trip switch didn't

steevoOK · 26 Oct 2005

Last weekend I was awoken by a strange noises from the bathroom.When I investigated I was met with a cloud of smoke coming from the shower in the bathroom. I switched off the shower cord(which I always leave on) and removed the front of the shower unit to find the inside totally black and melted(it's a Triton). Anyway, the worrying thing is that the trip switch did not operate even though if something had gone short circuit then surely a huge current would be being drawn.

andy · 26 Oct 2005

steevoOK said:
Last weekend I was awoken by a strange noises from the bathroom.When I investigated I was met with a cloud of smoke coming from the shower in the bathroom. I switched off the shower cord(which I always leave on) and removed the front of the shower unit to find the inside totally black and melted(it's a Triton). Anyway, the worrying thing is that the trip switch did not operate even though if something had gone short circuit then surely a huge current would be being drawn.

was the ELI acceptable to trip the MCB?

Lectrician · 26 Oct 2005

RCD or MCB.......

A 40amp mcb would require 40amp.......and a bit. A direct short would blow the trip, but a steady flow of inhibited current would not.

steevoOK · 26 Oct 2005

The house is only 5 years old and its RCD 100A. The switch connected to the shower circuit has NSB40 written on it. I take it this means it takes 40 A to trip it. I never knew a shower could draw so much. In my old house the shower trip switch used to go 2 or 3 times a month just with normal use!

andy · 26 Oct 2005

steevoOK said:
I never knew a shower could draw so much. In my old house the shower trip switch used to go 2 or 3 times a month just with normal use!

they can use loads of power. if the shower in your old house tripped often it probably had the wrong mcb and possibly cable

steevoOK · 26 Oct 2005

Cheers for the advice guys. I'm going to try and replace it next week with another Triton.

Steve · 26 Oct 2005

Was the fault actually a wiring fault??? Do you have a picture of the shower post-event? Perhaps the heating element came on, drawing 35-40A, its normal operating current, and obviously with no water flowing, it was overheating, thus causing the damage you describe.

steevoOK · 27 Oct 2005

I don't think its a wiring fault and your suggestion that the heating element may have powered up would explain why the trip didn't work. I'll take a photo of it tonight.

andy · 27 Oct 2005

well dont leave the shower with power to it all the time. not much can go wrong with no power

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trip switch didn't

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