What switches do I need?

[jimjiminy100]

Good evening

I am currently in the process of replacing a few sockets in the house and I want to change the 2 switches that are outside the bathroom, one is for the immersion heater and the other is for the pump on the elctric shower, the switches themselves are bigger than normal light switches and I am struggling to find brass replacements. Can anyone let me know if I can change them and if anyone knows what I need as I dont have a clue! [/img]

 

[electronicsuk]

Can you post a picture? Do they contain a fuse holder?

 

[jimjiminy100]

[/img]http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt150/jimjiminy100/photo.jpg

I have just taken this picture, I hope it works!

http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt150/jimjiminy100/photo.jpg

[/img]

 

[electronicsuk]

The one on the left looks to be a 20A DP switch, and the right a 45A DP switch. Are you sure the shower is pumped only? It would be unusual to have a 45A isolator on anything other than an electrically heated shower.

In any case, both items are available in brass:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CM3756GB.html

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CM3797GB.html

 

[jimjiminy100]

Thanks Matthew!!

We have just moved in so I am still getting to grips with everything! We have a water tank in the loft that is heated at timed intervals that we set and this is where the hot water for the shower comes from as far as I am aware. The shower has a hot and cold feed on it so I dont think the shower itself is actually heating the water. When the switch is flicked in on the landing it turns the pump on.

I hope this helps!

 

[electronicsuk]

Perhaps a sign that there used to be an electrically heated shower that has since been removed. If you find that the cables behind the switch plate are unusually large, it might be worth replacing the 45A switch with a FCU to fuse the pump supply down to something more sensible.

 

[sparkwright]

You should send a photograph of the 'shower pump' so we can help confirm what you have.

You will struggle getting your new switches to fit on the existing back boxes because the new faceplates are larger than the old faceplates.

You will probably need a larger gap between the back boxes.

I'll leave you with that then.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

the switches themselves are bigger than normal light switches

No they're not.

 

[Lectrician]

They quite often are...

 

[sparkwright]

Brass rope edged switches tend to have larger faceplates.

Haven't fitted any of that for years, back in the 90s I suppose.

Old fashioned now.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

They quite often are...

The ones in his photo look like they fit a standard 1-gang box.

 

[electronicsuk]

They quite often are...

The ones in his photo look like they fit a standard 1-gang box.

Look closely and it looks as if the faceplate is larger than the plastic accessories, on account of the amount of space needed for the rope edge between the accessory screws and the edge of the plate.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

the switches themselves are bigger than normal light switches and I am struggling to find brass replacements.

Nothing about the brass ones having larger plates than the plastic ones, and therefore not fitting side-by-side as the plastic ones currently do.

He said that he wants to change the two (plastic) switches that are outside the bathroom, and that the switches themselves are bigger than normal light switches.

They're not, they are both basically 85mm square.

 

[londonboy]

They are not 85mm

 

[Monkeh]

I think he means the rockers are bigger than those on light switches..