Funky voltage fluctuation problem with electric shower

[mojo8472]

Alright chaps!

Been having some weird problems with my electric shower, just stopped giving hot water one day: The neon on the isolator switch was kind of fritzy flickering on and off so I replaced the switch with a brand new one but still no hot water (although the neon on the switch is lit up steady).

I've been round with a multimeter to see how far the power gets, and I'm seeing some weird voltage fluctuations all along the circuit: Everywhere I test, the meter reads voltages cycling from 0 to 6V and back again every 5 seconds or so.

Any ideas what could cause this? I replaced the MCB for the shower circuit too with no change

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

What type/model of meter is being used and what reference points are you getting these readings from, is this isolated voltage reading or energised voltage readings?

 

[ricicle]

Any RCD in circuit ? Possible burnt out connection in there. Did you check the neutral connection at the CU ?

 

[mojo8472]

Sorry guys, turns out I had the multimeter set to DC voltage and not AC. The shower is seeing 230V so I'm guessing the heating elements or electronics are at fault on that end.

Feel pretty stupid right about now!

 

[ricicle]

That's why multimeters are not the correct choice for proving dead !!

 

[JohnW2]

That's why multimeters are not the correct choice for proving dead !!

True - definitely not the ideal choice for that purpose. However, to be fair, 'proving dead' was not what the OP was trying to do; on the contrary, the expectation was that the circuit would probably prove to be live. [and hands up anyone who has never used a multimeter on the wrong range ]

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Everywhere I test, the meter reads voltages cycling from 0 to 6V and back again every 5 seconds or so.

But 6V couldn't possibly have been right if the neon was lighting up.....