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Indirect cylinder with two wires?

HomeBuy3780
HomeBuy3780 Posts: 63 Forumite
edited 28 November 2010 at 3:12PM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving
Just bought a house. I have got an indirect cylinder upstairs and gas boiler downstairs. Now there are two cables coming out from cylinder. The bottom one goes downstairs and is connected to power supply marked as immersion heater. The top wire is just unplugged.

My question is why are there two cables? I understand the immersion unit is from top of cylinder? Also the central heating system is timed, so is my immersion heater timed as well? Do I need to connect the top cable from cylinder to mains?

Thanks
«1

Comments

  • ormus
    ormus Posts: 42,714 Forumite
    do you mean cables not wires?
    some hot water cylinders have dual heating elements. maybe one of yours is not connected.
    Get some gorm.
  • HomeBuy3780
    HomeBuy3780 Posts: 63 Forumite
    ormus wrote: »
    do you mean cables not wires?
    some hot water cylinders have dual heating elements. maybe one of yours is not connected.

    Yep, I mean cables. Thanks
  • ormus
    ormus Posts: 42,714 Forumite
    14kckci.jpg
    Get some gorm.
  • gas4you
    gas4you Posts: 2,602 Forumite
    Does your gas boiler heat your hot water, as you say it is an indirect cylinder?

    Indirect cylinders would not have an immersion at low level on a standard copper cylinder.

    Are you sure the bottom wire is not connected to the cylinder stat?
  • HomeBuy3780
    HomeBuy3780 Posts: 63 Forumite
    Yes the bottom cable is connected to cylinder thermostat. But the tank does get hot. But again the gas boiler will be feeding tank and hence it will be hot! So is there any way to find out if I need the top cable connected to mains or not?

    While saying so i can switch off the Gas boiler and check cylinder but not the best time to do so!
  • 1984ReturnsForReal_2
    1984ReturnsForReal_2 Posts: 15,431 Forumite
    HomeBuy3780 wrote: »
    Yes the bottom cable is connected to cylinder thermostat. But the tank does get hot. But again the gas boiler will be feeding tank and hence it will be hot! So is there any way to find out if I need the top cable connected to mains or not?

    While saying so i can switch off the Gas boiler and check cylinder but not the best time to do so!


    Top one is likely to be for the immersion heater which will be powered by electricity.

    No need for it if you already have enough hot water each time you need it UNLESS your boiler breaks down. ;)
    Not Again
  • 1984ReturnsForReal_2
    1984ReturnsForReal_2 Posts: 15,431 Forumite
    A picture of the tank & walls by it would solve it.
    Not Again
  • anotherbaldrick
    anotherbaldrick Posts: 2,335 Forumite
    Too much guessing going on here . GET A QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN IN !
    You scullion! You rampallian! You fustilarian! I’ll tickle your catastrophe (Henry IV part 2)
  • 1984ReturnsForReal_2
    1984ReturnsForReal_2 Posts: 15,431 Forumite
    anotherbaldrick wrote: »
    Too much guessing going on here . GET A QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN IN !


    :rotfl:


    Or put up a picture for free.....
    Not Again
  • keystone
    keystone Posts: 10,916 Forumite
    anotherbaldrick wrote: »
    Too much guessing going on here . GET A QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN IN !
    No dont agree. Its 99% sure that OP has a standard indirect HWC with an immersion heater in the top which is not currently plugeed or hardwired to anything. OP probably has a cylinderstat lower down whose flex is connected to his wiring centre (although we don't know where that is physically located).

    What is needed is a pic from the OP so that his elements (excuse the pun) can be identified. 1984 is spot on.

    OP needs a littel eddication on the purpose and use of the Immersion Heater in conjunction with his boiler thats all.

    Cheers
    The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits. - Einstein
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