault currents of human or animal to the earth wire in the connection it guards. If ample voltage seems across the ELCB’s sense coil, it will turn off the power, and remain off until manually rearrange. A voltage sensing ELCB doesn’t detect fault currents from human or animal to the earth.

ELCB Function

The main function of an Earth-leakage circuit breaker or ELCB is to prevent shock while electrical installations through high Earth impedance because it is a safety device. This circuit breaker identifies tiny stray voltages on top of the electrical equipment with a metal enclosure & disrupts the circuit if a hazardous voltage is identified. The main purpose of ELCBs is to avoid harm to human beings as well as animals because of electric shock.

ELCB Operation

An electrical circuit breaker is a particular kind of latching relay and it has a mains supply of buildings that are connected throughout its switching contacts so that this circuit breaker will disconnect the power once earth leakage is identified. By using this, the fault current can be detected from life to the ground wire in the fitting it guards. If ample voltage comes out across the sense coil of the circuit breaker, then it will shut down the power & remain off until physically reset. An ELCB which is used for voltage-sensing does not detect fault currents.

How to Connect Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker

The earth circuit is adapted when an ELCB is used; the connection to the earth rod is accepted through the earth leakage circuit breaker by linking to its two earth terminals. One goes to the fitting earth circuit protective conductor (CPC), and the other to the earth rod or another kind of earth connection. Thus the earth circuit permits through the ELCB’s sense coil.

Types of Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB)

There are two types of Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB)

Voltage Operated ELCB

Current operated elcb.

A voltage-operated ELCB device is used to detect a voltage to choose the Earth leakage. A single-phase voltage ELCB includes 6-terminals namely line in, line out, neutral in, neutral out, Earth, and fault. The metal body of the load is associated with the fault terminal of the Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) & the Earth terminal is associated with the ground. For usual working, the voltage across the trip coil is ‘0’, as the Load’s body is isolated from the supply line.

When an Earth fault happens on the load due to the interaction of line wire to the metal body, a current will run through the fault to the ground. The flow of current will set up a voltage across the trip coil, which is associated between E & F. The energized trip coil will tour the circuit to guard the load device & the user.

A voltage-operated ELCB detects a growth in potential between the threatened consistent metalwork and a distant isolated Earth reference electrode. They work as a sensed potential of around 50V to open the main breaker & separate the supply from the threatened premises.A voltage-operated ELCB includes a second terminal for linking to the remote reference Earth connection.

The Earth circuit is improved when an ELCB is utilized; the link to the Earth rod is delivered through the ELCB by linking to its two Earth terminals. One terminal energy to the installation Earth circuit protective conductor, aka Earth wire (CPC), and the other to the Earth rod or some type of earth connection.

Advantages of Voltage Operated ELCB

• ELCBs are less sensitive to fault conditions and have few nuisance trips.
• While current and voltage on the ground line generally fault current from a live wire, this is not continuously the case, therefore there are conditions in which an ELCB can annoyance trip.
• When an installation of the electrical instrument has two contacts to earth, a near high current lightning attack will root a voltage gradient in the earth, offering the ELCB sense coil with sufficient voltage to source it to a trip.
• If either of the soil wires becomes detached from the ELCB, it will no longer install will frequently no longer be correctly earthed.
• These ELCBs are the necessity for a second connection and the opportunity that any extra connection to ground on the threatened system can inactivate the detector.

Disadvantages of Voltage Operated ELCB

• They do not sense errors that don’t permit current through the CPC to the ground rod.
• They do not permit only building system to be simply divided into many sections with independent error protection because earthing systems are typically used mutual earth, Rod.
• They may be skipped by outside voltages from something associated with the earthing system like metal pipes, a TN-C-S or TN-S earth mutual neutral and earth.
• As electrical leaky utilizations like washing machines, some water heaters and cookers might source the ELCB to trip.
• ELCBs present an extra resistance & an extra point of failure in the earthing system.

RCCB is the generally used ELCB and it comprises of a three winding transformer , that has two primary windings and also one secondary winding. Neutral & line wires work as the two main windings. A wire-wound coil is the minor winding. The flow of current through the minor winding is “0” in the stable condition. In this condition, the flux owed to the current over the phase wire will be deactivated by the current through the neutral wire, meanwhile the current, that flows from the phase will be refunded to the neutral.

When an error occurs, a slight current will run into the ground also. This creates confusion between line and neutral current and that makes an unstable magnetic field. This encourages a current flow through the minor winding, which is associated with the sensing circuit. This will detect the outflow and direct the signal to the tripping system.

How to Check Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker

Earth leakage circuit breaker must be check once a year to whether that is working properly or not. Usually, the circuit breakers are in the ON position. Here we have listed the step by step process for how to test the earth leakage circuit breaker.

• If the ELCBs are not working properly, then we should contact sales otherwise service engineers nearby us.
• To deactivate the breaker, just push the operation switch, so that the power supply turns off.
• Press the test button of the earth leakage circuit breaker by using a pointed object or a ballpoint pen.
• Verify that the ELCB goes to the OFF position.
• Revisit the ELB to the ON position.
• Switch ON the main power.

Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker Vs MCB

The advanced version of Fuse is MCB and it is capable of disabling the circuit contact with supply once the current supply increases from the rated current of Molded Case Circuit Breaker. The operation of MCB is to break the contact to assist in securing the circuit from errors.

Similar to the Molded Case Circuit Breaker, the Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker also capable of disabling the circuit contacts through the mains supply. However different to the MCB, it doesn’t disable the circuit contacts within the case of an unexpected increase of current supply current. This type of circuit breaker is used to prevent the current supply when someone gets shocked because of the circuit operation.

The difference between ELCB and MCB is discussed below.

Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker for Home

Earth leakage circuit breaker is used for homes for safe power supply. At present automation is used in independent houses, apartments & villas for controlling home appliances. But, the pressure on security is more because every year the death percentage is increasing in cities due to electrocution. To overcome this issue, installing an ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker) is very important.

In Coimbatore, out of 4 Lakh residential houses, below 1 lakh homes have installed the ELCB, so generally, it is called a safety trip. The installation of this can be done in the vicinity of the main distribution board. Other states like Kerala & Karnataka have made it compulsory for their houses to include the safe trip. The cost of the safety trip is around 2k & it is a significant safety measure.

The residents can set up it even after building a house otherwise they can carry it to the new buildings if they live in rented houses. When industries set up the safety trip, commercial outlets & houses do not have it. The contractors of civil and electrical also use it while building a new house. At present, safety trips are using in buildings, industries, apartments, etc. One main condition to have the ELCB is correct wiring within the building.

Advantages of Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker

The advantages of ELCB include the following.

• The ELCB is not a sensitive device to faults.
• It is inexpensive as well as efficient.
• It guards humans & animals against electrical shock.
• In this procedure, once the installation of ELCB has two connections toward the ground, high current lightning which is nearby to the ground will strike to cause a voltage gradient within the soil, so the ELCB can sense the coil by sufficient voltage to cause it to safety trip.

Disadvantages of Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker

The disadvantages of ELCB include the following.

• In certain situations, it fails to respond.
• This circuit breaker requires a sound earth connection used for load protection.
• Annoyance trips
• The appliances like washing, machine, coolers & water heater may cause CKL to safety trip.
• The external voltage may trip the circuit breaker from the connection of the earthing system like a metal pipe.
• These circuit breakers do not notice an error that doesn’t supply current throughout CPC toward the earth rod.
• They do not permit a particular building system to simply divide into several sections through independent error protection as the earthing system is linked toward the pipework.
• Electrical circuit breakers introduce extra resistance & an extra point of failure into sufficient voltage to cause it to safety trip.
• If the earth rod is connected near to another ground of a building, then a current with high earth leakage from other constructions can increase the potential of earth to cause a voltage disparity across the t earth to trip the ELCB once more.

