Home Distiller

OK it is very possable that there is actually nothing wrong with the element controller etc.

All modern electronic devises have switch mode power supplies which contain bypass capacitors to reduce electrical interferrance.
These capacitors do mean that any exposed metal will have a voltage on it.
Video recorderes , DVD players TVs all sufger from tbis .
Stand on a concrete floor and touch a VCR case and you will no exactly the "tingle" I'm talking about.
It is unpleasant but considered safe and will not trip a RCD

Ever tried touching a TV antenna splitter under a house ....the combined current from every TV and equipment connected to it will give you quite a fright ..

I'm not saying dont look into this more but just that a "tingle" is different to a jolt

electricity scares the shit out of me. ive gotten hit a couple time. that were both very scary even at 120v. I would never want to get a 240.

btw I believe NEC code is that any outlet within 4 feet of any sink or tub has to be a gfci . for our hobby putting in a 30$ gfci is a no brainer.

Yummyrum wrote:
Ever tried touching a TV antenna splitter under a house ....the combined current from every TV and equipment connected to it will give you quite a fright ..

been there before. I was the cable guy for years

touch my 7/16 wrench to the splitter and ...


im so careful these days when it comes to wiring and electricity. its really nothing ot mess with

The element was the problem. Not the controller. I have replaced the element and now it is fine.

A GFCI/RCD outlet only needs to be in a room where there is going to be steam. i.e. Shower room or bath room. Not kitchen or laundry or toilet room with a sink.

Tokoroa - New Zealand, or am I wrong? In NZ, *all* outlets and lighting must have RCD protection since 2003.

You are right.

We are also allowed to still for our own personal use, just thought I would add that in there as well

Very interesting thread...

I'm an electronics tech by trade.

New circuits in NZ homes need to have an RCD, so an electrician will legally have to replace an old ceramic fuse (with fuse wire) with an RCD only on the circuit he works on. The rest can stay as is. But common sense suggests that a home owner should be proactive and fit new fully protected RCD mains boards before an electrician comes in to work on a circuit (although not a legal requirement).

It is prudent to fit an RCD to a piece of equipment you rig up yourself (if the mains circuit isn't RCD protected) to minimise the possibility of serious injury to human life.

Fuses are designed to protect the house wiring (and not the equipment) and RCDs are designed to protect humans.

Here's also a handy reminder -be sure to regularly test that the RCD is functioning correctly by pressing the test button.

Happy safe brewing

fyfo wrote:Very interesting thread...

I'm an electronics tech by trade.

New circuits in NZ homes need to have an RCD, so an electrician will legally have to replace an old ceramic fuse (with fuse wire) with an RCD only on the circuit he works on. The rest can stay as is. But common sense suggests that a home owner should be proactive and fit new fully protected RCD mains boards before an electrician comes in to work on a circuit (although not a legal requirement).

It is prudent to fit an RCD to a piece of equipment you rig up yourself (if the mains circuit isn't RCD protected) to minimise the possibility of serious injury to human life.

Fuses are designed to protect the house wiring (and not the equipment) and RCDs are designed to protect humans.

Here's also a handy reminder -be sure to regularly test that the RCD is functioning correctly by pressing the test button.

Happy safe brewing

That's good to know. I have an RCD on the end of my plug.

That's a great way to easily throw an RCD onto any circuit.