Advice on electric kettle loose connection

[molc]

Hi,
So I've done a few extract brews now using the following Kettle:
https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/33lt-boiler-pack-includes-hop-strainer-p-576.html

It does a decent job, except the cable connection to the element seems to be very loose. You can wiggle it around quite easily and doesn't seem to be very firm. It knocks itself off every now and then(normally when boiling rigorously which rattles the plastic).

Anyone any ideas of what I can do to fix this? Anyone else used this kettle before and have some pointers perhaps.

[donnchadhc]

Is it the cable or the element that is loose? Do you have a pic?

[molc]

It's the cable. The element is solidly mounted in the bucket, but the cable is loose. On brew day, I usually put a saucepan lid under it to keep it from popping out.

I'll post a pic when I get home from work tonight.

[Will_D]

I have one of these and if anything the plug is quite a stiff push fit.

Are you inserting it all the way in?

Can you try a different lead.

The actuall element and its conections are all rigidly mounted so it probably has to be the lead.

If you dont have a lead spare try to beg/borrow another lead and if that is ok then talk to the homebrew company about a faulty lead.

Welcome to the club btw!

Where are you based?

"No one in Ireland should be more than 5 mins away from a fellow home brewer"

[molc]

Cool, good to hear someone else has a solid connection with that element. I'll have a look and see can I find a spare lead somewhere.

Thanks for the welcome. I'm based in Raheny in north Dublin. On my third extract brew now, working my way through http://www.amazon.com/Beer-Captured-Tess-Szamatulski/dp/0970344252/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401363251&sr=1-2 and having a great time Made an amber ale, russian imperial stout and now have a christmas "special" ale in the primary

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Take a look through this thread
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=2848.msg78376#msg78376
If the connection is loose then it will generate heat, which at best will ruin your lead and element and at worst will cause a fire!! Make sure the lead is a proper kettle lead (C15) there should be a slot in the bottom of the end which plugs into your element. If the new lead is still loose in the element, then replace the element. Better safe than sorry 

[molc]

Yup, it's a proper lead with the notch, just loose, which will damage the element over time as you said. I still need to get around to looking at trying a different C15 lead in it to see if I get a tight fit. If not, I'll be onto the supplier to replace the unit, as I can't have it loose like that long term.

[molc]

So, it turns out I'm a muppet; as Will_D mentioned, it's a really, _really_ snug fit. I rammed it home there tonight and it finally made a solid connection. After having a proper look at the cable I can also see that the plastic had browned and scorched slightly on one of the connection pins from being loose all the time :/ Thankfully I've only done three brews with it so far, so don't think there's too much long term damage. That said, I may pick up a second element next time I'm making an order, even if it's only for ease of mind in case one fails during a boil or any question marks on the lead after treating it so poorly.

Lesson learned on that one and thanks for all the help.