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 Post subject: Electric shower part 2
PostPosted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:49 am 
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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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PostPosted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:57 am 
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Jeeezzz :shock:


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:05 pm 
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:09 pm 
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Firstly that is a cool picture, I like the effects :wink:

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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PostPosted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:39 pm 
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its a common fault, caused probably by the terminals not being done up tight enough

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PostPosted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:42 pm 
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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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PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2007 3:58 pm 
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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. ::b

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PostPosted: Sat May 19, 2007 1:00 am 
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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. ::b


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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PostPosted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 4:04 pm 
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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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PostPosted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 4:16 pm 
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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 :cussing:

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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PostPosted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:28 pm 
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:shock: I think i need a cold shower after reading this. :shock: :lol:

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PostPosted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:59 pm 
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both installation faults! :sad:


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 11:19 am 
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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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PostPosted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 12:17 pm 
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it would've cut out, if the bare ends had touched something they shouldn't.


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PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:55 pm 
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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 :shock:


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