Re: wiring for electric water heater

According to Don Young <notme@xxxxxxxxxxxx>:

"Ken" <kaneshiro@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1147192696.580044.29170@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thanks for the reply......i've uploaded some pics to give a better
idea. He stated that it takes a lot of work to connect to the
main...maybe have to go through the roof and all the way downstairs.
I'm staying in a double-storey terrace house. So he said it's easier to
get it from my room which has the attached bathroom. What bout the
story about the electrocuted couple that I heard from my father.
They've also done the same thing......dragged from the room socket. So
it's basically miswired for that case?


this is the socket in my room where it's being extended from
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/kenshin81x/09-05-06_2358.jpg

this is the water heater switch in the bathroom
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/kenshin81x/09-05-06_2356.jpg

and this is the water heater
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/kenshin81x/09-05-06_2357.jpg

That heater looks to be located over the bathtub. If so, it may be a severe
electrocution hazard unless fed from a properly installed and tested GFCI
switch. It looks like the switch may be a GFCI type, but proper installation
and testing is critical.

I don't think the switch is GFCI. Just UK-standard outlet switching.

UK wiring standards are very much different than ours with different voltages
than we're used to (almost everything is 240V) and various other unfamiliar
things like "ring mains" and rather different appliances.

I very much doubt that there are _any_ demand heaters that are appropriately
certified for installation _inside_ a shower enclosure in North America - even
with GFCI.

I would _hope_ this device is rated for this location - it may well have a builtin
GFCI.

If the instruction sheets or labeling on the device is accessible, I suggest
doing some research as to whether the device is appropriately rated for this
location.

In North America, demand heaters are usually tucked out of the way inside
enclosures. Eg: under the sink in a vanity, in a service room (eg: basement)
or wall unit with a door or a closet.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.
.