Burning Shower Electrics

[chuckalicious]

Morning folks. Had a small ext done about 7 years ago which has a bathroom with an electric shower. Looking at the install certificate, the shower is on a 10mm cable.

I think the shower is a 10.something kw.

My eldest daughter has started using the shower and takes FOREVER. Once in the shower for a while the room the switch is in begins to smell odd. I have traced the smell to the switch and it gets very hot. It’s always gotten warm but it has never been on for this length of time.

I’m going to replace the switch today as it looks like part of it is has melted.

My question is, with the length of time the shower is running (30+) minutes, is this inevitable that there will be excess heat?

I’ve read all the threads about making sure the terminals are firmly secured and I’ll check all the cabling but would be good to know if this is something that will happen again.

Cheers.

 

[EFLImpudence]

It will have been caused by a loose connection in the switch.

Cut off any damaged wire when you replace.

 

[chuckalicious]

just taken the switch off the wall - here’s a photo

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes, it is quite common.

 

[chuckalicious]

Cheers. I just wasn’t sure if it was the length of time it was now running that was the problem, or if it should be able to run for hours without issue.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Length of time only a problem because of the fault.

 

[sparkwright]

As indicated, cut back the wires where the insulation is crispy, and strip back the insulation at the ends.

If the bare copper ends look black, and you can't shorten them any more, clean with wire wool or similar.

 

[Old Salt]

Unless your eldest daughter reads this forum she wont know what’s caused it. Tell her to cutdown on her shower time

 

[sparkwright]

Unless your eldest daughter reads this forum she wont know what’s caused it. Tell her to cutdown on her shower time

She didn't cause it.

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

I think the joke was that having showers that long is pretty expensive so any excuse to shorten them is probably valid, even if false.

 

[Old Salt]

She didn't cause it.

I know, see post #10

 

[chuckalicious]

She didn't cause it.

Don’t worry, I know she didn’t cause it - I was just unsure if this was a “time limitation” of the setup or if there was a genuine fault. Happy to say a new switch has been installed and I’ve shortened the cables as there was quite a bit of cable in that back box.

Thanks for the help/advice.

 

[SUNRAY]

My first question is: what the F... heck is Miss chuckalicious doing for ½ hour in a shower

all in seconds

 

[chuckalicious]

She is 12 - nothing is done quickly

 

[securespark]

Now, I like a long shower, but even I wouldn't be in there for 30mins....

Swap the shower for a thermostatic one that runs off the boiler.

I did that with ours and never looked back.

Mira do a great range of magnaflo showers that work really well on our low pressure.

And it will be much cheaper to run!