A warning for users of Tesco Value kettle elements

[Naich]

It's this sort:



After the last boil I noticed that the plastic sealant tube I use as the element cover had melted a bit. Also the sleeping bag I use for insulation was welded to the tube. Something had been getting very hot and it turns out it was the two spade connectors that originally went to the switch.



You can see the discolouration at the end where it's been getting hot. I think that the problem is that they are prone to being moved a little every time I put the cover on. Over time they have become loose and are now heating up under load due to the poor connection.

If you use one of these elements you might want to check that the same thing isn't happening to yours. Also, make sure that the spade connectors are tight in their sockets and that they aren't prone to movement.

If you have the same problem I would recommend buying a new unit and making sure that the wire you join the connectors with is secured to prevent movement of the connectors.

[floydmeddler]

Have experienced similar problems. It is very worrying. If it keeps up, I will replace with ASDA elements.

[boingy]

Naich, what are the spade connectors for?
A hot condition kettle lead will plug straight on to the element pins, bypassing all the switch stuff.

[WishboneBrewery]

My Elements are out of Cheap Currys kettles and work just fine with the 'afore mentioned' Hot Condition leads, everything that switched or lighted up from the kettles was removed.
Oh... btw, from your picture of the spade connector it just looks like a 'Yellow Passivate' coating rather that heat discolouration.

[brewzone]

For £23.50 You can have a Backer element delivered to Your door.

2.4kwh

2.75kwh

[Naich]

The spade connectors go to the switch, and have to be connected to carry the current from the live pin to the element. You can solder a wire link across it, but that entails taking the module to bits. It's not easy and I'm not recommending it because it's difficult to get it back together properly; it's very easy to get it wrong and either disable the safety cutouts or have them permanently on. Oh, and when you take it apart various bits go "sproing" and fly across the room.

The picture isn't great, but if you look at the ends where the scrape marks are, it's the residue you get when something has been arcing and getting hot. Some of it was scraped off when I removed the connector. "Discolouration" was probably the wrong word to use.

[Naich]

For £23.50 You can have a Backer element delivered to Your door.

2.4kwh

2.75kwh

Yeah, using Tesco Value elements is definitely cheap and nasty. When I go stainless I'll do it properly

[Naich]

Have experienced similar problems. It is very worrying. If it keeps up, I will replace with ASDA elements.

It's not great is it? Are the ASDA ones much better though?

[Kev888]

For £23.50 You can have a Backer element delivered to Your door.

2.4kwh

2.75kwh

Yeah, it doesn't seem much when you consider that you just plug them in without all the bodging, and then use them time after time after time for years. Do you know if these still use the old round pin connectors though, or have they swapped to the usual IEC kettle leads?

I kind of went off the jug-kettle elements (was never really happy with them in this sort of roll), and was going to use the backer sort when I discovered the cost of those old style plugs/leads. I use immersion heaters these days; they can be harder to fit but physically its a propper solid job once done and I'm considerably happier with them. They're not perfect though - they still suffer from similar issues to almost every type of element I've found so far in that the connection isn't waterproof against boil overs.

Cheers
Kev

[boingy]

The thing is, my element is a Tesco value one. No spade connectors at all. The switch mechanism was a small spring loaded plastic thing which I just removed. Have they changed the design?

[Jolum]

For £23.50 You can have a Backer element delivered to Your door.

2.4kwh

2.75kwh

Do you know if these still use the old round pin connectors though, or have they swapped to the usual IEC kettle leads?

Kev, the 2.4Kw elements use the newer type (IEC) leads. The 2.75Kw ones use the older round type lead. I know cos that's the type I bought before I realised how difficult, not to mention expensive, it was to find the leads. I did manage to source some a while back when I found someone selling a job lot at a closing down sale in Derby, I even sold a few at cost to some JBK members. I'll keep an eye out for more if anyone's interested - I'm always in old electrical shops, boot sales etc

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Have experienced similar problems. It is very worrying. If it keeps up, I will replace with ASDA elements.

Me too, I could smell the plastic getting hot.

[BarnsleyBrewer]

The thing is, my element is a Tesco value one. No spade connectors at all. The switch mechanism was a small spring loaded plastic thing which I just removed. Have they changed the design?

Bet they have, my Tesco are like the above and the ASDA ones are like you described... are you sure yours is not ASDA??

BB

[Scooby]

I've used just about all the above mentioned elements over the years but there come a time to do it properly

[Naich]

They might have changed it since yours, Boingy. The one they now use is this one. I've seen inside one and I'm fairly surprised it works at all. They seem to be putting a lot of current through some fairly lightweight-looking connections and switches.