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www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk Forum Index -> General DIY forum
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njs
Junior Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 14
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 Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:49 am Post subject: Electric shower part 2 |
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2 years and a month on from the legendary B&Q bathroom, I was taking a shower when I smelt a rather chemically smell, thinking it was the actual water, I went to switch off the shower but before I hit the button, it switched itself off, the light was still on the pull cord so I switched that off.
So, still half lathered, I got out the shower and ran the cold tap in the sink, sniffed the water, fine no smell. Thought to myself, I'll take the lid off the shower unit an have a look. I'm sure I've still got the photos, will try to dig them out. The mains cable on the unit's side of the connector had burnt completely apart, melting everything surrounding it, it looked a horrifying mess.
That's another life used. How many do I have left now? |
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skiking
Senior Member
Joined: 13 Sep 2006
Posts: 3081
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:57 am Post subject: |
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Jeeezzz  |
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njs
Junior Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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ultimatehandyman
Site Admin
Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 9278
Location: Darwen, Lancashire
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| Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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Firstly that is a cool picture, I like the effects 
The actuall wires on the shower side of the circuit only look thin compared to the circuit wires that feed it!
You were very lucky there :!:
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tim'll fix it
BANNED
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 2137
Location: Leicestershire
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| Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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its a common fault, caused probably by the terminals not being done up tight enough
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Hinton Heating
Gas/Heating Expert
Joined: 16 Jan 2006
Posts: 4098
Location: Bournemouth
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| Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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That may've be caused by a loose connection in the terminal block, with the amount of current, and some arcing, would soon melt!
Makes you relise why we have MCBs & RCDs
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williams
Junior Member
Joined: 06 May 2007
Posts: 4
Location: Out there
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| Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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| tim'll fix it wrote: |
| its a common fault, caused probably by the terminals not being done up tight enough |
If it is a common fault, why don't the manufacturers know about this?
They should be able to build in failsafe systems.
If they don't why have the electricians union not acted to put things right? Is it me? I know electricians are safety, safety all the way, rightly so. 
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tim'll fix it
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Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 2137
Location: Leicestershire
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| Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 12:00 am Post subject: |
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| williams wrote: |
| tim'll fix it wrote: |
| its a common fault, caused probably by the terminals not being done up tight enough |
If it is a common fault, why don't the manufacturers know about this?
They should be able to build in failsafe systems.
If they don't why have the electricians union not acted to put things right? Is it me? I know electricians are safety, safety all the way, rightly so. |
they do know about it
the problem is caused my the cable being so large and being awkward to clamp
you just need to make sure you bollovk up the terminal screws
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Zinger
Junior Member
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 4:04 pm Post subject: Re: Electric shower part 2 |
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| njs wrote: |
Thought to myself, I'll take the lid off the shower unit an have a look. I'm sure I've still got the photos, will try to dig them out. The mains cable on the unit's side of the connector had burnt completely apart, melting everything surrounding it, it looked a horrifying mess.
That's another life used. How many do I have left now? |
Mate, the same thing happenned to me this morning, woke me up faster than a cold shower!!! so I jumped right on the Internet when I got a chance and this forum came up.
The wiring is fused, just not as bad as yours, the shower is only 8 months old, did you just replace the terminal block and wiring or replace the shower unit.
And is it possible to replace the terminal block with a standard one from B&Q because the triton website prices them at 20 quid!!
cheers |
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ultimatehandyman
Site Admin
Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 9278
Location: Darwen, Lancashire
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| Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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I think you could just replace the terminal block as long as the wires are not badly damaged.
£20 what a f*cking rip off 
Here is a 60amp strip for less than £3-
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/TLCON60.html
Your local electrical shop will also have these.
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Wood Magnet
Senior Member
Joined: 07 Feb 2006
Posts: 3550
Location: sunderland
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| Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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I think i need a cold shower after reading this. 
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Hinton Heating
Gas/Heating Expert
Joined: 16 Jan 2006
Posts: 4098
Location: Bournemouth
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| Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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both installation faults! 
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Zinger
Junior Member
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 11:19 am Post subject: |
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Thanks very much for the advice guys, i've fitted a new terminal block and have been able to take a shower again (although, they're significantly shorter now!! i may be developing a phobia!)
My shower has an isolation cord pull swich and the mains have an mcb, and an rccb.
The wires were not melted too badly last time, but I'm a little concerned that the shower didn't cut out, the rccb at the mains tests okay, so I guess it would have cut out if the wires had melted further and the live wire had severed? |
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Hinton Heating
Gas/Heating Expert
Joined: 16 Jan 2006
Posts: 4098
Location: Bournemouth
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| Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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it would've cut out, if the bare ends had touched something they shouldn't.
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Oddbod
Junior Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2008
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Got called out to one like this a while back, looked like the same shower too, customer called me because of a strong fishy smell when showering, and apparently had already had a plumber out to look at it |
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