Is Earth Leakage Dangerous?

The consequences of earth leakage current beyond 30mA can be caused to death. The sensitivity of 30mA can be necessary for safety within domestic applications wherever the person may approach in direct contact through the electric device in places like schools, labs, workshops, etc.

What Causes Leakage Current in a Circuit?

AC leakage current can be caused through a parallel blend of dc resistance & capacitance among an AC line which is known as voltage source & the conductive parts of the apparatus which are grounded. The leakage current can be caused through the DC resistance generally it is irrelevant as compared with the AC impedance of different parallel capacitances.

This current can stream from either AC or DC circuit within the apparatus to the earth & can be from the input or output. If the apparatus is not grounded properly, then the current supplies throughout other lanes like the human body.

Thus, this is all about an overview of Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB), types of ELCB, and its working. We hope that you have got a better understanding of this concept. Furthermore, any doubts regarding this concept or to implement any electrical and electronic projects , please give your feedback by commenting in the comment section below. Here is a question for you, what is the function of ELCB?

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Home > Protection > ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker) – Construction, Types & Working

ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker) – Construction, Types & Working

What is an elcb types, working, and application of earth leakage circuit breaker.

ELCB or Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker is a protection device that protects against earth leakage. Initially, the earth leakage circuit breaker were voltage detection devices, now they are switched to current sensing devices. The current ELCB is renamed as RCCB or RCD while the voltage ELCBs are still known as ELCB but they are obsolete.

In this article, we are going to discuss ELCB in detail with both types.

Table of Contents

What is Earth Leakage?

The electrical current that flows from the live conductor to the earth through an unintended path is called earth leakage. It may flow between their poor insulation or through a person’s body and cause electrical shock. The consequence of electrical shock may prove fatal if the leakage current exceeds the only 30mA. Therefore, protection devices are used to disconnect the power source when such current leakage is detected

Causes of Earth Leakage?

Earth leakage can occur due to various reasons. It can occur due to damaged insulation of the live conductor or broken conductors. It can also occur when the live conductor comes in contact with the body of the equipment (if the equipment is not properly grounded). Upon touching the conductor or the equipment, the current can pass to the earth through the person’s body.

• Related Post: MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) – Construction, Working, Types and Applications

What is an Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker?

ELCB or Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker is a type of circuit breaker that is used for protection against leakage current. it breaks the circuit and disconnects the power supply to the load when it senses the leakage current. The earth leakage can cause electrical shocks that can be fatal.

ELCB is mainly used for protection against electrical shock . They do not offer protection against overloading or short circuit. Therefore, they must be used in series with an MCB (miniature circuit breaker) .

Function of ELCB

ELCB is a safety device whose main function is to prevent electrical shock. It monitors the leakage current that flows out of the circuit through any unintended path. It cannot protect against overloading or short circuit  current.

Operation of ELCB

Under normal conditions, the current from the source flows into the load through the live wire and flows out of the load through the neutral wire. In fact, both currents are equal in amount. If the current leaks through any unintended path, an imbalance between the live and neutral wire occurs. The ELCB can sense the imbalance using a current transformer and break the contacts using an electromagnetic relay.

• Related Post: What is an RCD (Residual Current Device)? – RCB and RCCB

Types of ELCBs

There are two types of ELCB classified based on its operation principle;

Voltage ELCB

• Current ELCB

Both types of ELCBs detect the leakage current but their sensitivity and the level of protection they offer are different. Voltage ELCB was invented before the current ELCB. voltage based ELCB is inferior to current ELCB. Therefore, to avoid confusion, the voltage ELCB is renamed ELCB while the current ELCB is renamed RCCB or RCD .

Voltage ELCB operates on the voltage level between the earth and the body of the equipment. The voltage difference is used to detect the leakage current and instantly break the circuit.

It has terminals for both phases and neutral on both supply and load sides. It has two extra terminals that connect with the equipment’s body and the earth. These terminals are actually connected with the electromagnetic relay and they play a vital role in breaking the circuit during current leakage.

• Related Posts: MCCB (Molded Case Circuit Breaker) – Construction, Types and Working

Working Principle

One of the terminals of the relay coil is directly connected to the earth while the other terminal is connected to the body of the equipment. The coil can sense the voltage difference between the earth and the body of the equipment.

If the live wire breaks or its insulation fails and comes in contact with the body of the equipment, a voltage difference appears across the terminals of the coil. As a result, the current starts to flow through the coil and it is energized. The relay starts to generate electromagnetic force. When the current exceeds a certain limit, the relay produces sufficient force to pull the latch. By doing so, the latch break opens the contacts and disconnects the power supply to the equipment and prevents electrical shock.

Therefore, the earth connection is necessary as the relay only operates when the leakage current flows through it. if the current leaks through any other parts of the circuit and flows through any other unintended path, it will not break the circuit as the current must flow through the relay in order to break the circuit.

• Related Post:  Types of Circuit Breakers – Working and Applications

Here are some of the advantages of voltage ELCB

• It helps in protection against electrical shocks.
• They are less sensitive and do not trip unnecessarily.
• They are less expensive.

Disadvantages

Here are some of the disadvantages of voltage ELCB

• It cannot sense the current leakage from phase to any other earthed body.
• It cannot prevent electrical shock in case of touching the phase conductor directly.
• It only trips when the leakage current flows through the earth conductor.
• It requires an extra connection with the body of the equipment and earth.
• It is less sensitive and cannot detect low leakage current.
• Electrical equipment that normally leaks voltage might trip ELCB unnecessarily.

It has far more disadvantages than advantages and they are obsolete. Therefore, if you have installed any old voltage ELCBs in your home, replace them with current ELCB or RCCB. They are more efficient, reliable and best at providing protection against any kind of leakage current.

• Related Post:  Air Circuit Breaker (ACB): Construction, Operation, Types and Uses

Current ELCB (RCCB or RCD)

Current ELCB or commonly known as RCD (Residual Current Device) or RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker) is another type of ELCB that breaks the circuit upon sensing any leakage current. It operates on the current difference between the phase and neutral line. The difference appears when the current leaks from the phase line. Therefore, RCCB can provide protection against any kind of current leakage.

It has four terminals having two input and two output terminals for phase and neutral. The phase-in and neutral in are connected to the supply while phase-out and neutral out are connected to the load. It does not have that extra terminal for earth connection.

• Related Post:  SF6 Circuit Breaker – Types, Construction, Working and Applications

The RCCB working is based on the current imbalance between the phase and neutral line. It continuously monitors the phase and neutral current. Under normal conditions, both phase and neutral current are equal because it is the same current flowing back from the load. If, the current leaks through any unintended path, the neutral current reduces and causes imbalance. When the imbalance exceeds a certain limit, the RCCB breaks the contacts and disconnects the power supply.

RCCB works on the principle of Kirchhoff’s current law, according to which the amount of current entering the load through the hot wire must be equal to the amount of current leaving the load through the neutral wire. The difference between the two currents known as residual current should be zero. If there is a difference then the current is leaking somewhere that causes the imbalance.

RCCB includes a zero-sequence current transformer that has three coils i.e. phase coil, neutral coil and search coil. It is used for detecting the imbalance or difference between two currents. The phase coil and neutral coil is wounded around the toroidal core in such a way to cancel out each other’s flux.

if the currents are equal as should be under normal conditions, the resultant flux will cancel out each other and there will be no induced current in the search coil. suppose, there is a leakage current, the current difference will produce flux that will induce a voltage in the search coil. as the search coil is connected to the relay trip mechanism, it will break the contacts and disconnect the power supply to the load.

