Title says it all really.
Was in shower yesterday, and it just stopped (luckily at an OK point in the wash routine - OK TMI). Lights on the unit dead, but hadn't tripped the consumer unit shower circuit.
After isolating the circuit, and doing a little investigation, it looks like the pull cord isolater (or whatever it's called), has a charred live cable. I've not identified whether it's the supply or the load but after reading about this type of problem on forums etc today it looks like it will be the supply side. Apparently this is a common problem often related to the wires becoming lose and arcing etc. I do turn the pull cord to off after using the shower, but never while it's running (which I understand it is not designed for).
Inside the shower unit is fine from a visual inspection point of view.
The shower is on it's own circuit with RCD protection, fitted about 5 years ago. I will check when I get home, but I think it's an 8.5Kw unit, with a 10sqmm T & E cable with a run about 15-20m long.
If I can safe and competently do so, I'd like to fix the problem myself. I don't think there is enough slack to cut the charred cable enough to get shiny, un-overhaeated copper, so I'm looking at replacing a section or all of it. I can get access to the cable about 7m back in the airing cupboard, and wondered if a suitable junction box would be OK (it would be inspectable). I know replacing the whole cable is probably better, but involves taking up carpet/floorboards which I'd rather not do. Plus I'd have to mess with the consumer unit if I were to do it myself.
- Should I be replacing the pull cord unit even if there's no obvious damage?
- If I just replace the cable (with a 10sqmm not a different size) is this work notifiable?
- How about if I put in a junction box to replace just part of the cable?
If this is way beyond what a non Part P registered (but hopefully still non-useless) person could even consider feel free to tell me so.
TIA
Was in shower yesterday, and it just stopped (luckily at an OK point in the wash routine - OK TMI). Lights on the unit dead, but hadn't tripped the consumer unit shower circuit.
After isolating the circuit, and doing a little investigation, it looks like the pull cord isolater (or whatever it's called), has a charred live cable. I've not identified whether it's the supply or the load but after reading about this type of problem on forums etc today it looks like it will be the supply side. Apparently this is a common problem often related to the wires becoming lose and arcing etc. I do turn the pull cord to off after using the shower, but never while it's running (which I understand it is not designed for).
Inside the shower unit is fine from a visual inspection point of view.
The shower is on it's own circuit with RCD protection, fitted about 5 years ago. I will check when I get home, but I think it's an 8.5Kw unit, with a 10sqmm T & E cable with a run about 15-20m long.
If I can safe and competently do so, I'd like to fix the problem myself. I don't think there is enough slack to cut the charred cable enough to get shiny, un-overhaeated copper, so I'm looking at replacing a section or all of it. I can get access to the cable about 7m back in the airing cupboard, and wondered if a suitable junction box would be OK (it would be inspectable). I know replacing the whole cable is probably better, but involves taking up carpet/floorboards which I'd rather not do. Plus I'd have to mess with the consumer unit if I were to do it myself.
- Should I be replacing the pull cord unit even if there's no obvious damage?
- If I just replace the cable (with a 10sqmm not a different size) is this work notifiable?
- How about if I put in a junction box to replace just part of the cable?
If this is way beyond what a non Part P registered (but hopefully still non-useless) person could even consider feel free to tell me so.
TIA
