At the home town house , the electrical water heater doesn't heat up as hot as usual since the heating knob at the middle would be enough but it's still warm or luke warm.
Since , call back home town , elderly doesn't know much about water heater safety neither do i since I am not in electrical field.
Also old 30 years housing doesn't have any dedicated RCCB or RCBO.Just the main DB MCB some kind of SMC brand.

1.The water heater is like over 10 years old with ELCB
2.Not hot even on middle
3.I ask them to take a picture of the MCB but the heater is quite high so i ask for the model and details
4.Possible to repair ? or change a new one ?

This is the National water heater brand , not sure how long was it .Anyone have any idea of this model ?


Right now , what I should to do for advice ? Currently , i am sure they doesn't know any good electrician who are expert in water heater except those random letter box name card.
Please help me with advice on which option in increase the safety on water heater ? I read some of the water heater thread but do not understand since i am deep understanding in electrical.

Dear Expert ceo684 , Momo33 , halcyon27 , Selene Yeo , stormer.lyn
Apologize and hope you all can help me on the urgent matter since I stop them from using the water heater for safety purpose.Beside need also find a new water heater.A cheaper one without pump but safety first by adding extra DB.

This post has been edited by Maxieos: Oct 16 2022, 07:26 AM

-Reserved-
Will ask for brand
The post limited to 5 user tag , hope you guys can give a bit of comment.Zot , FusionXY.

Not worth, can't find spare part, buy new one cheaper.

I would say buy new safer.

Labour to repair and new installation is the same thereabout.

This post has been edited by mini orchard: Oct 16 2022, 08:35 AM

1. How cold is the incoming water?
If not mistaken this unit is 3.6 kilowatt of heating only. If the incoming water temperature is below 24°C it will only produce luke warm water even already turn the knob to maximum.

2. There are still spare parts for this model but for your piece of mind you should buy a new instant water heater for your parents. Panasonic is a good choice.

But do check the temperature of their incoming water supply 1st, cos already 2 consecutive days my place also has been raining, so my heater also unable to be hotter than usual.

FYI Panasonic do sell a 4.8 kilowatt units for those staying in Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands.

Baru asalkan selamat

Buy new nowadays water heater not that expensive

First of all, limit the volume of cold water. If your house pressure is very strong and you open full blast then memang lah it won't be cold. Try adjusting the pressure to be less strong first then test the heating unit again.


Also, that heater is not over 10 years man. That's 20 years... I have that one when I was a young boy haha.

This post has been edited by patienceGNR: Oct 16 2022, 09:49 AM

That smc is not a MCB, it's a rccb, the 100mA is the sensitivity of the rccb

I also got this type of water heater.. Usually i put it to near the full colour line to make ther hot...

DO NOT try to save and repair a water heater. You don't even know how good is the repair work. Other parts are old and might be about to fail anyway. It's time to get a new one than having the risk of being electrocuted!

Second, plug shouldn't be used as they are prone to hearing and melting. Electrical line should be directly connected.

Third, add a 10ma rccb for your heater. 100ma won't save you if there's a shock. Some street sifu will tell you 10ma too sensitive and not good, they are talking rubbish.

This post has been edited by pmaxv: Oct 16 2022, 10:08 AM

Or get a water heater with built in rcd/rccb

And yes those street sifu will tell you too sensitive a bit a bit trip lol

U rather trip or die?

Follow what others mention.
I also have the exact same water already more than 20 years.
Already replaced mine with Panasonic last year exactly on today itself.
Buy new one for safety, more than 10 years plus consider good already.
No point to save old appliances like water heater, jug kettle, microwave oven.
Better be safe then sorry. Sometimes the ELCB might fail to detect then electroluted

Ours one dead due to debris stuck inside the water heater as old model does not have filter to prevent debris being stuck.
The water becoming slow and the water flow sensor failed to detect incoming water thus power light not on means no hot water will be out.

I would recommend this model DH-3MS1MW.
If you cannot find this model then get the U Series type but a bit more expensive as it is a new model.

Consider changing instead of repairing. Electrical items cannot last forever, they tend to malfunction over time.

Since it's not functioning normally, just replace it.

I once tried to relocate my 6-year-old heater. The interior circuit board looked "charred" a bit, so I threw it away. Can't imagine the condition of yours which is easily 25 years old.

No point to repair a >10 year old equipment. Get a new water heater and get the installer to put in a 20A 10mA ELCB just before the water heater.

Only fcking idiots (unqualified electricians) will put an insensitive RCD.
Coz not they die ma "not my house syndrome"

10mA RCD is "accepted standard" globally.

Yes the Pana DH-3MS1 will be the push start workhorse (M series w/o pump)
Any more u are literally paying for plastic cover changes (black version M, or anything else that cost more).
The Pana water heater design is tried and tested liao.

DH-3N (N series) the fancy colouring will wear out and become ugly over the years (think car door handle)

I relocated mine from 2000 era into my apartment. But ours in good shape lah.
1. Doesn't matter how old the heater is = having a 10mA RCD is of paramount importance. Too many ppl died in vain coz spent "a lot of money on the heater" YET "RM0 on the life protection" .

2. A RM280 heater (DH-3MS1) amortised over 5 years only RM56 a year; but usually they last at least 10 years .. only RM28 a year!

Yup a new one is safer
RM280 heater (DH-3MS1)
RM160 for ABB/Hager 10mA RCD - barang only provides BEST protection if money not a problem
-- RM100 for Schneider 10mA also can lah IF budget really a problem
-- RM61 for Maxguard 10mA RCBO -- I consider this Maxguard 10mA RCBO at the very bare minimum acceptable equipment. Can't afford this please dont use water heater.

Sadly N series being replaced with U series.
Not available on their website already.

Specific to your case, retrofitting will be required.

1. Need to check whether the existing LNE lines from DB box to that point in the shower (currently the round pin socket) is of sufficient wire gauge (2.5mm is bare min). Best advise (to fool proof it for next 30 years - run a new set of LNE cables from DB to the WH point in bathroom in 4.0mm Mega Kabel - its cheap if you do exposed/surface conduit).

1.1 Assuming 2.5mm existing cables, you can only buy the 3kW class heater, do not buy a 4800W one, it will catch fire.
1.2 At the bathroom last mile (where the round pin socket goes currently) - use a proper connector like the Centon water heater connector. Because ST regulation say must be direct connection - not socket. Loose connections cause fires.

2.0 At the DB box - retrofit in a quality 10mA RCD or RCBO, per each water heater. This is your life insurance for water heaters.

3.0 At the DB box - change the mains RCD (the one for whole house) to 30mA. This is 2nd line of defence. In case the 10mA failed to trip - the 30mA will catch it and trip (like a fail safe). If your 10mA failed, and whole house one is 100mA or 300mA which I suspect is the case - there is no backup - GG.com because >50mA leak thru human body, sayonara.

Why so many upgrades?
RCD also wears out after 30 years.. springs get weak etc.. aiya even original 1985 proton saga also need to change many things by now in 2022 lor.

This post has been edited by ceo684: Oct 16 2022, 04:41 PM

Tell us how the connection will be?
Like which one put in DB and which one should put near water heater, etc...

Asking for myself and on behalf of others.

Where to install the rcbo?

In the DB or replace the water heater switch outside the bathroom?