• Related Post:  Tripping Curves of Circuit Breakers – B, C, D, K and Z Trip Curve

Here are the advantages of the current ELCB or RCCB

• RCCB breaks the circuit when the current leaks from any part of the circuit.
• It is very reliable in providing protection against electrical shock.
• It is far more sensitive than voltage ELCB.
• It continuously monitors the residual current and instantaneously breaks when it exceeds its rated limit.
• It does not require an earth connection.

Here are the disadvantages of the current ELCB or RCCB

• It does not provide protection against short circuit current.
• It does not have overload protection .
• It is expensive than ELCB.
• It cannot provide protection against electrical shock due to touching both phases and neutral wire because the current still remains equal.
• Due to high sensitivity, it may trip unnecessarily when used with old appliances having small current leakage.
• It operates only on normal supply waveforms and cannot operate reliably on non-standard waveforms.

Related Post: Difference Between MCB, MCCB, ELCB & RCD

Types based on Poles

According to the poles of circuit breakers , the ELCB is classified into three types.

2-Pole ELCB: it is used for protection in a single-phase system. It has 2 ingoing and 2 outgoing terminals having phase and neutral connections.

3-Pole ELCB: It is used for protection in a three-wire three-phase system. It has three ingoing and three outgoing terminals.

4-Pole ELCB: It is used for protection in a four-wire three-phase system.

Advantages and Disadvantages of ELCBs

• ELCB instantly breaks the circuit to avoid electrical shock.
• It prevents damage caused due to broken wires or damaged insulation.
• ELCB cannot protect against overloading and short circuit current.
• It cannot protect against live-neutral shock.
• It may trip unnecessarily due to small current leakages in old appliances.

Applications of ELCBs

ELCB is used for protection against current leakage. The current leakage causes electrical shock and faults in the system. It breaks the circuit instantly to prevents damage to the connected circuits. They are essential in wet locations having increased risks of electrical shocks.

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What are instant water heaters?

They instantly heat water as it flows through the unit. It will keep heating the water flowing though it indefinitely, on demand. Hot water when you want it.

Type of water shower heater?

What are the main advantages?

The main advantages of instant water heaters are a continuous flow of hot water and energy savings (as compared to a limited flow of continuously heating hot water from conventional storage water heaters). Minimizes energy costs by providing hot water only when necessary

How instant water heaters work?

When there is a demand for hot water by turning on the stop valve (e.g. when taking a shower) the instant water heater’s water flow switch senses the flow and starts the heating process. Water is heated to the desired temperature as it circulates through the copper heat exchanger providing continuous hot water. When the stop valve is turned off, the instant water heater shuts down.

What is Auto Test?

It is a safety device that will conduct a self-test everytime the heater is switched on. The device will run a self-test on the internal circuit to check if there is any current leakage on all electrical components & parts. The 5 indicator lights would turn Green to show that the system is safe for use. If a problem is detected, these indicator lights turn Red and blink, alerting you to call service or repair.

How is the size of instant water heaters?

It is relatively compact. It even fits between wall studs. Without the usual size of restraint of a conventional storage water heater, the instant water heater can be installed almost anywhere. Making it easy to install closer to you where you need hot water, permitting prompt arrival of hot water to your shower, sink, or washing machine (this can also save you on piping for new construction). etc. Its small size is perfect for limited space applications, such as vacation homes, mobile or modular, offices.

Why is my shower not hot enough, even when the electronic control already turned to the maximum?

• Raining seasons – Incoming water supply will be cooler compare to normal day thus causing a drop in output temperature. Turn the temperature control knob to max and reduce water flow rate by – turn the stop valve’s regulator to a lower flow, – turn pump speed control to lower speed.
• Too much water flow, high water pressure (more than 40 psi) means higher flow rate or drop in power supply’s voltage. Mains voltage supply too low- below 200 Vac. *In general, higher water flow rate and low power input (fluctuation of voltage) will cause lower output temperature.
• Different hand shower set is used other than the one supplied by the manufacturer. Use only hand shower supplied from manufacturer, which hand shower design with a low flow rate of water.
• Loose wiring connection or supply point faulty. Check / tighten wiring connections at all 6 areas of terminal blocks.

No shower coming out from the heater (“Heater” Light is “OFF”, but “ELCB” Light is “ON”).

• Dirt particles blocking filter at inlet stop valve. Remove filter at inlet stop valve and clean.
• Dirt particles blocking hand shower spray. Rub hand shower rubber nozzle to remove dirt particles. *this procedure must be made with water spraying out from hand shower.
• Interrupted Water Supply. Check whether the water supply is available, by taking out inlet stop valve connection and check if water supply is available.
• Incoming water supply stop valve, service valve turned off.  Turn on stop valve & service valve.
• Low water supply Heater require minimum 2 liter per minute or 3 psi to activate flow switch.
• Malfunctioning on Flow Switch (magnet jammed or reed switch failed). Magnet jammed / dislocated. Replace with new part. Reed Switch Failure. Replace with new part.

Heater not functioning / both “Heater” and “ELCB” Light are “OFF”, / Pump and heater both not working.

• Interrupted of Power Supply. Check if unit’s Built in ELCB trip, Mains Distribution Panel On/Off Switch turn off, Mains Distribution Panel’s ELCB Trip, or MCB Overloaded. Check other appliances sharing the same ground network has current leakage, which causing ELCB Trip.
• Thermal Cut- Out 85 º C manual reset has operated.  Reset by pressing button of thermostat. Check root cause of thermal cut-out operated. 4 possibility: Magnet jammed, Reed Switch failure, EC Control board failure, Triac shorted. Replace the components one by one to troubleshoot.
• Check if current leakage is happening, where heating element burnt, L&E or N&E is connected, or L&N open circuit, replace if -necessary.
• Check if the ELCB is struck by lightning (varistor blown), replace if necessary.
• Check if the ELCB’s fuse is connected, replace if necessary.

Outlet water too hot.

• Insufficient water flow, incoming water flow too low, which just able to activate the flow switch. Dirt particles blocking hand shower spray, or dirt particles blocking filter at inlet stop valve. See 1.1 & 1.2 remedy.
• Increase of incoming water temperature, where water cistern on roof top and it is exposed under the sun. Turn the temperature control knob to minimum or off and increase water flow rate by – turn the stop valve’s regulator to a maximum flow. – turn pump speed control to maximum speed.

Mild electric shock when touching the flexible hose or front cover during shower.

• Earth wire in bad connection. Check earth wire connection (by appointing a qualified electrician)
• Other appliances sharing same earth network having current leakage.  Check other home appliances, whether current leakage has occur to other appliances in the house, which sharing the same earth network.

Mains ELCB trips when heater is turn on / Mains ELCB continuous tripping.

• Heating element current leakage. Replace heater tank.
• Wrong wiring during installation or wiring faulty, Live wire touching Earth wire, or Neutral wire touching Earth wire. Ensure wiring connection is correct and check for faulty wiring.

MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker for Instant Water Heater keeps tripping (overloaded).

• Check MCB rated current. The rated current must be 20 ampere for Instant Water Heater.  MCB under rated , proceed to replace if necessary.
• Heating Element burnt and Live & Neutral shorted causing overload of current.  Turn off mains power and proceed to check element resistance. (14.80 to 16.40 Ω for 3.6kW Heater). If not in this range, proceed to change new heating element.

ALPHA ELECTRIC CO SDN BHD was incorporated on 10 November 1990. We are an ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certified manufacturer of Instant Electric Water Heater, Storage Water Heater, Shower Pump, Shower Panels and Shower Accessories.

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• Instant Water Heater
• Storage Water Heater

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Daylight Electrician Singapore Articles / Blog

• Power Failure

Power Trip At Home? 3 Reasons Why Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping And How To Fix It

• Author : daylightadmin4

Electrical Issues? Whatsapp Us for Help! WhatsApp Us For Enquiry!

