Shower switch keeps blowing

[blakea8k]

Hi,

The pullcord switch for my shower stops working every 6 months or so. The last time i changed it there was some charring inside.

My shower is 9.5kw and the switch is a 45 amp pullcord. I remember when it was changed from a 8.5kw shower, the electrician had to change the cable from the back of the shower to a thicker cable. I am concerned that this was only replaced up to the switch and this is whats causing it?

Or is this ok and it might be something else?

Thanks for any replies

 

[Aragorn84]

Are they quality switches that are being used, or cheap rubbish?

It should be fairly evident from looking at the wires behind the switch if one of the cables is a different size?

 

[Taylortwocities]

If there is charring than there is a bad connection.

When you fit a new switch, you must cut the conductor back to bright copper, or it will happen again, and again.

 

[blakea8k]

There is quite a bit of stripped bare wire on there. I could strip it a bit more though.

I have just taken it down and the inside casing on the switch has split. It was a £15 MK switch from B and Q and about the 5th one in 4 years.

I have checked the wires and they all look the same size individually but the grey casing is alot thicker on the load so it was definatly not replaced all the way back to the fuse box, will this make a difference?

Am i worrying for nothing and just need to strip the cables back a bit or do i need to get an electrician in?

 

[EFLImpudence]

There is quite a bit of stripped bare wire on there. I could strip it a bit more though.

You must cut off all damaged wire until you get back to 'as new'.

I have just taken it down and the inside casing on the switch has split. It was a £15 MK switch from B and Q and about the 5th one in 4 years.

Perhaps the switch fixings are not that good and it gets bent every time it is used.
You don't need to turn it on and off every time the shower is used.

I have checked the wires and they all look the same size individually but the grey casing is alot thicker on the load so it was definatly not replaced all the way back to the fuse box, will this make a difference?

Not if you do as above.

Am i worrying for nothing and just need to strip the cables back a bit or do i need to get an electrician in?

That's up to you.
The thick wires are difficult to work if you are not used to them.

 

[kai]

Shower pull switches are crap!
They tend to overheat and fail too often! - a better solution is a 63amp type main switch mounted in a small din-rail format enclosure outside the bathroom door, or a 45amp wall mounted double pole isolator in the rectangular format outside the bathroom door - less prone to failure!

 

[chivers67]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crabtree-2167-Shower-Switch-50amp/dp/B0048SEAAG

These are the best you can buy.

 

[RF Lighting]

 

[ricicle]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crabtree-2167-Shower-Switch-50amp/dp/B0048SEAAG

These are the best you can buy.

But look $h1te

 

[Alarm]

Bingo

45amp wall mounted double pole isolator in the rectangular format outside the bathroom door