Electric shower problems

[Markybendy]

Hi there

I was using the shower yesterday, when it suddenly stopped. I checked the rcd box and they hadn't tripped. So I checked to see if I had power to the shower and I did. But when I looked in the loft there is a high load isolating switch which was still on but upon inspection the back has melted on the load side!!! Is this because there's a fault with the shower solenoid or pcb? It's a creda 550 c 9.5 kw

Many thanks

Mark

 

[matt.leung]

do u have any pic's???

 

[NozSpark]

It sounds like the neutral in the switch has burn't out.

If you feel that you are competent to replace it firstly make sure that you isolate the supply in your consumer unit firstly,, you'll also have to cut back the copper cables, as they will no doubt have annealed (gotten soft with it having been heated up), until you find a nice shiny bit rather than a dull reddy orange looking bit.. If you don't do this your new switch will just fail prematurely.

 

[sparky b]

Probably a loose connection in the switch....

 

[Theorysparky]

loose connection in that switch i would guess

 

[ProDave]

What's the isolator doing in the loft?

It really wants moving somewhere accessible.

 

[Hardy Sparky (Mvc)]

Lose connection or switch to small at a guess or it could be Hmmm??????

 

[Markybendy]

Hi thanks for your reply. The switch has been in the system for as long as I've been in the property (8 years) why would it suddenly do it now? It has only melted on the neutral side of load.

 

[NozSpark]

I'd say that 95% of any melted switch that I go to has the neutral melted

 

[ProDave]

I'd say that 95% of any melted switch that I go to has the neutral melted

Strangely enough I did one just last week, and yes it was the neutral that had melted.

The cause is either the terminal wasn't tightened enough when first installed, or the switch has failed and the contacts have developed high resistance.

Any science behind why neutral is the most common problem?

 

[NozSpark]

Probably tired electrons

 

[Zeespark]

Could it be the DIY mentality that the neutral is less dangerous than the line? so it's not as correctly terminated?

AndyGuinness

 

[ProDave]

Sorry, duplicate post due to forum not responding.

Mods please delete this post.

 

[anwah]

Make sure the isolator is not a 30 amp one, you will need a 45 amp isolator. Chances are the shower has been upgraded in the past

for a higher rated one.

 

[ian932]

Hi thanks for your reply. The switch has been in the system for as long as I've been in the property (8 years) why would it suddenly do it now? It has only melted on the neutral side of load.

Connections become loose over time, the world we live on vibrates constantly also copper expands and contracts as the electrons are pushed along it which can over time loosen connections leading to high resistance and over heating.

 

[Technician]

Posts read on the neutral terminal burning out.

A colleague showed me a terminal bar from a

neutral circuit in a consumer unit that had been

the cause of a fire.

 

[Theorysparky]

I did a job in a playschool last year

lights and socket moves,,,,,tests came back good job done

2 days later get a call,,the lights are flickering and the fuseboard is buzzing at hot

get there the neutral is not terminated but stuck up behind the neutral bar,,,,,i had disturbed it.....

it had been like that since install 4 years ago...