My electric shower just went bang!

[ADRIANPBIRD]

Hi guys, just stumbled across your website, and it looks great! Hope you can help me!

I turned on my electric shower at the weekend, and whilst getting undressed to step into it, there was a loud bang! from the shower unit and it cut-out. It was installed brand new around 15-18 months ago (it's a straightforward electric shower), albeit with existing fuses/cabling/switches from the previous shower.
I appreciate it could be any number of causes, but how/where do you recommend i start to look?
p.s. the rcd fuse had tripped, so later in the day i reset it, ran the shower on the cold setting for a few minutes, but as i slowly increased the temperature it went bang again.

 

[Robert Tyrrell]

you are right i would of said something but didnt want to go of topic but depending on which method you use (installation) 10mm will carry 55 amps and in a max sort of way the max you could go is 65m

zs and ze rubbish

short of it (11.5 x 1000) ÷ (4.4 x 40) = 65m (thats with a load about 45amps)

I might appear a bit silly here but what do the figures elate to?
I get the calculation result of 65mtrs but where does the 11.5 x 1000 & the 4,4 x 40 come from?

Just trying to learn something

 

[REDSAW]

iwas right then!

 

[Radioman]

Thanks for your comments guys. I did remove the cover and there no signs of burnt out wiring, which surprised me! The shower is a Galaxy Obsession 9.5kw. The cabling is 10mm. The rcd is 40amp. The cabling runs through my loft, approx 5 metres in total from the fuse box to the shower unit. I fitted it myself, and although i'm not an electrician, i'm a competent diy'er. However, i'm out of my depth here, hence posting on here, and what i'd like to know is should i call in an electrician or can i do some tests myself? I don't want to just rush out and purchase a new shower unit, as it's possible the problem lies elsewhere?

You have committed a criminal offence by fitting that shower yourself if it was not signed of by building control. It's the electrical version of DIY gas boiler repair and fitting. Fitting that shower is notifiable to building controls under Part P for a reason. Get a qualified self certifying electrician in. I am surprised only Shaun has picked this up.