In Singapore, power trips are a frequent electrical emergency faced by homeowners. This occurs when the current in a circuit breaker exceeds the prescribed amount, thereby cutting off the electric supply. 

Although a power trip prevents damage to the wiring and other appliances, it can also result in a blackout. So to prevent it, here are some reasons why a power trip may occur in your circuit breaker and how you can resolve it. 

3 Reasons Why Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping

Overloaded Electric Circuit

One main reason why a power trip happens is because of the electrical circuit getting overloaded beyond the prescribed limit.  When the current exceeds the rated capacity of the wiring, it can get damaged or create a fire hazard.  In order to prevent an actual fire from taking place, a circuit trip occurs. 

Connecting multiple electrical appliances to a power supply may also cause the power supply to trip. Malfunctioning appliances in particular may use up more power, increasing the total current supply and causing the circuit breaker to trip.

Short Circuit

A short circuit can also cause an HDB circuit breaker trip . One way to identify this is by checking for burning smells. Usually, a Short circuit occurs when the hot wire (black) touches a neutral wire (white).  A surge in current supply can also happen when electrical wiring with damaged insulation come into contact with each other. Damaged appliances or lighting components with wiring problems can also cause a short circuit when plugged into an outlet.

Ground Fault 

Besides short circuits, a power trip can also happen because of a ground fault. . When the circuit breaker’s hot wire comes into contact with the ground, the resistance is lowered and causes increased current.  A hot wire (black) which makes contact with a metallic object can also cause a circuit breaker trip to occur. 

Ground faults can also happen when homeowners ignore general electricity safety tips . Furthermore, this can cause a highly dangerous accident such as an electrical shock from switches or sockets . 

How to Fix a Power Trip

Overloaded Electric Circuit 

• Firstly, switch off all electronic appliances, gadgets, and light installations in the house.
• Next, switch on  all low power consumption electrical devices.  
• Now turn on your high power consumption appliances gradually until an electric trip occurs. Note down which high power consumption devices were connected when the trip happened.
• Whichever appliance has caused an increase in the power supply is likely to be the cause of your power trip.
• After determining the cause of your power trip, you can Connect the high power consumption electric appliance to another electric circuit to avoid another electric trip.
• Alternatively, you can upgrade your electrical wiring and hardware to carry the additional power load. While waiting for the wiring to be upgraded, you should minimize the use of appliances that consume more power as much as possible. You can also switch off all other appliances when only one is being used.

Compared to a power trip caused by overloading, fixing one which results from a short circuit is usually more difficult.

Usually, in the case of a short circuit, there is a massive spike in current which results in burning (causing a bad smell and discoloration). In that case, the electrical outlets should be switched off, and each of the power points and sockets should be inspected for any discoloration or smell. The insulation of the wiring should be checked as well. Furthermore, all the appliances should also be inspected for damage or odor. Usually the appliance with a short circuit will stop working and will have to be replaced or repaired.

Since most homes and offices have concealed wiring , it is not easy to inspect the wiring for damage or short circuit. Moreover, it is not easy to find out the exact condition of the wiring to detect any damage which has occurred. 

During monsoon seasons, an increase in the moisture levels or wet walls may cause a short circuit. Unfortunately, most property owners do not have the tools and experience to detect the damage to the concealed wiring. Hence it is advisable to hire the services of a licensed and experienced electrician who can accurately detect the short circuit and conduct an electrical wiring repair or replacement.

• Switch off all appliances and unplug them from the electric circuit.
• Switch on the circuit breaker .
• If there is no electric trip, each of the appliances should be connected to the circuit. Once the defective appliance is connected, the circuit breaker will trip.
• The faulty appliance should be repaired or replaced to prevent another ground fault.

If the circuit breaker continues to trip, it’s p o ssible that you might have electric wiring mistakes present. In that case, you should contact a reliable electrician to check the wiring and fix it if needed.

Depending on the cause of the electric trip, the property owner can either fix it himself or hire the services of a well-trained licensed electrician in Singapore.  If you opt for the latter, you can contact someone from Daylight Electrician Singapore  with many years of experience in providing all kinds of electrical services .

Daylight Electrician Singapore provides complete electrical services including emergency electrician service in Singapore. Our network of electrical workers and EMA licensed electricians are specially trained to execute all kinds of electrical repairs and works including electrical installation such as light installation , ceiling fan installation , power failure recovery as well as electrical wiring and rewiring , power socket , electrical switches , light switches and DB Box replacement . We have over 10 years of electrician experience and have done thousands of electrical works for both residential (Landed, condo and HDB electrician) and commercial electrician. We are the highly recommended electrician in Singapore with many happy customers and positive reviews over the years both on Google and Facebook . WhatsApp us at +65 8241 0032 for transparent quotation and honest pricing for all your electrical needs or Call us at +65 6909 9921 . We offer a fast and efficient service to serve any of your electrical needs!

Last Updated on June 3, 2022 by daylightadmin4

#1 Recommended Electrician in Singapore. WhatsApp us now at +65 8241 0032

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Storage Heater Lifespan

By Homers , August 29, 2016 in Electronics & Electricals

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Homers    0.

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    My joven storage heater recently cause the ELCB to trip.   Some advised me to change the whole tank but some said just change the heating element.   The heater is close about 12 years or more.  Any advice please ?

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Link to post, share on other sites, w7_lee    11.

Mine did not cause ELCB trip but it started leaking. I believe the inner casing ruptured. Was Ariston, about 6 years old. Initially was a slight water seepage (I notice water stain on the white casing and wet spot on the bathroom floor) but within a week, it was dripping badly. 

My parents using Everhot, also failed when it start leaking. 

If can replace just the heating element (not sure if anyone doing it), we won't know the worksmanship and what will fail next.

Pelect    3

14 hours ago, Homers said: Hi !     My joven storage heater recently cause the ELCB to trip.   Some advised me to change the whole tank but some said just change the heating element.   The heater is close about 12 years or more.  Any advice please ?

I have 2 separate Joven heaters. One failed around 10 years and the other 12 years. Both tripped the RCD. The heater element is about $60 and you most likely will need to replace the thermal fuse as well, about $15. I did not change the entire unit because to do that, I have to cut the false ceiling. 

2 hours ago, Pelect said: I have 2 separate Joven heaters. One failed around 10 years and the other 12 years. Both tripped the RCD. The heater element is about $60 and you most likely will need to replace the thermal fuse as well, about $15. I did not change the entire unit because to do that, I have to cut the false ceiling. 

Thanks for your reply.  May I know how long more you are using the heater after you changed the heat element ?  You changed it yourself ?  I was quoted about $200/- to change it.

7 hours ago, Homers said: Thanks for your reply.  May I know how long more you are using the heater after you changed the heat element ?  You changed it yourself ?  I was quoted about $200/- to change it.

I checked my records for the exact replacement dates. The replacement for 1st heater was Nov 2011 and the replacement for 2nd heater was Sep 2015. So, it's been almost 5 years for 1st and 1 year for 2nd heater since they were last replaced with both heater element and fuse. Both heaters were installed around 2004. Yes, you have to add labour charge if you are not replacing it yourself. $200 is not far from replacing the entire unit (not including labour)

25 minutes ago, Pelect said: I checked my records for the exact replacement dates. The replacement for 1st heater was Nov 2011 and the replacement for 2nd heater was Sep 2015. So, it's been almost 5 years for 1st and 1 year for 2nd heater since they were last replaced with both heater element and fuse. Both heaters were installed around 2004. Yes, you have to add labour charge if you are not replacing it yourself. $200 is not far from replacing the entire unit (not including labour) .  

Thanks very much for the info. 

