Electric Shower Switch

Cmar-Ireland

Our ensuite electric shower switch is on the wall outside the ensuite and it is exactly like a cooker switch. It's a horrible looking thing to have on a bedroom wall so I would like to replace it with a pull cord switch in the ensuite.
Is this allowed nowadays? I know older houses usually have it inside, but I am unsure of the current regulations.
The pull cord switch I was looking at is a regular 45A dual pole switch. I caheck the existing wall mounted switch and its the same, 45A DP.

Thanks

Hoagy

Yes, you can do that.
But, we do a lot of apartments with showers and we found the pullcords tend to go faulty so we only fit the wall switch now.

Cmar-Ireland

Hoagy wrote: »

Yes, you can do that.
But, we do a lot of apartments with showers and we found the pullcords tend to go faulty so we only fit the wall switch now.

Cheers, thanks for that. Will change it out this evening so.

The wall switches are very ugly looking on a bedroom wall, but I heard another reason to have them there is so you don't forget to switch it off, as you will have a red light glowing on it which is easily seen when you knock of the room lights.

Stoner

you can get a 40 amp switch that is only one gang, ie like a normal light switch, i usually put them in, I have yet to replace one, but i have replaced pullcords

Cmar-Ireland

Why are the pullcords failing?

Stoner

no, (well yes the odd time but relatively no) The pull cords can sometimes be pulled off the ceiling, or the surface box breaks/cracks. There is a lot of stress on a pull cord, really the best way to do them is a steel recessed single gang box, mounted on a wooden support, then recess the switch onto it. People/kids sometime swing out of the cord or pull it at a strange angle, the switch on the wall is not subjected to such abuse.

Cmar-Ireland

I was looking at the metal boxes instead of a drywall box. There is a rafter right next to where I want to put the switch. Based on your advice, I'll go with a metal box and screw it into the rafter to ensure it won't budge.

Thanks!

Stoner

np

davelerave

im a reci contractor but ecssa sent out a notice for contractors to switch to the wall mounted switches that you have .part of the prob is the wires are being jammed into small boxes with cheap switches and the newer showers have a higher rating as well

Cmar-Ireland

The new switch I have is 45A, same as the wall switch. I am mounting it with a metal box which will be screwed to a joist in the ceiling. I was thinking about cutting the back off the box to allow extra room for the cables.

Stoner

no don't do that, get a deep box, sorry i should have said that to you , anyway you need a 47mm deep back box. The cables should be stripped so that there is not too much of them in the back box, if its difficult to get the switch on the box then the tails (cables for termination) are too long.

I would still go for the wall mounted option, davelerave's post backs that up even more, plus get anything you are not sure of checked by an electrician please.

Cmar-Ireland

Yep, I have a 47mm box for it. Is it bad practice to cut the back off?

Stoner

yes it is, its even bad practice if the switch is not flush with the box in the ceiling, if you get the lenghts right you wont need to cut the back out of the box.

Cmar-Ireland

Thanks

aido79

i've seen in some new houses and apartments that the shower switch is mounted on the wall outside the bathroom. to me this makes more sense because if there is a fault and the person in the shower is being electrocuted then it will be up to someone else to kill the power and this will be easier if the switch is outside the bathroom.