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Another Electric shower Problem

  • 01-11-2011 9:58am
    #1
    dh74
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11 ✭


    Hi all,
    Looking for some insight..I have been having trouble with my shower for ages, it kept on tripping so I changed the pull cord and the mcb. Now it has started tripping again. In fact, the mcb wont stay up at all now, even when the shower is turned off and the pull cord is off too. I have the checked the wiring on the pull cord and its ok. I have opened up the shower unit and it too loolks to be ok, although Im not an electrician so I cant be too sure. Im hoping someone here can give some advice as I cant afford an electrician.
    Thanks,
    D


Comments

  • #2
    meercat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,828 ✭✭✭meercat


    im sorry but this doesnt seem like a diy fix
    i think a sparks is required

    also the shower must be rcd protected ,not just mcb
    what rating is the mcb you used(40amp rcbo is recommended)
    it may be faulty due to multiple trips

    again for your safety ask a sparks to look at it


  • #3
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    If its tripping with the shower not even in use then it would seem to be an RCBO, or an RCD-MCB setup, as a 32A or 40A MCB would need a good fault to trip it. This would be a problem with the switch or the cable if trips are happening with a properly connected pull chord switched off, or a faulty breaker.

    Did it work for a while after you swapped the switch and breaker OP?

    Maybe it is an MCB and its too small for a shower.

    Sounds like an electrician job anyway alright.


  • #4
    evosteo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭evosteo


    id say the element in the heater unit is gone, thats why its tripping the RCBO, live is leaking to earth and tripping the breaker as theres an imbalance at the RCBO between the live and neutral


  • #5
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    evosteo wrote: »
    id say the element in the heater unit is gone, thats why its tripping the RCBO, live is leaking to earth and tripping the breaker as theres an imbalance at the RCBO between the live and neutral

    The element is usually the first thing considered in water heating element appliances with RCD trips, and may have been causing the original problems, although the OP hints that it worked again after replacing the switch and breaker. It does not have to be live leaking to earth either, neutral to earth will trip it. A faulty element is usualy somewhere between L and N that becomes a fault to earth.

    But if the OP info is correct, and it is based on this info we suggest possibilities, how would the element cause it to trip with the pull chord switch off? We are also not sure if its an MCB or RCD/RCBO setup, but probably has either an RCD-MCB or an RCBO.

    A neutral to earth short at the pull chord supply side or before it could cause the RCD to trip even with the pull chord off for example. A live to earth short will trip it, but also the MCB part.

    We would need to know if the shower worked for a while after the pull chord and breaker were replaced, and if it is an RCBO or just an MCB.

    Some photos of the pull chord wiring, and the breakers in the board might tell something.


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