As per title, been using this for more than 10 years in my house, old house layout where the switch for heater is in my room

Recently it burnt, so it concerned me as is it ok to use 13a for this water heater, or it's best to change to the 20a on off switch, or the 15a round plug and socket? Thanks!

Not just the plug and sockets. Have to consider the wire as well.

No. Recently my 13A plug used on my kettle melted due to poor contact after few years using. The kettle is rated 2200w. The plug head can be felt quite warm during use when i got it for new, so i suspect the copper has oxidized and having bad contact later throughout the years. Better to be safe than sorry.

Water heater cannot use plug. It will melt.

Opt for 4mm wires and connect directly to the MCB.

I have seen cases people using 15A plug and it melted the socket too.

So, don't play2.

will melt... dangerous

20A

No. Singapore couple got electroluted by using this.

definitely is a no

For Your Information.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/e...d-wires-2551426

Thanks for all the replies, this is how the whole thing looks like, so whats my best next step? Consult an electrician? Or change the plug socket to 20a?

U cannot just change the socket to 20A. The wires must be 4mm too.

The power socket wire is 2.5mm only. Good for 13A max.

Better to pull 4mm wires from the DB straight to the heater. On the DB, use either 20A or 25A MCB. No need for plugs or sockets in between.

Much safer and reliable.

WH will require minimum 4 sq mm cable with RCCB 10ma protection - this is Suruhanjaya Tenaga rule!

Your water heater if on at full blast (max temperature) will melt the cable and the 13A socket plug.

If you insist to use back the same wire you must minimally install the 10ma RCCB and make sure your RCCB is 16A at maximum otherwise your cable will melt and catch fire - the cons is you should not on your WH at max temperature because your breaker will trip to protect your wire from overheating.

Still 13A socket point should not be used here, go buy the one specialized for WH. This is a matter of life and death though have fun arguing with some half-past-six electricians that will suggest with you to go with 100mA RCCB or even 300mA to prevent tripping - 30mA may be the best advice they could give HOWEVER 10mA is A MUST by ST rule!

Do not forget - Insurance might choose not to compensate if they find that the accidents/fire was caused by wiring setup that did not follow the right specification!

Yes & no.

Very long time ago, when we wanted to install a water heater, the electrician tap from 1 of the lesser use power socket (13A) at the room next door. Controlled by a 20A switch.

So far 28 years, I'm still surviving.

thanks for all the kind info, it kinda complicated to me, so i guess it best to leave it to the professional


this house is more than 20 years old, and im in the same boat as you

Good to hear that!

1 month ago 300 Mat Rempits illegally gathered in huge group and raced in Penang but just less than 2% died - supposed rempiting is 98% safe. 😂

Yes, just make sure the professional is a real professional with licensed and advise according to guideline.

Life is cheap anyway and you are not alone actually, as I can see many houses are not setup according to specs and regulation.

The othet suggestion I have which are cheaper and do not require major rework would be changing the socket to the WH type 15A at least, and before the switch just install a dedicated RCCB 10ma before your 20A switch which should give you a good protection already.

The old Thai houses wired the WH using a single RCCB usually planted next to or on top of the WH.

do u mean this socket? i saw yr comment stated 30ma, will 10ma ok for it?
for the RCCB, should i get the 2pole or the 4pole?

I assumed steps as below
attached a RCCB before the socket
change the 13a socket and plug to a 20a switch/ 15a socket and plug?



This post has been edited by hottemper: Aug 23 2022, 09:09 PM

Yeap - if you can invest in this product is even better - to replace the 15A plug.



This post has been edited by davidlow7: Aug 24 2022, 12:02 AM

The rccb installed at 1st or 2nd place ya? Thanks bro