Shower Switch has burnt

[Jupiter01]

Hi All,

I have an electric shower running off a 40 amp breaker (in consumer unit) and has one of these as a shower termination switch:

This has been running for two years and this week, we noticed a burning smell and the neon is flickering. I was planning to have a replacement switch to hand and then investigate whilst I replace this.

Is this an appropriate replacement and any suggestions on what could have caused this or where I should be looking?
https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-1-ga...te/49779#product_additional_details_container

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes, that switch is suitable.

The heating is a common problem caused by loose connections.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

When you replace it, if there are signs of overheating of the cables (insulation gone hard, and/or darker in colour, the copper dull) you should cut them back past that point, because overheating may have made the copper too hard for the terminals in the new switch to maintain a good contact, and the overheating will happen all over again.

 

[crystal ball]

I bet it was the neutral

 

[chivers67]

What Rating is the Shower BTW?

 

[Jupiter01]

The shower is 8.5KW and yes, it was the Neutral as suggested by @crystal ball. It was heavily burnt and fortunately I had some slack in the cable to be able to cut all of the burn bit out but still connect it. Any ideas on what may have caused this?

 

[Risteard]

Yes, that switch is suitable.

Only if you consider LAP accessories to be suitable for anything...

 

[chivers67]

The shower is 8.5KW and yes, it was the Neutral as suggested by @crystal ball. It was heavily burnt and fortunately I had some slack in the cable to be able to cut all of the burn bit out but still connect it. Any ideas on what may have caused this?

Normally when the terminal isn't quite tight, often the neutral as for some reason some do not tighten it as much as the Live.