Electric shower - no power!

murphydog999

We've got a Mira sport electric shower that was here when we moved in - so must be 6+ yrs old, but used very infrequently since. Fine last time it was used, now no power, nothing.

It hadn't occurred to me before but there is no isolation box/switch! So it's not that. I've taken the front off and nothing looks amiss............any thoughts anyone?

Presumably if I do need to call someone out, it's a leccy not a plumber?

T.I.A.

wymondham

Do you have a fuse board? any tripped?

murphydog999

Yes, and no, nothing tripped (sorry should have said)

nofoollikeold

1. No pull cord switch on the bathroom ceiling?
2. They often have a small consumer unit, separate from the main consumer unit but situated near where the mains comes in from the street.
3. The fact that there appears to be no power doesn't necessarily mean there isn't any, so be careful with the cover off!

murphydog999

nofoollikeold wrote: »

1. No pull cord switch on the bathroom ceiling?
2. They often have a small consumer unit, separate from the main consumer unit but situated near where the mains comes in from the street.
3. The fact that there appears to be no power doesn't necessarily mean there isn't any, so be careful with the cover off!

Nope, nothing.

Grenage

Have you used a multimeter on the shower terminals? There's most likely an isolator somewhere - what about loft space (if there's a loft).

murphydog999

I don't think we have a multimeter, so no. And no isolater.

Grenage

I think with the lack of tools for testing supply, and no isolator, it's probably best to get a sparky in.

john240870

I would guess that there is a RCD unit that has tripped. It will should be near the main fuse board in its own box

Strider590

There should always be an isolation switch near the shower, 9 times in 10 it's a pull cord. The pull cord switch contacts may have burned out, it should never be used for turning the shower on/off, only for isolation.

I've seen this a number of times, i've even dismantled such a switch to remove the carbon deposits from the contacts and get it working again (not recommended).

Mr.Generous

I've seen double pole switches in the airing cupboard sometimes - they can get knocked off by mistake. Worth a check.

On your mains board / switch board / consumer unit (diff names - same thing) look at the breakers. One of them will hopefully be a 40 or 45 amp rated, (50 is possible but less common.) this is most likely the shower. They should be labelled but occasionally aren't.

If this is on its not tripped. Unlike a leak to earth where the board trips these behave more like fuses and will trip if the rating is exceeded for some time. If for example your shower has a 30 amp breaker it might not have tripped previously ever, then someone has a long hot shower and it pops. A 30 amp is designed for up to 7.2 kw, your shower is likely to be 8.5 kw. Despite this a 30 a breaker might not trip as people rarely set the shower to max and even if they do breakers are designed for overload protection, which is protection against overheating. It operates slower than RCD type earth leak protection. Overload protection typically operates on an inverse time curve where the tripping time becomes less as the current increases.

Post a pic of your mains board if in doubt.