Was dismantling a new Pensonic water heater, shocked by the quality inside. Happened to have a 7 yrs old Alpha with me so put them side by side for comparison, never expect such a big difference. Better use back my trusty Alpha.

Left is Alpha while right is Pensonic

This post has been edited by Xccess: Mar 10 2016, 10:56 PM


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How is the quality shock you? Is it the size or the number of components used?

Water pressure for Pensonic is weak, just used it for shower awhile ago. Clearly Alpha had a better build in terms of safety, cover is tight and snug and of better quality. I've installed both of them today, the way wiring is sitting made a big difference, if water were to seep through the back opening where the wires enter, Pensonic will be the first to get it.

This post has been edited by Xccess: Mar 10 2016, 10:57 PM

The brand pensonic is enough to shock you. wouldnt risk my life to save a couple of bucks.

probably left hand side looks like a blown transformer...

LHS the rcd (residual current device) shares the same pcb with the water flow switch, and led

RHS has the better design, rcd board is separate, led indicator pcb also separate all ok..

TS make sure you always test your rcd circuit to make sure no risk of electrocution..

if it doesn't trip then send that heater to replace the solid state relay where the Neutral and live wire goes before the heater elements..

test it often.. don't risk your safety..



I don't see a pump motor.. if there is an obvious difference in water pressure might be a stuck or sticking permanent magnet inside the entry pipe

it activates the reed switch which detects water flow which switches on the Solid State Relay to water heater element..

Joven shares similar design arrangements with the RHS heater (but with the snubber rc circuit installed (for the inductive load as it has a built-in pump), RHS missing next to push buttons (since it doesn't have the inductive load i.e. electric pump motor)..

Less components cheaper build but hopefully doesn't actually mean lower quality..

This post has been edited by Richard: Mar 11 2016, 11:13 PM

Wow...that's a lot of knowledge. Noted on rcd circuit test. Appreciate your input.

no problem..

RHS there's suppose to be a rubber grommet at your cable entry to prevent insects small lizards from getting inside and shorting out the live conductors.. place it back or just masking tape the opening for prevention..

why not use storage type?

Rubber seal not available for Pensonic. Will put putting silicon to seal the wire entry and also possibly around edges of back plate. Thanks once again.

These heaters were provided by developer so cut the hassle of laying pipes. Heard storage system need to wait for water to heat up ya?

when use the first time, need to wait maybe 15-20mins. But subsequent use no need to wait cause still got hot water stored inside

uses electricity a lot wor if you try to keep the water hot all day long

if switch off, later mau mandi have to wait 10 mins baru get warm water

tak payah boss. no need to wait.
see my explanation above
the next day you use, if turn on 100% hot water, it will burn your skin

This post has been edited by idoblu: Mar 11 2016, 08:53 AM

if you switch it off at night, morning mau mandi, have to wait again

even if it has calorifier (which i don't think it has) - or perhaps maybe insulated, the temp will cool within 3 - 4 hours

thus, kalau in a rush in the morning, still need to wait?

if no switch off at night, later TNB happy

this is what i do. when want to shower, I turn it on, then shower. I never wait.
After finished my shower I will turn off. Thats it. How long can I shower? Maybe 15mins kautim. So for each person using, you only need to turn it on for 10-15mins a day.

Next day, I do the same. trust me, its still very hot. Even next day still very hot. Can tahan more than 24 hours or even more.

TS u need check price of each unit.
Are they similar price?

owh... nais

maybe new design can keep the water temp longer

no, last time pun sama. It has always been liddat.

No need to wait after first use (many days not switch on).

Here my usual routine, Morning when i bath my kids (about 10mins), i just switch on, and start using, hot water will still (after 5-20sec flow of cold water when the cold water in the pipe flow out). After that I switch it off, and i will bath, also have hot water. At night normally only i bath and didn't switch on the heater (rest of the family bath in my mom house), the storage can hold the water temperature for long, with hot day like now, can sometime last 2 days. Only in rainy season, I switch on the storage at night for night bath.

From the photo, the pensonic look like without a water pump, and circuit are simpler. Like Richard mention, the safety board are independent, which is good.

oh, i mihgt reconsider then next time

You should see Panasonic quality inside. No brand at its standard.

Will try Panasonic after my Alpha expire. Lol

Alpha also without pump. Anyway just a brief comparison, I don't have much knowledge in terms of indepth techincal stuff. Definitely learn quite a bit here. Thanks everyone

See like the Alpha is the better quality unit. The layout of PCB on the Pensonic is bad by just being under the pipe whereas Alpha put all PCB at 1 corner which can avoid pipe leaks & damaging the PCB.

Both looks poorly constructed
open up a panasonic and you will be more relieved with the protection mechanism.

if you intend to use tank type, make sure make sure make sure you install additional elcb of 10mA non negotiable.

You gave me the urge to disposed both and buy a Panasonic. I'm OCD when it comes to safety...lol

Depending the model you are comparing. There are a lot of different series. Anyway, I prefer Alpha because of the safety function that comes with it. It can detect if the wiring (Live, Neutral, Earth) is proper and in working condition. There might not be such function on other water heater. I am using Alpha DC motor pump inverter series, It must be used frequently, the pump will get faulty easily if the heater is not used frequently. Installed 3 units at my house where only 1 unit is used everyday. No problem with that pump whereas the other 2 units pump fails after 1 year.

i used to try to supply to panasonic's water heater for the elcb. the QC is extreme stringent as they reason out, its due to safety. 99.99% is not good enough for them, and that 0.01% will mean someone die from electrocution.

and my product is not the cekai one like u see in pensonic and alpha.

and yes, after looking at many brands internal, I would only bet my life on Panasonic water heater.

if u own a landed property, go for solar. or, go for gas water heater.

I using both.
Panasonic pump is weaker than alpha
Alpha have a service team, they have come to support my water heater very fast.
Alpha suis have some problem, it always show red light but it I ask their technician, he give me the answer suis have no problem.

I always fill the water into a bucket to shower. Really worry to get shock.