Switch supplying power to electric shower isn't working?
Discussion
I have an electric shower which receives it's power from a switch mounted in the bathroom. The switch has stopped working and I'm not sure why ...
I'm not sure where the switch is connected to and all of the other electrical items in the house seem fine. Does anyone have any ideas how I go about troubleshooting? I'd really appreciate any advice.
I'm not sure where the switch is connected to and all of the other electrical items in the house seem fine. Does anyone have any ideas how I go about troubleshooting? I'd really appreciate any advice.
That switch looks ancient, pop down to B&Q and get a new one.
You'll probably find it magically comes back to life. I had exactly the same with mine (which as has been stated should really be outside of the bathroom), the switch itself was easily a decade old had had just broken.
ETA looking at that again, I reeealy hope that the cable leaving bottom of the switch doesnt just drape across the wall and go into the shower unit.
You'll probably find it magically comes back to life. I had exactly the same with mine (which as has been stated should really be outside of the bathroom), the switch itself was easily a decade old had had just broken.
ETA looking at that again, I reeealy hope that the cable leaving bottom of the switch doesnt just drape across the wall and go into the shower unit.
Edited by davido140 on Saturday 4th April 22:26
Not sure why the switch plate is upside down, but that's not important right now.
Could be that the fuse has gone, as suggested above. There's a lorra lorra 'leccy used up by a shower and each time the fuse heats up a bit, especially if it is running close to capacity. Eventually it fails.
Could be that the fuse has gone, as suggested above. There's a lorra lorra 'leccy used up by a shower and each time the fuse heats up a bit, especially if it is running close to capacity. Eventually it fails.
What sort of shower is it? A power shower using a pump to pressurise water from the hot water tank or an Electric shower that heats mains water?
I ask because if it's an electric shower that cable looks very small to be feeding a 8kw or larger shower. And the double pole switch looks like a 20a switch instead of a 40a switch.
Either way it sounds like the contacts on the switch have burnt out or a fuse is blown.
I ask because if it's an electric shower that cable looks very small to be feeding a 8kw or larger shower. And the double pole switch looks like a 20a switch instead of a 40a switch.
Either way it sounds like the contacts on the switch have burnt out or a fuse is blown.
Yep, and that too, though judging from the little we can see I would doubt an RCD is present.That needs sorting.
Firstly, the switch should be in another room or a pullswitch if in bathroom. Secondly, if your shower is 9.5kW, then from P=VA and assuming a 230VAC supply, you are pulling more than 40A through that cable. We had a situation in our flat where the fuse kept blowing more and more frequently (accompanied by a strange fishy smell). It turned out that the 30A cable that had been used was breaking down as it wasn't rated high enough, and the smell was the thermosetting plastic in the fuse getting very very hot. We had it rewired with 50A cable and RCCBs. That's your best option IMHO.
You have to ask yourself why it blew - IMHO it's because the cable isn't the correct rating - it will keep doing it and get worse.
ETA - the switch and wiring are 20 years old - but how old's the shower? I'm betting it's newer (and higher powered) than the one fitted 20 years ago...
Firstly, the switch should be in another room or a pullswitch if in bathroom. Secondly, if your shower is 9.5kW, then from P=VA and assuming a 230VAC supply, you are pulling more than 40A through that cable. We had a situation in our flat where the fuse kept blowing more and more frequently (accompanied by a strange fishy smell). It turned out that the 30A cable that had been used was breaking down as it wasn't rated high enough, and the smell was the thermosetting plastic in the fuse getting very very hot. We had it rewired with 50A cable and RCCBs. That's your best option IMHO.
You have to ask yourself why it blew - IMHO it's because the cable isn't the correct rating - it will keep doing it and get worse.
ETA - the switch and wiring are 20 years old - but how old's the shower? I'm betting it's newer (and higher powered) than the one fitted 20 years ago...
Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Sunday 5th April 12:57
What size of fuse wire did you replace it with?
I'd strongly recommend you get a spark in and get cable upgraded if its a 9.5KW shower and not wired in 10mm Cable, also get the switch moved if its inside the bathroom.
Showers should really be on an RCD protected circuit for your safety too!
Apart from that your installations safe as houses
I'd strongly recommend you get a spark in and get cable upgraded if its a 9.5KW shower and not wired in 10mm Cable, also get the switch moved if its inside the bathroom.
Showers should really be on an RCD protected circuit for your safety too!
Apart from that your installations safe as houses
k up that's likely to kill you.As usual there is some well meaning advice but a lot of it is nonsense. OP, you need to get a spark in. From the photos posted, I can see that it is a very poor installation that needs the attention of somebody competant. It's not worth messing with electricity if you are unsure, especially in your bathroom.
Dave (qualified spark)
Dave (qualified spark)
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