Neutral wiring problem

[Deleted member 26818]

Sounds to me as if the switch has been fed from the Fuse box with a line and neutral, so that the neon will work when the switch is on.
Sounds like it’s wired to the wrong terminals if the neon is on all the time.
Only needs the line from the switch to the contactor, if the switch is fed from the same MCB as the lighting.

 

[Andrew Parkes]

Ok, that sounds better. So on Friday the electrician will swap the two live wires over on the pull switch. I'm having a new conductor and a RCD fitted. Thanks

 

[Deleted member 26818]

It may be that the switch is fed from the same MCB as the shower.
In which case the neutral that needs to be used to operate the contactor is the neutral for the shower from the same MCB.

 

[Andrew Parkes]

Thanks, what does an MCB stand for?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Mini Circuit Breaker.

 

[Andrew Parkes]

Thanks

 

[Andrew Parkes]

I think I've wired the shower live into the in pirt. Pictures provided

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Yep looks like the the wires are in the wrong holes.
The black and red wires from the same cable, should be wired to the in terminals.
You really ought to sleeve the bare wires with earth sleeving and terminate them in the earth terminal.

 

[Andrew Parkes]

Thanks for the reply, it is earthed but your right about the sleeving. Thanks Andrew

 

[Andrew Parkes]

Thanks everyone, I'll let you know more once the electrician has been round on Friday. What's the importance of earth sleeving?

 

[shaun1]

The earth sleaving insulates the bare earth conductor and prevents it from coming in to contact with a live conductor when its all squashed together in the box. Ideally it should be dressed in a bit neater to help prevent this as well.

I would recomend getting the electrician to check the entire circuit to make sure the correct sized cables/contactors/fuses/MCBs are installed for each part of the circuit. It's not a common method of controlling the shower and someone could have repaired or modified it without fully understanding the implications.

 

[Andrew Parkes]

Thanks, I'll have a chat with the electrician. I'll also get him to put some sleeving on the earth wire, wouldn't it be easier if the sleeving was already on it? Regarding the neutral wire, what would happen if it was connected up to the shower etc from the pull cord? Thanks Andrew

 

[Andrew Parkes]

What does dressed in mean? Is it tidying up the wires once they are pushed up?
Thanks Andrew

 

[Andrew Parkes]

At the moment the earth wires are connected inside the metal box. is that ok? Should they also connect to the two terminals on the pull switch? Thanks

 

[DPG]

An electrician will be able to confirm about this and the neutral wiring when he checks it out. Then you know it will be nice and safe.