Sunny88    0

Both my storage heaters wiring trip 2 days ago at the same time. We contacted the electrician who quoted $700 to change the control board, change the 2 heater switches and re-do wiring for both heaters. He said heaters look okay and need not change. No hacking but he will do the HDB flat wire casing from switch to the false ceiling.  Ours is condo and all wiring to date is concealed wiring.

One of the heaters is about 10 years old and other is 6 years? No leakage. Both working fine to date. Problem was the heater indicator switch has been spoilt for a year or so and sometimes I suspect the heater is on for whole day. Would this cause the trip?

Is $700 a reasonable fee for some wiring works only? I am a newbie at reno works and would appreciate some feedback. Thanks!

I was thinking may as well change one of the heaters but how much will the installation charges be? I note a lot of forummers quoting $100 to $200 for installation - other than the piping works, would this include the wiring work to instal the heater switch etc? Ours is a condo and has concealed wiring. 

15 hours ago, Sunny88 said: Both my storage heaters wiring trip 2 days ago at the same time. We contacted the electrician who quoted $700 to change the control board, change the 2 heater switches and re-do wiring for both heaters. He said heaters look okay and need not change. No hacking but he will do the HDB flat wire casing from switch to the false ceiling.  Ours is condo and all wiring to date is concealed wiring. >> If your home has only one RCCB (check the label of the circuit breakers inside your consumer unit electrical distribution box), then if one heater trips the RCCB, the entire home power gets cut off. In that case, it is not both heaters trip at the same time. It is the entire power for your home has been cut off. If you can post pictures of the electrical box circuit breakers and the heaters, that will help explain. If it is the MCB and not RCCB, or both tripped, then it could be a different issue. One of the heaters is about 10 years old and other is 6 years? No leakage. Both working fine to date. Problem was the heater indicator switch has been spoilt for a year or so and sometimes I suspect the heater is on for whole day. Would this cause the trip? >>  Unless there is a current leak, the RCCB is unlikely to trip. Leaving heater on for whole day will not cause tripping. It may shorten the life of your heater. A standalone timer or built in timer will help to switch if off automatically. One of the main causes of RCCB tripping is the heater. Not always but very common. Is $700 a reasonable fee for some wiring works only? I am a newbie at reno works and would appreciate some feedback. Thanks! I was thinking may as well change one of the heaters but how much will the installation charges be? I note a lot of forummers quoting $100 to $200 for installation - other than the piping works, would this include the wiring work to instal the heater switch etc? Ours is a condo and has concealed wiring.  >>  I saw you were asking about whether to have one or two heaters from a cost standpoint. Just to share with you. If you have 2 heaters, if one breaks down, you can still use the other. That is the reason why I installed 2 instead of 1 because I know, one day, one of them will spoil and I can use the other. The decision is yours though, depending on your preference, situation and environment.  

Another question.  Is it necessary to change the thermostat as well ?  Thanks again.

Mine is working so I left it as .

If you have to change heater element, fuse and thermostat, it will probably be better off replacing the entire storage heater.

Thanks. I have a false ceiling cover the heater and would be a hassle to change the whole heater.  So weighing my options. 

Oh yes, I can certainly understand that. One day, should I need to replace my entire heater, I would add one or two false ceiling access panels.

Oh, I do have access panels.  But they say that may still have to cut the ceiling. Depends.

On ‎1‎/‎9‎/‎2016 at 9:11 AM, Pelect said:  

Thanks for your reply, Pelect.

Here is a picture of the heater circuit board.( I am told we are the exceptional condo in Singapore with a separate circuit board for heaters only.  I won't know cos I'm not a technician. )

Since I last posted, I manage to get someone to have a look and he identified that the fuse was spoilt so he replaced it.

Now I can switch on the heater but I have to switch off the main heater circuit board power as well. This was not how it operated before.

We are told that there is a problem with the heater circuit board and the handyman contractor we consulted suggested by-passing the whole heater circuit board and re-wire the heater directly to the main heater circuit board.

Unless we hack the walls, this means HDB type trunk from the 2 heater switches all the way to the storeroom where the circuit board is.

This is ugly but if there is no choice, I am prepared for it.However, I am not sure if this is the only choice? Any views  anyone?

Personally, I would never bypass something without understanding what are its functions.

A storage heater has several safety features, protecting against over temperature, a tank with no water coming in, excessive pressure and safety cutouts. 

Personally, I would put safety above all else.

What is the brand of this heater and are you able to contact the manufacturer or dealer?

By the way, please do not touch anything inside the upper box. It seems there are many live wires inside on the left half. 

I would be very interested to see a clear wiring diagram on the inside cover of the top box. I am really curious what this is.

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Everything You Need to Know About EARTH LEAKAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER (ELCB)

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Electrical safety is not complete with a single device but with a collection of several devices. One crucial device is an ELCB, which helps guard against electric shocks and other potential dangers. This detailed blog covers the basic concepts of ELCBs, such as how they are designed, the different types, ELCB uses, and their positioning and working. It shows the importance of ELCBs in electrical systems.

What is ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker)?

Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) is a safety equipment known for its designed function, which prevents electrical circuits and related equipment from experiencing electrical faults, especially earth faults or leakages. It works out by blocking the current running through the live and neutral conductors, and this eventually stops electricity, which may cause shocks, fires, or similarly dangerous accidents.

Read Also: MCB (Miniature Circuit Breakers) Guide - Types, Sizes, And Uses

Types of Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker 

There are two types of Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker: 

1. Voltage-Operated Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB)

A voltage-operated ELCB is a common-type earthing switch that is deployed to detect the voltage variations that are characteristic of earth faults. In a single-phase voltage ELCB, there are six terminals: line in, line out, neutral in, neutral out, earth, and fault. The load's metal body is connected to the ELCB, which is the fault terminal, and its other earth terminal is connected to the ground. During sleep mode, the trip coil on the load sees zero voltage, implying that the load body is inactive and intentionally kept away from the line connected to the power supply.

In the event of a ground fault, the line current will follow the path to the ground through the line wire and be conducted by the metal body of the load. The current motion in this bulk produces a voltage across the trip coil placed between terminals. The energised trip coil then activates the existing circuit responsible for protecting both the device and the person in need.

2. Current-Operated Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) 

RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker) is the widely used E-type breaker that contains a triple-winding transformer that has two primary windings and one secondary winding. The primary winding's coiling comes from the first and neutral wires. A wire-wound coil is used as the artful winding for the minor winding. In the condition of the minor winding, the current flow circuit will be in such a position that its current flow in the circuit will be insignificant.

When the voltage manipulation or wireless power transfer is not working correctly, a small current flows to the ground, which causes an imbalance between line and neutral currents, leading to a disordered magnetic field. This implies that the generated current flows through the minor coil that is connected to the sensing element. The circuit is then able to sense the lack of balance and communicate to the tripping system, which will stop the current circuit.

Common Causes of Earth Leakage

Earth leakage can arise from various factors, including:

• Insulation Failure: This failure may result from natural phenomena, ageing, fluctuating temperatures, or damage to the insulation material.
• Imperfect Electrical Connections: Inconspicuous or non-proprietary joints can be critical in causing a fault current-earth leakage problem.
• Poor Earthing Systems: The absence or defect of strength or capacities in the earth pathway may result in current flow to the earth, also called earth leakage.
• Use of Faulty Equipment: Faulty electrical equipment, including appliances or wires, can result in earth leakage, which often leads to severe accidents.
• Human Error: Lapse of installation standards leads to accidents caused by earth leakage.

