Shower pull switch Q.

[zoothorn]

Hi chaps, hope all well on BH & your projects. Has Onoff finished his shower yet?? I'll have a peep.

 

I have a shower pull cord switch unit, separate from my Mira shower unit. It's next to my WC light pull cord. 
 

Typical job with a small red neon light: pull cord & it's neon lights.. making the shower unit's light illuminate ON.

 

Recently I pull it & the shower unit's light doesn't light = not on. The (switch unit's) red neon light is feint, but does just illuminate. Occasionally I can pull it & it fully illuminates correctly, & shower unit light goes on. 
 

Might this simply suggest the switch unit needs replacing? Are these fallible, & my symptoms fairly common of a switch fault? I'm desperately hoping it's this (I installed it with shower ~5yrs ago) rather than the actual shower unit.

 

Thanks, Zoothorn 

 

 

[markc]

13 minutes ago, zoothorn said:

Hi chaps, hope all well on BH & your projects. Has Onoff finished his shower yet?? I'll have a peep.

 

I have a shower pull cord switch unit, separate from my Mira shower unit. It's next to my WC light pull cord. 
 

Typical job with a small red neon light: pull cord & it's neon lights.. making the shower unit's light illuminate ON.

 

Recently I pull it & the shower unit's light doesn't light = not on. The (switch unit's) red neon light is feint, but does just illuminate. Occasionally I can pull it & it fully illuminates correctly, & shower unit light goes on. 
 

Might this simply suggest the switch unit needs replacing? Are these fallible, & my symptoms fairly common of a switch fault? I'm desperately hoping it's this (I installed it with shower ~5yrs ago) rather than the actual shower unit.

 

Thanks, Zoothorn 

 

 

Good morning squire, yes it just needs the pull switch replacing, bit fiddly with shower cable as it is quite thick and stiff to get into terminals etc. but a pretty quick easy job

[joe90]

As @markc says above, fiddly because the cables are thick, make sure you do the screws up tight as they carry a lot of current and I have seen arching and failure due to screws not being tight enough.

[TonyT]

Let’s hope the neutral isn’t burnt out.

always the neutral!

[joe90]

1 minute ago, TonyT said:

Let’s hope the neutral isn’t burnt out.

always the neutral!

Not heard that before, any technical reason why?

[Onoff]

48 minutes ago, zoothorn said:

Has Onoff finished his shower yet?

 

The shower was finished years ago.

[joe90]

1 hour ago, Onoff said:

 

The shower was finished years ago.

It’s the rest that needs finishing 🤷‍♂️(sorry bud)

[ProDave]

Worth having a look to see what make switch and replacing with the same.  A different make may have the terminals in a different order or different position and then begins the hassle of re dressing the thick cables in a confined space so match the new switch.

 

Make sure the terminals a TIGHT then give the cables a wiggle and tighten them again.

 

Any burned cables (usually die to not being tight) will need cutting back to good clean copper.

[Onoff]

Crabtree seem to be a go to, having a nice action. 

[TonyT]

8 hours ago, joe90 said:

Not heard that before, any technical reason why?

Usually less effort in ensuring tightness, by those that think the line/live is the priority.

 

 

 

[zoothorn]

Hi there chaps, great to get replies/  Markc, joe90, Onoff, ProDave & TT hope all's good with y'all.

 

Crabtree.. good call @Onoff but yes I might try & find a direct replacement 1st. I must've got it only from town, screwfix likely. If I can't then Crabtree it is. Will check the neutral & make sure of -tight- connections.

 

Glad no-one said it may as equally be the shower unit.. praying ok. 
 

Thanks, Zoot

[Big Jimbo]

Zoot the hoot. Just get a book and a beer, and head down to your cabin by the water. Just be smelly but happy.

[Onoff]

52 minutes ago, zoothorn said:

Glad no-one said it may as equally be the shower unit.. praying ok. 

 

It could equally be the shower unit at fault.

[ProDave]

Crabtree do a surface mount one which is an electricians dream, you fit the switch, connect the cables, then put the cover on without flexing any of the cables in the process.  Because you can be sure it is connected well it is very likely to be more reliable, but Customers don't like them because they want flush.

 

Personally I would never have a pull switch shower switch in my house, wall switch every time.

[TonyT]

Yes agree I have a 47mm deep double pattress  or 47mm metal box as I always fit the larger switch.

[zoothorn]

4 hours ago, Big Jimbo said:

Zoot the hoot. Just get a book and a beer, and head down to your cabin by the water. Just be smelly but happy.

Done this BJ quite ofyen tbh. But I gotta shower once during the 'summer'. 

[zoothorn]

4 hours ago, ProDave said:

Crabtree do a surface mount one which is an electricians dream, you fit the switch, connect the cables, then put the cover on without flexing any of the cables in the process.  Because you can be sure it is connected well it is very likely to be more reliable, but Customers don't like them because they want flush.

 

Personally I would never have a pull switch shower switch in my house, wall switch every time.

Hi ProDave. Will have a look into this Crabtree type.. sounds ideal.

 

No I agree I'd prefer a wall switch, it's just that the pull cord one I fitted, replaced an old one up on ceiling. I don't have skills to redo the electrics to give me a better option hand height switch. So I'm forced into replacing it really.

[ProDave]

https://www.screwfix.com/p/crabtree-capital-50a-1-way-pull-cord-switch-white-with-neon/90597

 

[Big Jimbo]

Just make sure to turn the electrics off first buddy.

[zoothorn]

11 minutes ago, Big Jimbo said:

Just make sure to turn the electrics off first buddy.

Yup thanks BigJ. 
 

Just done so in fact/ had a peep inside- nothing obvious, all 6 connections firm.
 

I think I've found the likely LAP one I bought.. so will just have to replace & hope/ fingers x'd new one works.

 

I'd prefer Crabtree- I choose this stuff on my hifi plugs etc, solid quality.. tho that smaller round one, I'd think I'd maybe have a Zootmare stuffing the big HD cables' 6 wires in.

 

Cheers chaps

[Big Jimbo]

There won't be any of those old valve things inside the switch, like those old amps, so you will be fine. Good move to get the same make switch. Should be an easy swop, then you will no longer have to be StinkyZoot the Hoot.

[zoothorn]

1 hour ago, Big Jimbo said:

There won't be any of those old valve things inside the switch, like those old amps, so you will be fine. Good move to get the same make switch. Should be an easy swop, then you will no longer have to be StinkyZoot the Hoot.

Haha in fact I was just perusing vox valve amp history. Neon whatnots just about as fallible as old valves IME.

 

SZtH

[zoothorn]

Thanks chaps- indeed fixed by replacing the pull switch. Thank goodness!

 

Grateful for your replies.

 

Zoot

[Big Jimbo]

Well done fella. now time for a beer.