Shower socket getting hot

pineapple

I have a shower switch in the airing cupboard. It's mounted on quite a bulky unit. The light which shows it is on packed in ages ago. But so far no other problems. Except recently after running the shower (electric) longer than usual, when I went to switch it off I noticed the unit was warm to the touch. It's not happened since but I haven't run the shower so long.
Does this signify a fault?

victor2

pineapple wrote: »

I have a shower switch in the airing cupboard. It's mounted on quite a bulky unit. The light which shows it is on packed in ages ago. But so far no other problems. Except recently after running the shower (electric) longer than usual, when I went to switch it off I noticed the unit was warm to the touch. It's not happened since but I haven't run the shower so long.
Does this signify a fault?

Could be a fault within the switch itself causing minor sparking and the resulting heat. Best to replace it - will need a sparky to do it if you're not comfortable doing it yourself. Better to do it before it gets worse and really heats up. Showers usually have their own dedicated circuit and breaker as they take a lot of power. Unfortunately that means if the switch has a minor short it could generate a lot of heat without the breaker tripping.

keystone

victor2 wrote: »

....causing minor sparking.....

almost certainly not IMO.

.....the resulting heat......

O level physics - the heating effect of a current. Showers draw big currents hence the size of the cable used.

Showers usually have their own dedicated circuit and breaker as they take a lot of power.

Exactly.

Unfortunately that means if the switch has a minor short it could generate a lot of heat without the breaker tripping.

It will generate quite a bit of heat anyway under normal operational conditions.

Cheers

pineapple

Are you stalking me keystone?
I'm very glad you are though! - she added hastily. I'll try to think of a few other diy dilemmas while you are around :j

keystone

No I was answering Victor - didn't realise it was your question. Anyway I'm only biding time here waiting for someone to finish putting their face on (its only been over 90 minutes now after all) so we can go out. Sigh!

Cheers

pineapple

keystone wrote: »

Anyway I'm only biding time here waiting for someone to finish putting their face on (its only been over 90 minutes now after all) so we can go out. Sigh!

Ah how I remember those times. These days one has to put on a whole body! :eek:

zax47

Hot and smells = problem
Warm, not smelly = working normally.

Switch carries lots of amps in use and will warm up. If there is a poor connection inside it will get HOT and smell. 95% of the shower switches I replace have had loose connections - they smell "fishy" and get too hot to touch.