[Dave Willis]

How do you power the immersion element?
Because Iv'e been thinking about this - surely the cable needs to be much thicker than normal to handle the wattage yes? But right back to the circuit board rather than a normal socket?

[Smurf]

Best ask a local sparky to sort you out as you should really have a sperate circuit on the board to run it also right size cables etc too.

[Smudger]

I use artic flex which is designed to handle the current,  I'm in a commercial unit and my circuit breakers are 32a  a 3kw immersion draws 12a  so I have one per breaker domestic housing maybe different, but whatever it is your immersion shouldn't be shared with other appliances

Darran

[Dave Willis]

That's what I thought - you would run the risk of frying your household wiring.

My Son's an electrician but he's only on grunting terms.

[Smudger]

I try not to risk anything other than my sanity by posting on this site 

Darran

[ChumBucket]

16 amp breaker in consumer unit. Cable from this via a 16 amp timer to a 16 amp socket (mine is external on outside of house). From this socket run a 16 amp extension cable which will meet a 16 amp plug on the end of the immersion element's cable. Job done.

All readily available and pretty cheap to buy. Employ a pro sparky to do it though.

In winter I pull up on drive, plug cable into outside socket, set timer indoors- usually to come on at around 3am for around 4 to 5 hours and that's it.

[Dave Willis]

Hmm, be quite a big job in my mansion. The fuse box is a long way from the garages, probably need to take the floorboards up in the west wing.

[Tom White]

Hmm, be quite a big job in my mansion. The fuse box is a long way from the garages, probably need to take the floorboards up in the west wing.

Can't you just drill a hole from where the fuse box is, run the cable through that and all the way around the house to where ever you want it?

[AuRavelling79]

When I first went immersion I just used 13 amp extension (completely unwound) and 13 amp socket but things did warm up a bit as in blackening of pin sockets in plug over a couple of years or so.

So me and my bro. changed it all to 16 amp sockets and 16 amp cable and its been fine for two years.

[ChumBucket]

Hmm, be quite a big job in my mansion. The fuse box is a long way from the garages, probably need to take the floorboards up in the west wing.

It's not a big job mate, it'll be nothing for your Son to do.

[DaveG]

I've seen 2kw immersion heaters, would one of these be a better bet, ie not having to rewire from outside socket back to fuse box?

[Smudger]

not sure Dave yes the power is lower but I think it's more about the amps - if a 2kw draws less amps then yes you will have a bigger safety margin ( but don't take it as gospel )

Been speaking to some electricians on a forum, I can get a distribution box thar plugs into my 3 phase socket so I can run 3, 3 kW heaters from it 

Darran

[DaveG]

Cheers Darren 

[samson]

I got an electrician to install an rcd and an outside 13 amp socket.  Bought a 3kw immersion element to fit in the tank, and it is on my to do list 

[ChumBucket]

I got an electrician to install an rcd and an outside 13 amp socket.  Bought a 3kw immersion element to fit in the tank, and it is on my to do list 

You need to get him back & change it to a 16 amp socket

[samson]

I got an electrician to install an rcd and an outside 13 amp socket.  Bought a 3kw immersion element to fit in the tank, and it is on my to do list 

You need to get him back & change it to a 16 amp socket

No. I asked two sparkies, and both said it was ok, at least I think it is 13, will check when I get home.   It was yoir earlier posts that helped me get set up 

[ChumBucket]

I got an electrician to install an rcd and an outside 13 amp socket.  Bought a 3kw immersion element to fit in the tank, and it is on my to do list 

You need to get him back & change it to a 16 amp socket

No. I asked two sparkies, and both said it was ok, at least I think it is 13, will check when I get home.   It was yoir earlier posts that helped me get set up 

But do these sparkies realise that this equipment will be drawing these amount of amps for a continuous period of Four hours & more? If they do, you need a third sparky!! Or... you could always risk burning your house down.

[SeanK]

Plenty of 2kw portable electric heaters used in homes with no problems but if your concerned why not get two 1500w immersion  heaters and run them from two extension leads, plus make sure the fuse is rated less than the lead as it will go first.
Get heavy duty extension leads used for commercial work and not the cheap rubbish from the likes of B+Q.

[ChumBucket]

Plenty of 2kw portable electric heaters used in homes with no problems but if your concerned why not get two 1500w immersion  heaters and run them from two extension leads, plus make sure the fuse is rated less than the lead as it will go first.
Get heavy duty extension leads used for commercial work and not the cheap rubbish from the likes of B+Q.

No don't! Just do it the correct & safest way to begin with. Employ a pro' sparky to rig it out with 16 amp gear & use a 3KW element. Do not risk burning your home down- trust me I'm talking from experience, it almost happened to me using a 13 amp socket/plug & extension cable!

[Smudger]

If it's on the same ring main you'll still be overloading with 2 heaters on it.

Darran