Water Distiller Keeps Shorting

[Jonathan Adams]

Hi Folks,

Ive got an elderly water distiller that packed in a few weeks ago, with a suspected blown heating element (kept tripping the main fuse).
Sent away for new parts, installed them and now it just blows the local fuse, accompanied by a flash and a bang.
Ive been over it all with a multimeter and can't for the life of me figure out what I'm doing wrong.
I've replaced the thermal reset switch as well.
Attached is a pic showing the connections - I'd really appreciate any advice or suggestions.
Many thanks

 

[Jonathan Adams]

to be honest. it could be anything. is it tripping a MCB/fuse, or a RCD?

Previously the large RCCB switch would trip (reckoned the culprit was the heater element). Since I replaced the components its now only the MCB.

 

[Midwest]

Does it blow the fuse immediately.

Eh up the generals arrived. I'm off to cook the Sunday Lunch err tea.

 

[Jonathan Adams]

Does it blow the fuse immediately.

Yes, instantly. Big flash and pfzzt as well

 

[Wilko]

This is where I'd refer to the manufacturer's wiring diagram or the pic I took of it on my phone before I took it apart ... If you've neither then you need a way to work through this that doesn't involve a long series of bang tests. Perhaps one of the wires is now shorting out the supply, so maybe a battery and a lamp?

 

[Midwest]

This is where I'd refer to the manufacturer's wiring diagram or the pic I took of it on my phone before I took it apart ... If you've neither then you need a way to work through this that doesn't involve a long series of bang tests. Perhaps one of the wires is now shorting out the supply, so maybe a battery and a lamp?

Perhaps the replacement element is duff? Put the spuds on love!

 

[Octopus]

It's amazing how people think they can fix something like this without knowledge, experience and some expensive test kit that you know how to use.

What is it used for?

 

[Ian1981]

I’m just gonna put it out there.
Why is there a black wire connected to a red one?

 

[westward10]

I’m just gonna put it out there.
Why is there a black wire connected to a red one?

To make it go bang.

 

[Wilko]

I’m just gonna put it out there.
Why is there a black wire connected to a red one?

I was thinking that in #24 but didn't dare say it

 

[Ian1981]

I was thinking that in #24 but didn't dare say it

I know nothing of the internal wiring but red with black seems like a no no and the op has messed about with it.
It might be a before pic I don’t know

 

[westward10]

As suggested above you need to do a plan of the wiring and components if you don't have one and progressively test parts of it but this is going to be difficult without test equipment you cannot keep plugging it in to see if the fuse holds.

 

[Ian1981]

I was thinking that in #24 but didn't dare say it

Ha you chicken

 

[westward10]

I know nothing of the internal wiring but red with black seems like a no no and the op has messed about with it.
It might be a before pic I don’t know

I thought the same but there seems to be several black lives on the micro switches.

 

[Ian1981]

I thought the same but there seems to be several black lives on the micro switches.

Just doesn’t look right does it?

 

[Jonathan Adams]

None of the wiring has been altered since I bought it. The only time its been undone is to replace components, which I've done several times over the years, without any problems. Red to black? Agreed damned strange, but its Canadian originally - maybe that's a thing?..

 

[Des 56]

Jonathon,best not to operate the equipment until the fault is sorted,you may end up roasting the switches etc if they are dead shorting
I suggest you try and firstly get hold of a wiring diagram, use your meter to trace the circuit connections to be sure they are as they should be

 

[Jonathan Adams]

Jonathon,best not to operate the equipment until the fault is sorted,you may end up roasting the switches etc if they are dead shorting
I suggest you try and firstly get hold of a wiring diagram, use your meter to trace the circuit connections to be sure they are as they should be

I'm awaiting an up-to-date wiring diagram from the manufacturers, but so far some sort of short on the live seems the most likely explanation - just have to find it! And no. -I have non intention of trying to use it 'til its fixed

 

[Pete999]

I thought this was a place for advice rather than admonishments, Pete...

 

[freddo]

I thought the same but there seems to be several black lives on the micro switches.

They might be neutrals, it's common for appliances to have switches in the neutral.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

None of the wiring has been altered since I bought it. The only time its been undone is to replace components, which I've done several times over the years, without any problems. Red to black? Agreed damned strange, but its Canadian originally - maybe that's a thing?..

Before you got involved it was tripping the RCD, this would be an earth fault most likely an element which you have replaced. Now it is blowing the fuse, not the RCD. This would suggest two possibilities.
1. The original fault remains but the RCD is now Knackered.
2. There is no longer an earth fault but a dead short L-N, that would suggest the element that you have replaced was causing the earth fault but the replacement has been wrongly connected.