Hey guys,
We've got a mira sprint electric shower, its rated 8.5kw at 240v. (something like 7.8kw at 230v), and the voltage at the shower is about 243v (i assume this fluctuates a little, but that was last night)
Towards the end of 2008, the shower switched stopped working, as either the switch, or the cable had melted at various points - this could have been an incorrectly rated shower switch though.
We're covered by british gas homecare, so they came out and replaced the switch with one i know was rated for 45A.
On saturday, the shower stopped working again. 243v was between live and earth, but only about 40v between live and neutral. So i opened the switch again to find the shower-side neutral cable had melted once again to the switch.
This doesn't make sense to me, as i'd of expected the live to melt if anything, and more so, if 6mm cable should be able to handle 40A ish, the circuit break for the shower circuit is a B32, so why isn't that tripping out if the shower is drawing over 32A.
I believe i'm correct in saying its the amps across the cable which would cause it to melt?
Anyway. British gas came back out this morning, but refused to change the switch again, saying we need 10mm cable and they'd quote me for it.
Does anyone have any advice on if it is the 6mm cable causing problems, or if theres something else i'm missing?
Thanks.
-Liam
We've got a mira sprint electric shower, its rated 8.5kw at 240v. (something like 7.8kw at 230v), and the voltage at the shower is about 243v (i assume this fluctuates a little, but that was last night)
Towards the end of 2008, the shower switched stopped working, as either the switch, or the cable had melted at various points - this could have been an incorrectly rated shower switch though.
We're covered by british gas homecare, so they came out and replaced the switch with one i know was rated for 45A.
On saturday, the shower stopped working again. 243v was between live and earth, but only about 40v between live and neutral. So i opened the switch again to find the shower-side neutral cable had melted once again to the switch.
This doesn't make sense to me, as i'd of expected the live to melt if anything, and more so, if 6mm cable should be able to handle 40A ish, the circuit break for the shower circuit is a B32, so why isn't that tripping out if the shower is drawing over 32A.
I believe i'm correct in saying its the amps across the cable which would cause it to melt?
Anyway. British gas came back out this morning, but refused to change the switch again, saying we need 10mm cable and they'd quote me for it.
Does anyone have any advice on if it is the 6mm cable causing problems, or if theres something else i'm missing?
Thanks.
-Liam