Isolator switch query

[diy_fun_uk]

The isolator switch for the shower is on the wall just outside the shower room.

Homeowner (me old ma) likes to switch this off after each use.

Over recent months, she's noticed the circuit tripping, sometimes (although not always) when the switch is, well, switched!

I just leave mine on 24/7. Checking online, some do some don't.

Is there a recognised best approach in the sparky world when it comes to these switches? Leave on all the time (maybe except when away for a few days) or switch on and off after every use of the shower?

 

[ETAF]

maybe the switch needs replacing , JUST A DIYER , but i saw this happen with my brothers shower switch and when i took the switch off the back of the switch had signs of arching, as did the wire insulation - so I cut back the wires (had enough spare on them and could have pulled done from ceiling as only a bungalow, and spare cable in the loft to pull down a little bit if needed - BUT I didn't have too ) and replaced the switch and all was fine

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I just leave mine on 24/7. Checking online, some do some don't.

Is there a recognised best approach in the sparky world when it comes to these switches? Leave on all the time (maybe except when away for a few days) or switch on and off after every use of the shower?

The tripping, might be due to the electrical noise filter, on the input to the shower, but worth also checking the terminations (as above), in the switch and in the shower unit.

Some leave them on, some don't... We just leave ours on, but there is the slight risk that a glitch on the mains, might trigger the cpu inside the shower, to switch the shower on, whilst we are out. We did once (I suspect) have that happen.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

The tripping, might be due to the electrical noise filter, on the input to the shower, but worth also checking the terminations (as above), in the switch and in the shower unit.

Some leave them on, some don't... We just leave ours on, but there is the slight risk that a glitch on the mains, might trigger the cpu inside the shower, to switch the shower on, whilst we are out. We did once (I suspect) have that happen.

Thanks Harry, yeah I'm getting someone out to check things over, however wanted to canvas opinion re leave on or switch off.

 

[pete01]

Leave the switch on all the time I would.

 

[Jurassicspark]

Leave the switch on all the time I would.

It’s a maintenance switch used to isolate the shower when working on it, so why turn it off and on frequently?

Ask this to someone who does it - do you switch the oven isolator on and off every time you use it?

Some people do say they don’t like the neon light illuminated all the time - I just tell them to reduce their shower time by a minute. That would compensate it (not). If the house is going to be unoccupied for quite a while, then yeah switching it off would be a good option.

However, new fancy showers do consume a few watts on standby.

 

[morqthana]

However, new fancy showers do consume a few watts on standby.

WOE does a shower need to be "on standby"?

 

[Jurassicspark]

WOE does a shower need to be "on standby"?

Some fancy, although rare, digital showers have a display and can use a few watts.

 

[morqthana]

WOE does anybody need, or even want, to look at the display on a shower when they aren't using it?

"There's a new drama series on TV which gets good reviews - shall we watch it?"

"Nah. You can if you want, I'm going to go and watch the shower display."

 

[Jurassicspark]

WOE does anybody need, or even want, to look at the display on a shower when they aren't using it?

"There's a new drama series on TV which gets good reviews - shall we watch it?"

"Nah. You can if you want, I'm going to go and watch the shower display."

You're acting a bit weird now.

What your opinion on boiler/fridges/washing machines, when not running, with an illuminated display?

I bet you go crazy over them.

You do know that some electronics are best left plugged in, don't you?

 

[morqthana]

You're acting a bit weird now.

What your opinion on boiler/fridges/washing machines, when not running, with an illuminated display?

So if I unplug my boiler, or my fridge, so that they are no longer running, my opinion on them having a display which is still illuminated (presumably battery operated) is "what purpose would that serve?"

If I don't unplug them, but have turned them off with their controls, my opinion on them having a display which is still illuminated is "what purpose would that serve?"

My washing machine and tumble drier and dishwasher are already totally bereft of any illuminated displays or lamps when plugged in but not switched on or running, and try as I might I can't think what purpose it would serve to have such displays.

I bet you go crazy over them.

How much would you care to wager, and how will I collect my winnings?

You do know that some electronics are best left plugged in, don't you?

This is a shower. It's basically a very powerful electric kettle. The most electronics it's going to have (need) are soft switches for on/off/temperature/flow-rate, thermostat, and flow-switch detection.

Why do they need to be permanently powered?

 

[pete01]

OMG.....do you unplug your TV/ Fridge/ alarm clock every night?

 

[ericmark]

It's basically a very powerful electric kettle.

Good point, I don't unplug my kettle, so why isolate a shower.

 

[ericmark]

OMG.....do you unplug your TV/ Fridge/ alarm clock every night?

No, but unplug the fire alarm, in case it starts beeping.

OK, joking aside, it is the same about running a tumble drier overnight. Mine has a count-down timer, clearly designed to start my tumble drier, washing machine, dishwasher, and immersion heater overnight on a cheap rate. Yet I have seen it again and again saying don't run overnight.

I have seen the video about the problems when you have cooking oil on clothes being dried, and how it can ignite, however most people wash clothes before they dry them, so for the clothes to go on fire inside the drier, is unlikely, there are as said driers designed to run overnight, and in the main they run cooler to those designed to be used in the day. There is no hurry, even the shortest off-peak is for 3 hours, so loads of time for my heat pump drier to dry the clothes.

There are machines which are found to be faulty in design, we have at the moment loads of cars off the road due to airbags, so yes we should pay attention to any re-calls, but I can get run over crossing the road, but that does not mean I stop crossing the road.

So the big question, is the isolator designed for frequent use? The likely answer is no, so turning it off after each shower could increase danger rather than reduce it, so unless the manufacturers say isolate after use, then don't, just simply turn it off at the shower on a switch designed for regular use.

 

[Jurassicspark]

So if I unplug my boiler, or my fridge, so that they are no longer running, my opinion on them having a display which is still illuminated (presumably battery operated) is "what purpose would that serve?"

Wifi control or an alert if the fridge door is left open i.e not properly closed. However, there is not such thing as a battery in a boiler or a washing machine.

If I don't unplug them, but have turned them off with their controls, my opinion on them having a display which is still illuminated is "what purpose would that serve?"

Why would you do that though? Of course the LED display is going to turn off.

This is a shower. It's basically a very powerful electric kettle.

No one said it wasn't a shower.

The most electronics it's going to have (need) are soft switches for on/off/temperature/flow-rate, thermostat, and flow-switch detection.

Not all though.

Why do they need to be permanently powered?

They don't have to be but they are better left powered on.