DIYbanter - View Single Post - Immersion heater

(N. Thornton) wrote in message om...
"Peter Scott" wrote in message ...

This looks like a good idea for the NG. If people come up with an
interesting problem
that they have solved, why not post it and see if others can do it. This
sort of thing is
used on training programs where faults are set- in cars for example. I'd
certainly like
the challenge.

You did ask for it.......

a hoover was being used to draw water up a pipe - yes, stupid - but it
sucked rather better than expected. It sucked the water right the way
up and shot it out the back. The chap who did it was unharmed, and no
trip/fuse/RCD tripped. Explain.

Regards, NT

PS dont try this at home, or anywhere else, it really is dangerous

Just because it is powered by electricity doesn't mean that water
can't pass through it without hitting a live part. In fact there are
quite a number of vacuum cleaners specifically designed to suck up
liquids (though they are also designed not to throw them out the
back!).

One possible way to design a "standard" vacuum cleaner is to use the
"exhaust" air to cool the motor - this could well lead to fireworks
when used to suck up water. However, there are at least two reasons
to not design it in this way:

1) Just because you don't market it as a "wet and dry" machine doesn't
mean that users won't try to clean up liquids or mixed wet/dry stuff -
if you can find a cost efficient way to not electricute your dumber
customers you should probably do it.

2) Even though the air is filtered before being expelled it will still
be relatively dusty - if this passes through the motor it is likely to
seriously reduce its lifespan.