WALL SHOWER STOPPED WORKING

diymark · Post by **diymark** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 1:13 pm

HI EVERYONE,

I HAVE AN ELECTRIC SHOWER AT HOME.

WENT TO GET A SHOWER THIS MORNING. SWITCHED IT ON AND WATER CAME OUT INITIALLY BUT THEN IT STARTED TO SPLUTTER, CAME OUT IN DRIBS AND DRABS AND THEN THE SHOWER POWER LIGHT WENT OFF.

I PULLED THE POWER CORD TO OFF AND SWITCHED THE SHOWER OFF ALSO.

WENT TO PULL ON/OFF CORD AGAIN TO TURN BACK ON BUT THIS TIME IT WOULDN'T LET ME PULL CORD DOWN TO SWITCH ON!

I WENT AND CHECKED THE MAINS AND THE SHOWER SWITCH HAD TRIPPED. I FLICKED THAT TO ON (ENSURING THE MAINS SWITCH WAS BACK ON ALSO!) BUT THE POWER CORD IN BATHROOM WON'T PULL DOWN TO ON.

CAN ANYONE PLEASE ADVISE HOW TO RECTIFY THIS?

THANKS IN ADVANCE TO ALL WHO REPLY.

REGARDS,

MARK.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:28 pm

Mark, I will move this to the electrical forum as it seems like an electrical fault!

diymark · Post by **diymark** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:11 pm

Thank you very much, apologies for putting it into the wrong forum.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:13 pm

diymark wrote:Thank you very much, apologies for putting it into the wrong forum.

No worries

It sounds like the pull switch may be faulty, but there could also be another fault and so it is best to see what some of the pro's say

Slugster · Post by **Slugster** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 5:31 pm

This is strange...

It sounds like there is a problem with the shower and one with the isolator switch.

Unless you mean the light went out on the isolator switch.

I'm trying to remember how my old lecy shower worked. I know there was a pressure sensing valve that would cut the juice if the pressre / flow rate fell to the point the element would cook, but I can't remember if the shower flow would cut if the electrical supply was interrupted.

If the flow is stopped when power is cut the fault could be with the isolator switch.

DIYMark, what's the make and model of the shower?

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:53 pm

Turn off the power to your shower . open up the pullcord and look for the loose conection. If the pullcord will not click on or off anymore it sounds like a loose connection in the pullcord has burnt out, or arced itself open and will not allow you to turn it on. Also check the final connections at the shower end to confirm its not them.

Let us know how you get on

Nick

diymark · Post by **diymark** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:32 pm

Thanks Slugster and Sparkydude for your responses.

I am very grateful indeed and your information was beneficial.

I opened up the pullcord and found it completely fried inside.

The black wires (N in) and (N out) are fine
The two Earth (Green & Yellow) wires are fine
Pull cord connections OK

1 x Live (RED) wire is fine
1 x Other wire (I actually cant tell what colour it was) is all black and burnt and the terminal it was connected to has solidified and burnt!

What has happened...has this wire come loose and touched another wire or has water got in? Least I know why shower stopped and think I just need to get new box and reconnect all wires.

Any further comments would be grateful and thanks again everyone for your assistance.

regards,

Mark.

diymark · Post by **diymark** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:34 pm

Thanks Slugster and Sparkydude for your responses.

I am very grateful indeed and your information was beneficial.

I opened up the pullcord and found it completely fried inside.

The black wires (N in) and (N out) are fine
The two Earth (Green & Yellow) wires are fine
Pull cord connections OK

1 x Live (RED) wire is fine
1 x Other wire (I actually cant tell what colour it was) is all black and burnt and the terminal it was connected to has solidified and burnt!

What has happened...has this wire come loose and touched another wire or has water got in? Least I know why shower stopped and think I just need to get new box and reconnect all wires.

Any further comments would be grateful and thanks again everyone for your assistance.

regards,

Mark.

tim'll fix it · Post by **tim'll fix it** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:50 am

the wire was loose and has burnt out with the arcing

isolate the shower at the fuse board

buy a new switch and connect it all back up again.

Hopefully there will be enough slack cable in the attic to pull the burnt out wire throught a bit more to strip it back to an unburnt bit of cable

Its a common fault

diymark · Post by **diymark** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:26 pm

Tim,

Thanks very much. Really appreciate it.

Will get new switch and then get in loft. If there is not enough slack shall I get new cable and maybe a choc box and then choc box in attic with new cable other side coming out into bathroom?

regards,

Mark.

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:08 pm

i am sure you will be able to gain enough slack to re terminate it. if not then as you say you will need a 30A junction box , and some replacement cable to extend the three cores of the cable to your pullcord.

Nick

diymark · Post by **diymark** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:06 am

Hi, thanks to everyone who gave me adviceon this initial problam - cut out all burnt wires, stripped back and fitted new pull cord switch and heh presto! I have my shower back.

Small problem and I think it's a wiring one - when I turned pullcord switch to off, light stays on! - Does this mean my black neutral wires are wired wrong way round?

Look forward to your assistance.

Regards,

Mark.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:24 am

diymark wrote:Hi, thanks to everyone who gave me adviceon this initial problam - cut out all burnt wires, stripped back and fitted new pull cord switch and heh presto! I have my shower back.

Small problem and I think it's a wiring one - when I turned pullcord switch to off, light stays on! - Does this mean my black neutral wires are wired wrong way round?

Look forward to your assistance.

Regards,

Mark.

Does the shower work when the switch is in the on or off position?

diymark · Post by **diymark** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:53 pm

Hi,

Shower will only work when pullcord in the on position.

Regards,

Mark.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:03 pm

DOH, yes silly me for asking that

It sounds like the supply and feed are wired the wrong way around!

The feed or supply terminals are for the wire that comes from the consumer unit and the load terminals are for the wires going to the shower unit, If it is illuminated when switched off then these wires are the wrong way around!