Not so long ago I bought a Fresh waterheater, model 3500 from Mazuma (now as a promotion at Global House) for a very low price of 1900 baht. It worked great albeit that the lowest position was still pretty warm, nice for the winter, not for the summer. So I thought I had done a good deal.

But a while ago the thing almost exploded while I was showering, emitting water from all sides and bad smelling smoke as well. I wasn’t electrocuted .
After investigation it appeared that the heating container, which was made of plastic looking material, showed a big hole. I took it to Global House for guarantee and I am still waiting to get it back, hopefully repaired properly. End this month it seems .

I did buy a new one, but now with a metal heating unit. It seems that Sharp does heating containers that don’t erode very quicly. I don’t think I will use the repaired machine anymore. Interested ?

Not on your or my life! You got what you paid for. Please tell me that you had it and the new unit properly EARTHED (not Thai style). If it got to the stage where it was emitting smoke I doubt the built in ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker) tripped and it won't without the Proper Earth.

Very interested, also had a Maxima, 45w, actually 2, one in old house going strong, new one, crapped out after 6 months, leak. both had/have steal heating cylinders. 2nd under warranty, also global purchase, sent for repair. obviously subcontracted repair. took couple months, though on follow up, since nobody called us, found out done quickly, just sitting in repair shop for over a month, since nobody followed up on finish and delivery. now that we have back, it is obvious that the heating element was not replaced with a 45w, but instead, 25 or less if possible. before the water got to hot at times, now it is barely warm, but not ice cold as if direct from ground. looking for new heater as this one just doesn't cut it, need hot water this time of year, don't even use in hot weather, but a necessity now. so far, how is the sharp doing, and what wattage, 25, 35, 45k. what model number and cost, thanks.

have had nice shower with Jovan product at hotels, but can't find in udon, any help there would be good. thanks again.

Bandung, it tripped. Is that an acknowledgement for good earthing ?
The thing is earthed but I have always doubted the effectiveness in such a dry environment, but maybe this is proof that it's fine.

Actually, this is one of appliences for which I think earthing is important. For the rest I have my doubts. I have had shocks a number of times and never earth would have helped, because I did something stupid/carelesly.
Other appliences never have earthed sockets.

get a German made one, they never break down .last for years without trouble

I remember reading somewhere that trip is only on output side so incomer still live. Caution here as fault could have blown across to any internal metal parts that could still liven up. As others have said previously, use safety switch on main board to cover yer ass (so to speak)

For the record, the ELCB (or GFI) does not depend on proper earthing (grounding) for proper operation. However, proper earthing is always recommended for safety as well as comfort -you can feel that tingle before the ELCB trips.

Plastic water heating tanks don't surprise me...anymore.

I doubt you would feel 20mA in 16 milliseconds or less but yes, agree otherwise.

rickfarang wrote:For the record, the ELCB (or GFI) does not depend on proper earthing (grounding) for proper operation. However, proper earthing is always recommended for safety as well as comfort -you can feel that tingle before the ELCB trips.

There also called RCD (Residual Current Device) I guess technically that is correct. I was thinking back to the MEN (Multiple Earth Neutral) Configuration where the neutrals on the ELCB are isolated from the Neutrals bonded to Earth on other circuits. Been in Thailand too long and forgetting what Earthing is all about.

But you would feel a few ma for as long as you were in contact with an ungrounded appliance that had that much leakage, though not enough to trip the GFI. Hence the comment about "comfort."

And I'm not going to see what that 20 ma pulse feels like...the other reason for grounding

1/50=.020 =20mS ....... 16mS less than 1 cycle ..... this is average trip time.
Most I test are less than 8mS. How fast can you blink?

Ground all water heaters and coolers .And add a safe-t-cut at the bathroom or your Breaker closet.I have bought a big for my house cost 9000B.But u get from 350B and up.