Broken Geyser Element

[samayanaya]

My geysers element is broken and I can feel a electric tingle in the water. Besides replacing the element (which is happening at the moment), is there a way to keep from being shocked by the water while not tripping the earth leakage? I need to make things safer and I really, REALLY HATE being shocked :shock:.

 

[godfreyl]

Switch it off. There's normally a circuit breaker for it at the distribution board.

 

[samayanaya]

Switch it off. There's normally a circuit breaker for it at the distribution board.

:idea:

But then its too late and would have found out the element is broken when it shocks me...

 

[FvM]

A RCD ("earth leakage" detector), if present at all, must definitely trip in this situation. Otherwise something is installed incorrectly.

 

[samayanaya]

The Earth Leakage detector does trip but I think it might actually be an incorrect one or broken.

I think what I need to do is place some additional protection on the outlet and inlet pipe of the geyser going to a separate ground point. A new grounding spike in the ground not far away from the geyser.

 

[FvM]

Yes, something like that. Earthing and "potential equalization" between PE line and water pipes is strictly regulated in electrical safety standards. There shouldn't be particularly a separate grounding spike rather than sufficient potential equalization. E.g. all potentially isolating parts in the water installation must be bypassed. The water heater's supply must have a PE of sufficient cross section connected to the vessel. It's nevertheless good to have sensitive RCDs installed.