About the Construction of ELCB

An Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) consists of several key components:

• Core: The centre of the ELCB comprises a ferromagnetic core, such as iron or steel, which is a material based on a toroidal arc or ring-shaped magnetic core. The conductors of the electrons pass along the central opening of the part, which serves as the sensor circuits and the system to cause the breaker to trip.
• Sensing Circuit: Using a supervising circuit lets current flow through the input conductors constantly. It tells if there is any current disturbance in the electrical circuit, for instance, when the current in the circuit is less than the current being consumed. The transducer part of the circuit commonly takes the differential current transformer (CT) connected with the variable magnetisation core. 
• Tripping Mechanism: The fuse/circuit breaker is designed to disconnect the power supply when an anomaly is picked up in the circuit. Usually, a solenoid coil forms the primary winding, which is then magnetically connected to the secondary winding of the CT. Hence, in the detection of a difference or discharged current by secondary winding, the solenoid coil produces a magnetic field. Through the induction process in this magnetic field, the ELCB circuit is tripped with a mechanical switch, such as a latch or plunger, which disconnects the power supply from the flying circuit. Such ELCBS may also include more advanced features like manual push buttons or trip indicators.

Working Principle and Application of ELCB

In an ELCB, an imbalance in the current is monitored, which is based on the neutral conductor and a guard wire. If there is a difference between exchanging current towards the load and returning it, then it is a sign of leakage, such as electric shock or leakage of current to the ground. The ELCB performs this function by interrupting the sensing current for a fraction of a second to avert such dangers.

An Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker has a monitoring mechanism that detects any faulty current through the circuit and functions by interrupting the electrical source when a leak or deviation from the current's usual route is detected. This immediate response results in overall electrical safety, whereby people are assured of not getting electrocuted, with the risk of electrical fire being minimal.

Advantages of ELCB in Electrical Systems

The advantages of Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker in electrical systems are as follows:

• Personal Safety: ELCBs perform a crucial role of shutting off electrical power quickly and preventing injuries or, worse, death when a person comes into contact with a live wire, thus an earth fault.
• Fire Prevention: Through fast and precise trips, ELCB helps to prevent or hold small fires from developing, which is particularly important as it helps protect life and property.
• Equipment Protection: ELCBs will, therefore, significantly extend the life span of electrical equipment by being responsible for damages arising from faults and surges.
• Compliance with Regulations: Electrical codes and policies in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings require the setting up and commissioning of ELCBs to meet the safety standards and regulations of a particular area.

Limitations of Voltage ELCBs

Though voltage ELCBs hold great attention in older power systems, they still need to catch up with the present ELCBs, which are considered more advanced than them. Despite some advantages, such as protection against electric shock, reduced sensitivity leading to fewer unnecessary trips, and lower cost, they come with limitations:

• Inability to detect leakage to earthed bodies: There is a possibility of having a voltage ELCB which cannot recognise the phase wire leakage to other earthed bodies.
• Trip activation only with current flow in earth conductor: ELCBs fall unilaterally when current does not flow through the earth conductor.
• Ineffectiveness in preventing direct phase conductor contact: The ELCB device allows for driving an incoming transformer or primary conductor, which ensures no electric shock is in contact with the phase conductor.
• Limited sensitivity: While the voltage ELBCs are inferior in terms of sensitivity, they do not detect low leakage currents.

Through this blog, the crucial role of Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers (ELCBs) in protecting electrical networks is clear. All elements that are crucial for earth faults and electrical mishap safety play a direct role in tripping the circuits to guarantee safety by preventing accidents, injuries, and damage to the property. The ELCBs offered at the Lauritz Knudsen (Formerly L&T Switchgear) are embedded with modern servicing and functional aspects to address the dynamic nature of the current installations. Get familiar with our selection of ELCB models that elaborate on their functions, types of use, installation strategies, operating principles and effectiveness at maintaining systems integrity, either in domestic or industrial applications. If you need reliability and ingenuity in your purchases, then choose Lauritz Knudsen (Formerly L&T Switchgear) for innovative and trusted products.

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Risk & Myth of Electrocution of Electric Storage Water Heater in Malaysia

By mr choo wei seng, showertec industries sdn bhd.

Introduction

There are different types and ranges of water heaters in the Malaysian market today, mainly: (1) Electric Instant Water Heater, (2) Electric Storage Water Heater, (3) Solar Water Heater and (4) Industrial Heat Pump for commercial / hotel applications.

Counting on the number of unit per annum being sold to the market, the Instant Electric Water Heater is always the best seller (500,000 units per year), followed by Electric Storage Heater (80,000 units per year) and Solar Water Heater (20,000 units per year) in Malaysia.

Given the above statistics, Electric Storage Water Heater is another popular method of heating water in Malaysian households, particularly for bathrooms in luxury condominiums, service apartments, SOHO and SOVO, where small-sized storage water heaters (30-50 liters) were installed instead of the Electric Instant Water Heater. Despite the popularity and increasing usage of Electric Storage Water Heater, some aspects of the safety measures are overlooked. They are a handful of fatalities involving water heaters each year.

What actually happened in all cases of Electrocution via Water Heater?

• As per investigation reports, all the fatal cases had failed Residual Current Circuit Breaker (RCCB), which didn’t trip to save lives.
• Most fatal cases had no earth connectivity anymore (due to the building’s unreliable earth wiring), some are due to poor quality of earth rod clamps (rusted & disconnected) and some earth chambers were chopped off during renovations (car porch tiling)
• Non-qualified electricians were engaged to install water heaters where undersized wire was used. After a period of time, the live wire melted and bonded with earth wire, and current then leaked from live to earth.
• External current leakage: when an appliance (such as a kettle, fluorescent lamp) leaks, current combines with failed RCCB and broken mains earthing system, the leak current will be looking for a direct pathway to earth. During this unfortunate incident, if a person is having shower and if the shower system is connected to stainless steel hose and chrome hand shower, he/she will be electrocuted because the current travels through the earth system, through tank’s body, stainless steel hose and then their body to exits through their bare feet to the earth /wet floor.
• As a result of the above, the earth system is electrified and most of the time they are connected by stainless steel hose and conductive chrome hand shower that are exposed to users. If the user touches them, he/she will be electrocuted.

Risk of Electrocution

As shown in the chart, current shock is relatively more severe as the current rises.

For current above 10 milliamps (0.01A), muscular contractions are so strong that the victim cannot let go of the stainless steel hose that is shocking him. At values as low as 20 mA, breathing becomes laboured, finally ceasing completely even at values below 75 milliamps.

Is my house wiring properly wired according to the Electricity Regulation Act?

In Malaysia, the installation of “individual” RCCB with leakage current sensitivity of 10mA in a wet area is a statutory requirement under Electric Regulation Act 1994, however, many houses are only protected by the mains RCCB with the leakage current sensitivity of 100mA.

The wiring regulation assumes that RCCB is always in working condition and also protective earth is reliably connected in all circumstances, and everything is perfect and safe.

However, the ugly truth is that, there are just too many substandard products such as electrical wires that are thinner than the required specifications, varieties of RCCB in different brands that come without SIRIM/ST approval (illegal) flooding the market. Besides that shoddy workmanship conducted by foreign labourers, incompetent and unlicensed electricians who carry out electrical works are worsening the situation.

Now, let us share a few MYTHS in Electrocutions via Water Heater.

Many think that if the Storage Water Heater is switched off, it will be safe.

Any electrical leakage at home, if earthing and RCCB are not properly functioning, the Earth system in the whole house will be electrified and lead to a high chance of fatality caused by the device, which is the Water Heater, through the Stainless Steel Hose. The reason is simple, because current comes from earth connection at Storage Water Heater tank’s body. As a result, many people perceive that the water heater is causing the electrocution. This perception is wrong, refer to Picture 1.

Many think that the RCD/ELCB that is built in the Electric Instant Water Heater is the ultimate solution for safety.

Instant Water Heater with built-in RCD/ELCB is only protecting electrical leakage within the water heater itself.

