hiya new to this but needing help as my electrician has let me down.......

[carolmcg]

he stripped back the cabling, tested the circuit, fitted a double gang switch. He saw that the neutral and earth were rubbing and now that there is a bigger switch - much easier to avoid this in the future.

 

[telectrix]

for what it is worth, i always tell my clients, with regard to shower switches, that the switch is an isolator and best left i n the on position. turn the shower on and off with the shower controls. each time the switch is operated with a load on, it will arc, causing premature failure.

 

[IQ Electrical]

he stripped back the cabling, tested the circuit, fitted a double gang switch. He saw that the neutral and earth were rubbing and now that there is a bigger switch - much easier to avoid this in the future.

I think the break has affected my IQ (no pun intended)!

What is a double gang shower switch and how would the neutral and earth 'rubbing' cause any melting?

 

[millwall ken]

Ken I would assume your MALE therefore Id assume Carol would be female but it is amazing the lengths some people go to to avoid paying an electrician coming out aand doing things correctly so in answer to your first question Id probably say YES for real but asking advice and seeking help (all be it at a late stake in the process ) and she has put a request in the "Looking for forum" BTW Guys carol has posted she got it all sorted

I didn't bother to read the name mate, I was in a state of shock at the post.

 

[millwall ken]

i was seeking advice so I would not be ripped off or appear really stupid before I found an electrician. Yes he fixed it and as I had the right parts he did not over charge. would use this forum again - yes I am female but can tackle basic diy - change plugs, rewire lights etc but not deal with hard core wiring!

If you don't want to be ripped off then you consult two, three or four electricians WHO can actually see the problem there and then in front of them. Most sparkies wouldn't charge you a call out fee just to see what the problem is!!! In fact, doing it this way, you will get a few different quotes for the work. Rewiring is not a job for a DIYer. NOR is mucking about with a shower circuit. Sorry if I seemed harse but believe me it wouldn't take much for you to get a serious electrical shock or cause a fire.

 

[Guest123]

I think the break has affected my IQ (no pun intended)!

What is a double gang shower switch and how would the neutral and earth 'rubbing' cause any melting?

I'm guessing by a 'double gang' switch it's one of these......

As for the rubbing??????

 

[SimpleSimon]

If that what was said I'm guessing she'll be back in another four months :/

 

[SimpleSimon]

Or is it meant that the insulation of the neutral was being pinched in connection??though that shouldn't cause a blackened mess described earlier to that extent.

 

[Kamikaze]

I think the break has affected my IQ (no pun intended)!

What is a double gang shower switch and how would the neutral and earth 'rubbing' cause any melting?

Einstein's favorite limerick was:
There was a young lady called Carol
who could travel much faster than light.
She departed one day
in a relative way
and returned on the previous night.

I got a feeling she will be back...lol

 

[Des 56]

If she had a bit of overheating of the insulation caused by a loose/bad connection,the spark has bared it back and put a new/bigger switch on and tested,why would anyone think there will be future problems ?

He seems to have done what most would have done
If he did not, what else was he supposed to have done in addition to the above ?

If he was engaged after she posted and attended quickly,why on the one hand do we hear how underated and underpaid we are, and on the hand start talking down call out fees etc

She seems to have had good service, at short notice, at a difficult time of year
How many of you question inflated taxi fares etc at this time of year and dont bat an eyelid

 

[IQ Electrical]

I'm certainly not slagging the service she received, just interested in the exact nature of the fault!

 

[Des 56]

Sorry IQ
It was not with you in mind,just an opinion against the general feel of the thread

 

[Kamikaze]

If she had a bit of overheating of the insulation caused by a loose/bad connection,the spark has bared it back and put a new/bigger switch on and tested,why would anyone think there will be future problems ?

He seems to have done what most would have done
If he did not, what else was he supposed to have done in addition to the above ?

If he was engaged after she posted and attended quickly,why on the one hand do we hear how underated and underpaid we are, and on the hand start talking down call out fees etc

She seems to have had good service, at short notice, at a difficult time of year
How many of you question inflated taxi fares etc at this time of year and dont bat an eyelid

Des,
We are not disputing that the electrician has sorted the problem. However, the explanation of what the cause was is in question.

 

[DaveyD]

for what it is worth, i always tell my clients, with regard to shower switches, that the switch is an isolator and best left i n the on position. turn the shower on and off with the shower controls. each time the switch is operated with a load on, it will arc, causing premature failure.

My thoughts were the same as yours TT regarding arcs. I replied to her other thread earlier today with the same. My children took to using the isolator as an on/off switch rather than get their arms wet turning on a cold shower while it warmed up - four children with two having two showers a day! Soooooo, if I was called out I would have asked that question and then after test and repair explained that this isolater is NOT an simple on/off switch.

 

[Des 56]

Fair comment on the fault issue being the subject

Anyway, I am going to have a stab at being Liet Columbo

Well, seing as its a fixed load and there didn't appear to be mention of the overcurrent doing its bit,the cable is rated for the shower,its not too long a distance, not covered in itchy stuff and not burnt or overheated along its length.it would be reasonable to suspect that a poor terminal connection was made, and when the replacement was put into use,they re used the poor conductors for connection again, consequence, switch burns out once more
New switch fitted,conductors stripped back for cool copper,terminals tight and long may it live

I suspect the question could be,did she just fit a new switch (previously) to the burnt copper cores