Camco elements

[Dr Jacoby]

Any reason why one of these shouldn't work on a 16amp socket?

[Dr Jacoby]

Cool, cheers

[JD]

Watch for switch-on surges. The resistance of the element increases as it get hot which means max current flows when switched on from cold. That initial second or two might exceed 16A.

/J

[Dr Jacoby]

Any way to control that or minimise the risk?

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Presuming the socket is wired in 2.5 sq,  if it becomes an issue you could increase the breaker size from 16A to 20A

[DEMPSEY]

If you have the breaker changed from 16 to a 20 at the fuse board as you suggest would there be any issues with the health and safety buckoo's

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Under the recent legislation any work on a fuseboard must be undertaken by a registered electrician. Dr Jacoby had asked if there was a way to minimise the risk of a current surge on switching on the element initially. The 16A breaker should cope with the surge, if it doesn't then the solution would be to increase the size of the circuit breaker.

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[Stitch]

Increasing the size of the breaker simply will not stop tripping on inrush current. 16A breaker will do it but you need to change the type.

Chances are the type you have is a B type which trips on inrush of 3-5 times current rating. Type C is 5-10 times and type D (the one you want) is 10-20 times fill load current.

I am constantly shocked and surprised at some of the electrical advice given out here. Reci only states modification to fuse board needs a cert. Taking out one 16A breaker and replacing with another is fine.

For electrical advice you should be taking to an electrician.



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[DEMPSEY]

Increasing the size of the breaker simply will not stop tripping on inrush current. 16A breaker will do it but you need to change the type.

Chances are the type you have is a B type which trips on inrush of 3-5 times current rating. Type C is 5-10 times and type D (the one you want) is 10-20 times fill load current.

I am constantly shocked and surprised at some of the electrical advice given out here. Reci only states modification to fuse board needs a cert. Taking out one 16A breaker and replacing with another is fine.

For electrical advice you should be taking to an electrician.




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Sound advice there

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

I was going to let this lie however, in the interest of clarity of the advice given by me, I should state that I am a qualified electrician, standard electrical practice would be to install an MCB with a rating in excess of the expected full load current, this is provided that the supplying cable is rated for the load, hence my question regarding cable size. (Considering that the primary function of the MCB is to protect the supplying cablle rather than the appliance hence fused plug tops) The type D MCB recommended by BrewRob is only used in industrial installations and not domestic installations, due to the high risk of blowing the main ESB fuse in the event of a short circuit. A type B MCB rated at 20 amps will provide protection to the supplying 2.5 sq mm cable and the 16 amp water heater. Bearing in mind that the heater will be operated for 60- 90 minutes plus the time required for heating up from sparge temp to rolling boil. The 16 amp MCB ( if fitted )may be cutting it fine and only time will tell if it can cope or not. The immersion heater rated at 2.5kW (if you have one) in your home is protected by a 16 amp type B, MCB. These do not generally trip on the initial surge, however the extra kilowatt required, by the element you are interested in, may be running a little close to the 16 amp rating of your existing MCB and may occasionally cause nuisance tripping, only time will tell. Furthermore as I stated in response to Dempsey, recent legislation introduced by the Commission for Energy Regulation, requires that all major electrical work must be undertaken by a registered electrician, and work on a fuseboard is considered by them, to be major work, regardless whether it is a "like for like" swap of MCB
http://www.safeelectric.ie/minorWorks.pdf
In response to your original question the heater will operate fine on a 16 Amp socket, but you may have an issue with the MCB if it is rated at 16amps as advised by JD, although in all probability is is protected by a 20amp tybe B MCB as per standard installation practice