Intermittent power to shower

Jimafblack59 · 27 Nov 2015

We have a mains shower that seems to have developed an intermittent fault. I've had ongoing problems with the ceiling pull switch burning out and this seems to be a common problem according to the reviews of the switches on the screw fix site.

It stopped working a week or so ago so had assumed it was the switch again. However when I took it apart the switch tested ok with a meter so reinstalled it making sure the connections were all sound.

Today it's intermittent again. Going into the loft and moving the cable fixes the problem but I'm certain that the connections to the switch are sound. Could the switch have some odd intermittent connection fault, Ie one of the internal connections, that is made good when the cable is moved slightlly. Sounds unlikely to me but I'm struggling to think what else it might be.

Any help appreciated.

Jim

securespark · 27 Nov 2015

And you are positive the conductors are not held in the terminals by the insulation?

This may well cause the symptoms you describe.

ban-all-sheds · 27 Nov 2015

Jimafblack59 said:
I've had ongoing problems with the ceiling pull switch burning out and this seems to be a common problem according to the reviews of the switches on the screw fix site.

And each time you replace it (with the same flaky model from screwfix, apparently) do you cut the cables back to fresh, clean, bright, soft copper?

Jackrae · 27 Nov 2015

ban-all-sheds said:
do you cut the cables back to fresh, clean, bright, soft copper?

Don't you mean 'hard copper' as the heat from a dodgy connection will anneal the copper which apart from discolouring, also softens it

Jimafblack59 · 27 Nov 2015

I've tried the three different switches that screwfix stock including the MK version. The one I had bought last weekend just in case it was the switch was different from the one I had installed about six months ago even though itr was the same part no. I assume screwfix chaneg their suppliers peridically. The latest one definitely looked cheap.

Anyhow,

I did cut the cable back at the weekend just to be sure it was sound so will recheck the connections. Pushing the two large cables up into the mounting box migh have disturbed the connection even though I was rigerous in making sure they were tight. Thanks for all the tips so far.

Jim

flameport · 27 Nov 2015

Moving cables should not have any effect, and the cables should be fixed in place anyway.
Testing continuity through a defective or damaged switch is inconclusive, as the test only applies a tiny current.
This switch is the only one that's worth fitting: http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p34147 as it doesn't have a backbox to stuff cables into.

Jimafblack59 · 29 Nov 2015

Now fixed. I checked all of the connections to the switch and they were all solid. So I went ahead and changed over the switch - all good now. When I was looking at the switch afterwards, when I switched it off and on, about half the time there was often a very long delay between switching on and an audible click from the switch as if one of the contacts was sticking open. That explains the intermittent nature of the fault probably. Returning to Screwfix as its only been up less than five months (and the neon indicator never worked but I couldn't be bothered to replace it just for that.

sparkwright · 29 Nov 2015

Unfortunately, shower pull switches, even the MK ones, are crap.

Only the Crabtree ones are good. However, these are circular and a little different to install.

I advise you to get a Crabtree one next time, or even before the current one packs up.

ban-all-sheds · 29 Nov 2015

Or think about why you want an isolator, and where you want it to be. Maybe a wall mounted switch inside a cupboard would fit the bill.

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Intermittent power to shower

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