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Thread: Geyser isolators.

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    Platinum Member Derlyn's Avatar
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    Geyser isolators.

    3 geysers next to each other controlled by a timer bringing in a contactor that feeds all three.

    Must each geyser have an isolator in the power circuit to each geyser or may the isolator be in the common control circuit ?

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    As far as I know each geyser needs its own isolator and in arms reach of the geyser it feeds.

    Sent from my CPH2197 using Tapatalk

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    Platinum Member Derlyn's Avatar
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    The control box with timer and contactor is within arms reach of each geyser. I guess my question is, must the isolator be in the power circuit or can it be in the control circuit ?

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    Ah ok interesting! And quite cool.

    Also I personally have no idea, I have seen contactors fail so perhaps an isolator for the main supply safer than that of the control circuit

    Sent from my CPH2197 using Tapatalk

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    I would say that the isolator needs to be in the power circuit and each geyser on it's own isolator so that any one geyser can be removed and isolated independently
    Base the reply on 6.16.1.4



    6.16.1.4 The disconnecting device shall be positioned
    a) within 1,5 m from the appliance, or
    b) in a distribution board (if the switch-disconnector is capable of being locked
    in the open position).
    Even where a disconnecting device is on the appliance, a separate
    disconnecting device
    shall be provided in the fixed installation to allow for the
    total removal of the appliance.
    NOTE A standard switch is not a switch-disconnector.

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    Does a contactor comply with this reg and how would you isolator a contactor, you would need to lock out the control circuit and power circuit.

    3.79.2 switch-disconnector switch that, in the open position, satisfies the isolating requirements specified for a disconnector NOTE A switch-disconnector was known as an "on-load isolator"
    Comments are my opinion, unless regulations are attached to support the comment. This is social media, not a court room.

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    Platinum Member Derlyn's Avatar
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    Interesting. I know of an animal feed plant in Tongaat where not one motor has an isolator in the power circuit.

    Even although each isolator is situated close to the motor, they are all in the control circuit.

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    When we build control systems, they have motor starter breakers (which are lockable), the control panels are lockable and as automated as humanly possible, less is more.

    You need to understand the system design, there should be a safe isolation procedure and the staff operating the equipment are trained prior to working on the equipment.

    We live in a special country which requires special applications. 1st world structures dont always work here.

    We have a taxis rank on a main freeway (N2) where else in the world do you have bus stops on a main highway, special applications for special people.

    The Sans regulation's are treated the same as red robots in SA, something some people try push onto others, I think the red robot stop delay is around 6 seconds at the moment increasing by the day. The SANS regs are used by a select few

    When you read social media posts, you will notice very few electricians even know there is a SANS10142-1: 2021 ed. 3.1, some people are still using SANS 0142

    Quote Originally Posted by Derlyn View Post
    Interesting. I know of an animal feed plant in Tongaat where not one motor has an isolator in the power circuit.

    Even although each isolator is situated close to the motor, they are all in the control circuit.
    Comments are my opinion, unless regulations are attached to support the comment. This is social media, not a court room.

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    Platinum Member Derlyn's Avatar
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    Don't talk about highways and taxi ranks.

    Here by us the "clever" people have had the roads in our area "upgraded". It is actually a downgrade. Our suburb is next to an industrial area with heavy trucks into and out of the harbour and into and out of the industrial area. So the "clever" people decided that a traffic circle will work very well at a 3 way intersection which was previously working very well with yield signs.

    Problem now is that the road is too narrow for trucks to negotiate the circle and they have to go over half the circle to get to where they want to go.

    One would have expected that the "clever" road designers would have taken into account that a large percentage of traffic on this particular road is trucks into and out of the harbour and industrial area, but, the cleverness is broken.

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    Hi, you can have more than one of the same appliances/geysers/aircons on the same circuit but each must have it's own isolator. Written in the regs.

    Sent from my R1PLUS_1 using Tapatalk

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