In Malaysia, Electric Storage Water Heaters in the market are without built-in RCD because it is installed above ceiling (hidden from view). Very often a dedicated RCCB with 10mA sensitivity is not installed in conjunction with the Electric Storage Water Heaters. And the only protection comes from 100mA or 300mA rated RCCB in the Distribution Board. The safety solely relies on the working RCCB at the main Distribution Box (DB) and the protective earth connection. Imagine if both of them fail, precious lives will be lost!

• Water heaters should only be installed by qualified electricians.
• Use only water heaters that are approved by SIRIM and ST (Suruhanja Tenaga). (*you may refer to www.malaysiancertified.com.my for more details)
• Always test the RCCB in your house Distribution Box regularly to ensure its functionality. The requirement says it should be tested 4 times annually.
• House wiring system is recommended to be inspected by qualified electrical contractors every 10 to 15 years for possible deteriorations.

The above are often neglected due to ignorance from users, unscrupulous businesses which sell sub-standard and illegal products in the market, weak enforcement on safety regulations, and many other factors making the installation of water heating systems in a risk-free environment impossible.

In order to adapt to the current situation, Isolation Barrier is a simple and quick solution to prevent electrocution. It has been studied and confirmed that if water is travelling through a 1.0 metre (3.3 feet) long pathway and in a 10 mm inner diameter hose, the electric current will not kill a person even if the person is standing barefoot on a wet floor. Installation Isolation Barrier on water heater is able to mimic the same principles of elongating the water pathway and turn the highly conductive current pathway into a “non-conductive” pathway in the event of electrocution. Refer to Picture 3.

Electric Instant Water Heater users are advised to change to PVC insulated flexible hose and plastic taps at inlet and outlet today. For Electric Storage Water Heater, install the isolation barrier at inlet and outlet of the Storage Water Heater, to avoid failed RCCB and broken mains. It will save lives!

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ELCB for water heater

By orpheus454 March 2, 2014 in The Electrical Forum

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Our house has proper earthing, but no Safe-T-Cut or ELCB.

We have an electric water heater with internal ELCB, with a normal circuit breaker shown in the first attached pic.

Would replacing that circuit breaker with the ELCB breaker shown in the other pic provide additional protection?

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The device you show is an RCBO (it has overload protection) and is the correct one for your heater. Ensure the current rating is the same as the existing breaker.

bankruatsteve

If the shower heater with "ELCB" is the only device on the circuit, then adding an RCBO would be redundant (which some would argue safer).

But, if that breaker is inside the shower room (next to the ceiling?) makes no sense to me.

Good point Steve, adding an extra RCBO makes sense only if it is at the other end of the cable from the shower heater.

Thanks for the prompt and informative replies.

It was the redundancy that I had in mind. That is, if the internal unit became faulty with time, then the extra unit would cut the supply.

Also, on your page on bathroom power points, you advise against relying solely on the internal units as they don't cut the incoming supply. Won't this one do that effectively?

Thanks again.

Is that solely so that other devices on the circuit are also protected?

Yes - and the cable. Protection for RCD and overcurrent are only downstream from the breaker. And, if the RCBO is in the shower room, you might get nuisance trips if/when condensation builds up on the breaker. Besides which having a breaker next to the ceiling makes things awkward to reset.

Awkward and dangerous when someone in wet feet reaches up to reset it. Putting a small box in a different room with the RCBO mounted inside would be safer. I always hate to see circuit breakers next to the water heater as I am tall and see them right at eye level.

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M’sian Electrician Shares Tips To Prevent Electrocution From Shower Heaters

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In light of the tragedy in Cameron Highlands, an electrician shared what people can do to be safe when it comes to using shower heaters.

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A married couple was found dead in the bathroom in Taman Puncak Tringkap, Brinchang, Cameron Highlands on Thursday, 17 March.

It is believed that they died due to electrocution from the hot water heater. According to Sinar Daily , the 46-year-old husband got electrocuted while he was showering. His wife checked on him when she heard him scream.

Sadly, she was also electrocuted when she tried to save her husband with a piece of wood and died too.

They left behind two children aged between 2 and 10 years old.

In light of this tragedy, an electrician named Mohamad Arif (@arepletrik) shared some tips on Twitter to prevent this from happening to anyone.

For showers with the water heater, Arif said the Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) button near the water heater should be pressed every week to make sure it trips the circuit and current leakage.

bagi mana-mana rumah yang ada ada water heater pastikan setiap minggu tekan test ELCB dekat water heater tu boleh trip atau tidak. kebanyakkan kes macam ni sebab ELCB tu tak berfungsi dah so on suis current still ada walaupun current leaking, sepatutnya on dia terus akan trip. https://t.co/RxgYNt1riG — arepletrik (@arepkasim) March 10, 2022

This is because a lot of times, the ELCB switch don’t function well and this means the current is still switched on and ‘leaking’. By right, the circuit should trip if the ELCB is switched on.

He also advised everyone to press the ELCB switch on the fuse box at home every month or once every two weeks to make sure it’s still functioning well.

Arif included videos to demonstrate how to check both ELCB switches as well.

since ada juga yang tanya macam mana nak test ELCB kat kotak elektrik rumah elok tu ke tak pic.twitter.com/kWx9aI6C1N — arepletrik (@arepkasim) March 11, 2022

Arif explained how the couple was probably electrocuted by the shower heater at home, too.

He said that the water is heated by a copper heating element and it can conduct electricity.

Someone would be electrocuted if the circuit did not trip when the electrical current leaks from the heating element to the water.

Netizens added their own experience and advice to help others too.

A netizen pointed out that not all shower heater models are labelled the same way. Instead of ELCB, it’s labelled Residual Current Device (RCD) and it functions the same as ELCB.

If you’re still not sure how to check, it’s safer to call a qualified electrician to help you make sure that everything is in order.

Utk certain model, ada yg tak guna term ELCB, ada yg guna RCD. Kot2 ada yg keliru sama atau tak. RCD stands for residual current device. Function sama jg. — Aina (@7ty4store) March 11, 2022

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BOSCH Electric Mini-Tank Water Heater Tronic 3000 T 4-Gallon (ES4) - Eliminate Time for Hot Water - Shelf, Wall or Floor Mounted

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• CONVENIENT HOT WATER HEATER: 4 gallon point-of-use mini-tank fits under your sink to provide hot water right where you need it. Thermal efficiency is 98%. Dimensions : 13.75 W x 13.75 H x 13.5 D Inches
• LONG LASTING QUALITY: This electric water heater is easy to maintain and has premium glass-lined material for a long service life. (Amps 12A, Volts (VAC) 120)
• INDEPENDENT INSTALLATION: 36-37" cord plugs into a 120 volt outlet for independent installation or in-line with a large hot water source
• FAST RECOVERY RATE: Eliminates long waits for hot water at your sink, get on demand hot water at your every need (supplies up to 2 sinks at a time)
• EASILY MOUNTED: Can be shelf, wall or floor mounted (bracket included); simply tap into the cold water line and install the water heater directly at the sink to provide hot water

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Hot water where you need it, when you need it.

Pro Tip : If the Pressure Relief Valve is not connected for drainage per the instructions, in rare instances slight moisture can escape the valve which may result in the False appearance of a minor tank leak. In such circumstance, a drain pan/vessel may be used to capture moisture.

An Ideal Solution For:

• Apartment, RVs & Boats
• Basements, Garages & Pool Houses
• Kitchenettes & Patio Sinks

Bosch ThermoTechnology

Invented for life.

The Bosch Tronic 3000 T point-of-use electric mini-tanks are available in three compact sizes, which can be wall-hung (bracket included) or floor-mounted. They fit easily under a sink, even in a cabinet space, and because they have a sleek and attractive design, they blend in seamlessly with existing décor when installed in a visible location. Simply tap into the cold water line and install the water heater directly at the sink to provide hot water. Great for a wide range of locations!

