Problem with Old Shower Controller

[simon2009]

Recently had a bathroom re-fit and ended up with the shower not working properly.

The original shower was fitted 20+ years ago. This has been put back. Before re-fit, there was what looked like speaker cable running from the shower valve to a pump (pump by hot water tank in airing cupboard). It no longer does. I guess the cable carried an on/off signal to the pump when the controller was operated (?) Power to the pump was permanently switched on at the wall.

We now have a new installer who can’t figure out how the cable should be reconnected at the shower valve. And he says the set-up was non-standard anyway. I can see he maybe has a point - modern pumps mostly switch on when a drop in pressure is detected when the valve is opened. I think. Anyway no cable right?

Anyone come across a set-up like the above? Grateful for any comment.

Btw the way things have been left, the pump kicks in when switched on at the wall by the tank, regardless of whether the shower valve is open. Don’t like the idea of the pump operating with the outlet valve shut.

 

[dilalio]

Sounds like a digital shower from AquaLisa or Mira. Photos?

 

[dilalio]

Is it definitely a cable? Not a tube for an air button?

 

[Hot&Cold]

The original shower was fitted 20+ years ago.

Fitted many of them 25+ years ago for the gas board,the ribbon cable connects to a reed switch in the mixer and then the shower pump.As long as the reed switch and the low voltage switching in the pump are operational then the ribbon cable is faulty it can be exchanged for twin bell wire.

Tbh,its had its day

 

[simon2009]

Thanks guys. It's a flat cable all right. Pink. Shower's unbranded and I can't find any paperwork that came with it. Away atm so will post photos next time am home (might help someone else here one day, never know).

 

[simon2009]

Sorry forgot - photos as mentioned in last post. Still trying to figure out make/model.

 

[stem]

Hot&Cold is spot on. I had one.

The mixer was made by 'Opella'. The reed switch fits in the opening next to the black bit visible under the cold connection, which then swivels across to hold it in place. [Sorry about the state of it. Mrs Stem would be horrified I posted that picture. In my defense, it looked OK until I took the cover off]. It was wired back to the pump to a couple of exposed terminals separate from the 230V wiring. Mine used flimsy ribbon cable akin to speaker wire. The reed switch failed on my shower and didn't turn the pump on when the valve was opened.

Mixer Internals

• stem
• 15 Jul 2009
• 2

Shower Mixer

• stem
• 15 Jul 2009
• 1

When I enquired, I was told that spares have been obsolete for over 10 years, so for a while I wired the pump terminals to a pull switch so that I could turn the pump on and off from the shower, after I had opened the mixer.

In the end, I replaced it with a new Mira Mixer and Salamander pump with built in flow detection.

Untitled

• stem
• 3 Oct 2009
• 2

If yours was working OK until the refurbishment, it may be that the wires between the pump and mixer need reinstating.

 

[simon2009]

Great stuff thanks Stem. Yes the wire's missing, the installer can't figure out how it connects at the controller (it was taken apart by someone else before the re-fit). I'll have a look later / see if I can locate terminals on the controller. Otherwise, the mixer works OK so might look at replacing the pump with a flow switched model.

 

[stem]

Unfortunately I don't have a photo of my old pump, but it just had two exposed terminals on the side, into which the tiny wires were inserted. I was surprised they never got damaged or pulled out.

 

[simon2009]

Wires to my pump look fine. Other end's the problem. Can you remember how the front of the controller comes off please?

 

[stem]

The dial pulls off, and there are three screws behind it. Remove them and the cover just lifts off. The reed switch should be in this little opening.

 

[simon2009]

That simple! Anyway the reed switch has gone missing, quite possibly when bathroom was ripped apart for re-fit. New pump maybe, at least. Thanks again Stem.