Electric shower pull switch

[1368joe]

Hi,

I'm having problems with the pull cord switch for my electric shower. The switch keeps getting stuck on.

It seems that the earth bar within the switch is lifting and catching the switch inside because there's no room in the box, mainly (I think) due to the 10mm cable. As I unscrew the cover a bit the switch starts to operate again.

If my theory is right, I reckon this might be a common problem with more people going with 10mm cable now days. Any ideas how to deal with this?

 

[securespark]

What brand switch & what type of box have you got?

 

[1368joe]

The switch is MK and the box is sunken metal

 

[luminaire]

Most shower pull switches are in the ceiling above the loft and so are enclosed in a moulded box. Is this not the case with you?

Having 10mm cable usually means making the hole a lot bigger than normal for it to fit comfortably. The size of the box is important too - usually 47mm deep.

If your box is undersized then you will undoubtedly have problems.

 

[1368joe]

Yes my pull switch is in the ceiling just out side my shower cubicle. The box is moulded metal. The holes weren't made any bigger for the 10mm cable and the holes have rubber grommets..admittidly it is a sqeeze!

I haven't yet measured the depth of the box so I'll check that out.

A friend suggested that I might be able to get a surface mounted plastic box to put on top of the existing sunken box, obviously giving me more room, is this a possibility/allowed?

 

[RF Lighting]

Yes my pull switch is in the ceiling just out side my shower cubicle. The box is moulded metal. The holes weren't made any bigger for the 10mm cable and the holes have rubber grommets..admittidly it is a sqeeze!

I haven't yet measured the depth of the box so I'll check that out.

A friend suggested that I might be able to get a surface mounted plastic box to put on top of the existing sunken box, obviously giving me more room, is this a possibility/allowed?

You will struggle to fix a surface box over the existing flush box, due to a lack of places to fix to.

The better soloution might be to fit a deep drylining box.



http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MTMDLB5.html

 

[securespark]

You can fit a moulded pattress over a flush box. Drill out the lugs on the pattress, then screw the switch and pattress both to the flush box with extra-long M3.5 screws.

However, you will need to feed some slack through the metal box in order to give yourself enough to reach the switch.

Your switch is close to the cubicle - how high is your ceiling?

I'm a bit worried the switch may be in a zone not permissible.

 

[1368joe]

Ok so definately a possibility. I'll need to check how much slack there is in the loft. Ceiling hight is about 8.5ft. Where can I read some info on the zones?

Thanks for you replies on this

 

[RF Lighting]

http://www.niceic.org.uk/downloads/Pocket Guide 2.pdf