Product defect or installation error?

[robweatherfan]

I installed a timer on a hot water heater. I made sure it was rated for the correct volts and amps and I believe I used what gauge wire the water heater had been wired with before.

A little over 2 months later I began noticing a burning smell and shortly later... you can see what happened.

I'd like to get some opinions. Is this likely a product defect or installation error?

 

[James]

Can you post some pictures please?

 

[robweatherfan]

Can you post some pictures please?

I tried but didn't work. I'll try again

 

[pc1966]

I tried but didn't work. I'll try again

The forum limits upload files size, you might have to edit/scale the pictures if your camera/phone has a massive pixel count to reduce them a bit.

 

[robweatherfan]

Can you post some pictures please?

Can you post some pictures please?

 

[robweatherfan]

I finally posted images! Let me know what you think or any questions.

 

[James]

Looks like possibly a loose connection
also if it is going to be on for long periods of time then it’s good practice to make sure it is rated for a fair bit more current than will pass through it.

 

[robweatherfan]

Looks like possibly a loose connection
also if it is going to be on for long periods of time then it’s good practice to make sure it is rated for a fair bit more current than will pass through it.

Thanks James.

 

[mhar]

Was this a flex termination or solid conductors? I always ferrule flex terminations and use 1.5mm 3093Y for immersion connections

 

[robweatherfan]

Was this a flex termination or solid conductors? I always ferrule flex terminations and use 1.5mm 3093Y for immersion connections

I don't know exactly what those terms are, but you insert the wire into a slot and tighten it in there with the screw that you can see in the picture.
Of course the portion of the wire that was inserted in the slot had the insulation removed from it.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Flex is multi strand wire as opposed to single strand, the bootlace ferrule referred to is a metal tube the multi strand is inserted into and the tube crimped around the flex and this is inserted into the slot and the screw tightened onto the ferrule.

Partex Single And Double Bootlace Crimp Ferrules

Buy online Partex Single And Double Bootlace Crimp Ferrules in 0.75mm, 1.0mm, 1.5mm, 2.5mm, 4.0mm, 6.0mm, 10.0mm, 16.0mm, 25.0mm and 35.0mm, UK next day

www.edwardes.co.uk

 

[Sapper]

I finally posted images! Let me know what you think or any questions.

What's the make/model of this timer? Seems a lot of corrosion on the (steel?) terminal screws for a unit that was only installed a couple of months ago.

 

[nicebutdim]

What's the make/model of this timer? Seems a lot of corrosion on the (steel?) terminal screws for a unit that was only installed a couple of months ago.

I'd assumed heat damage, but upon enlargement of the image that termination screw on the right shows considerable evidence of corrosion.

 

[robweatherfan]

The corrosion two of you mentioned is just because I had the damaged unit sitting outside after it was disconnected.

 

[robweatherfan]

What's the make/model of this timer? Seems a lot of corrosion on the (steel?) terminal screws for a unit that was only installed a couple of months ago.

Here's product description even though it doesn't list model number.

DEWENWILS Pool Pump Timer, Digital Timer Box, 2HP 40A 120-277 VAC, 7-Day 20 ON/Off Programmable Timer Switch for Water Heater, Pool Pump, SPA, Motor, ETL Listed​