Tesy Electrical Short or Earth Leakage

Water heater heats but trips the circuit breaker or RCD/GFCI intermittently.

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Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

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Possible Causes

Insulation breakdown in heating element, water ingress into wiring compartment, damaged power cable, loose or burnt terminal block

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Do not repeatedly reset a tripping breaker or RCD. Turn off power and leave it off until the fault is found.

Steps:

  • Inspect wiring compartment: Remove the cover and look for moisture, corrosion, or burned wiring. Dry any moisture and correct leaks.
  • Check cable and terminals: Inspect the supply cable and terminal block for damage. Tighten connections and replace any charred components.
  • Test element insulation: Use a megohmmeter between each element terminal and earth. Replace the heating element assembly if insulation resistance is low.
  • RCD test: Verify the external RCD/GFCI is not faulty by having an electrician test it.

Note: Persistent tripping usually indicates a serious fault; involve a qualified electrician or technician.

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Repair Difficulty

Professional Required 5/5

Required Part

Heating Element Assembly
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