• 2.5 Gallon Mini Tank (ES2.5).
• 4 Gallon Mini Tank (ES4).
• 7 Gallon Mini-Tank (ES8).

Point-Of-Use Electric Mini Tank Water Heaters

Minimize Wait Time for Hot Water

Waiting for hot water at a sink located far from a primary heating source can be frustrating. Only having access to cold water from a sink is just not useful, and plumbing a hot water line to every sink in a home or business requires time and money. To get hot water where it’s needed, when it’s needed, a better solution is to use the Tronic 3000 T from Bosch: a point-of-use electric mini-tank heater. This heater can supplement a primary water heating source, or be used under a single sink. In fact, the Bosch Tronic 3000 T can be used for three different applications: as a sole water heating source for a single sink, as a supplement to an existing heater located far from the sink, and as a buffer installed in-line with tankless water heaters that experience intermittent cold water, also known as 'cold water sandwiching'. No matter the configuration, there’s minimal stand-by loss from this premium mini-tank water heater.

Product information

Technical details, additional information, warranty & support, videos for this product.

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Bosch Electric Mini-Tank Water Heater - WATCH Before You Buy

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Honest review of this BOSCH Electric Mini-Tank Water Heater Tronic

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Product guides and documents, product description.

Get hot water where it's needed, when it's needed with the Bosch ES4 Tronic 3000 T electric water heater. This 4-gallon capacity point-of-use mini-tank fits right under your sink and provides a practical and effective solution to your hot water needs. This smaller model can be plugged right into a 120-volt outlet, or can be installed in-line with a larger hot water source to provide "on-demand" use. The glass-lined tank offers great insulation and added durability, while the heater's fast recovery rate eliminates long waits for hot water. An external dial allows you to easily control the temperature range, and the temperature-and-pressure relief valve enhances your safety. The ES4 Tronic 3000 T from Bosch has a sleek and attractive exterior design that blends in seamlessly with existing décor when installed in a visible location, making this heater a great option in any room. Water Heater measures 13.75" H x 13.75" L x 13.5" D and weighs 17.3 lbs. Troubleshoot: (1) Leaking- * Check water fittings and T & P fitting on top of tank * Remove front cover and inspect heating element gasket * If tank is leaking call Bosch Water Heating for warranty claim if still within warranty period * Check anode rod (see section on changing the anode rod) (2) Water does not get hot- * Make sure the power supply is on and working * If the indicator light works properly but temperature does not get hot at the tap, test for a plumbing crossover; shut off cold supply to heater and open hot water tap. There should be no water flowing. Any continued flow indicates a crossover which will effect the temperature and will need to be corrected * Call a qualified service technician to test the resistance of the heating element (8-10 ohms). Heating element should be replaced if readings are outside these values. Other troubleshoot solutions are available on user manual Pg-11.

Manufacturer Contact Information

800-283-3787

Top Brand: Bosch

Compare with similar items, important information, customer reviews.

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• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 72% 12% 5% 3% 9% 3%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 72% 12% 5% 3% 9% 9%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the water heater for its ease of installation and immediate hot water. They mention it works well, heats the water up faster than a regular hot water tank, and is right for the minimalist or efficient person. Customers are also happy with the value for money. However, some customers have reported that the safety valve started to leak. Opinions are mixed on the size, build quality, and water conservation.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers like the water heater. They say it works well, is easy to install, and is right for the minimalist or efficient person.

"...Mounted this under the sink. Hot water is instant now. Great product ." Read more

"...Hooked up to the dishwasher, works great also . Be aware that there is an anode. This could be replaced every 2 years...." Read more

"...Mine was installed in late June 2023. It worked well initially and I was thrilled. Determined leak from tank itself not at any connections points...." Read more

" Works great on my boat . Works ok with a 2200-Watt honda generator. Easy to install. I do haft to cut ac off to heat the water with the generator." Read more

Customers like the water temperature of the water heater. They mention it provides immediate hot water to their faucets, heats the water up much hotter than a regular hot water tank, and has a nice warm shower. Some say the unit is very well insulated, for easy future maintenance or temperature adjustment.

"...Mounted this under the sink. Hot water is instant now . Great product." Read more

"... Faucet hot water in seconds rather than minutes. Hooked up to the dishwasher, works great also. Be aware that there is an anode...." Read more

"Nice little unit, I like the case simple high thermostat, and it heats quick and it's quiet" Read more

"...this just works, and is beautiful, and once on, the hot water stays hot ." Read more

Customers find the installation of the water heater to be easy. They mention the plumbing is straightforward and the product has been 100% problem-free for two years.

"...If it were under the sink it would be quicker. Installation was quite easy ...." Read more

"...and bring it to a convenient sink to empty; but the actual anode process is easy to accomplish (the are excellent videos on YouTube to learn how)...." Read more

"Extremely happy with the unit. Little larger than I expected. Easily (not much room under there) hooked up to the water intake...." Read more

"...The install was really straight forward and simple . A longer power cord would be nice but for the price point it's a VERY minor issue...." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the size of the water heater. Some mention it fits wonderfully in the cabinet under the kitchen sink, while others say it's larger than expected and barely fits under their sinks.

"...I wanted to have an extra on hand.Pros: Small and efficientHeats up fastLooks goodHad wall hanger included..." Read more

"...So mount where it is easy to get to and reach for servicing ...." Read more

"...would be nice, but it also takes longer for the tank to heat and takes up more room . All good products though...." Read more

"...It heats up water super fast. Not too big , fits nicely under my sink. It’s great quality for the price. It’s not too heavy either. It looks nice too...." Read more

Customers appreciate the value for money of the water heater. They mention it's well worth the cost, has great quality for the price, and is very cheap to run.

"...The 25 gallon capacity is perfect. This little tank saved us thousands of dollars ." Read more

"...Not too big, fits nicely under my sink. It’s great quality for the price . It’s not too heavy either. It looks nice too...." Read more

"...to 400.00 so I found this unit and figured I would give it a try it was inexpensive and I could send it back if it did not work...." Read more

"...installed at the sink for NEW HOME construction, but the retrofit is far too expensive to justify...." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the build quality of the water heater. Some mention it's easy to install and has kept up very well, while others say it has a manufacturing defect and starts making loud electrical cracking and popping noises.

"...This unit is well built , and while it seemed a bit large before I installed it, we actually ended up with MORE space after reorganizing under the..." Read more

"... Not acceptable . I researched a recirculating pump but learned from manufacturers that my new hot water heater will not support one...." Read more

"...small generator, it takes about 35 minutes to fully recover, and seems well built and judging from the other one I put in 2 years ago seems quite..." Read more

"...or something (any open outlet *under* your sink), its VERY likely to blow the breaker . Make sure to plan this.2...." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the water conservation of the water heater. Some mention it saves water and propane, while others say it failed and flooded the cabinet under the kitchen sink.

"...Contractor asked Bosch tech about noted history of water leakage issues in the recent year and tech was totally SILENT...." Read more

"...This allows you to drain the tank while still in place...." Read more

"...It goes fast. After 2 months I noticed water slowly leaking from the bottom . The guy who I paid to install it looked and said it was from the unit...." Read more

"...leaked and flooded my bathroom . These should last 10 years...." Read more

Customers are dissatisfied with the leakage of the water heater. They mention the safety valve also leaked at first, and the relief valve causes a minor continuous discharge.

"... No small leak either, I was in kitchen about 1:30 am no leaking and by 6 am water all over floor with seepage through basement ceiling...." Read more

"...have had one of these 4-gallon units in service for 6 years and it began leaking a few days ago...." Read more

"...fittings appear to have a coating on them and I found that they leak a little (I used PTFE sealant for a successful, dry installation.)..." Read more

"...The disconnected hot water shut off valve started every so slowly to leak - a few drops over the course of several hours...." Read more

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