Shower installation problems

[psmuk]

My neighbours shower broke last night, it was old so not worth repairing really he wanted a new one. His old shower was a Aquatronic 3 Plus 9.5kw.

Went to Argos purchased a Madrid II Electric shower 8.5KW

I went back and replaced his old shower with his new shower. However after wiring up and plumbing in nothing. The LED was static when in the off position and when turn to cold to commision the unit the LED flickers every now and then.

I believed this to be faulty so returned and swapped for another of the same model. However after installing this the problems are the same. The Water is turned out, and I have checked the Solenoid even though this was a brand new unit just to rule that option out.

Anyone have any suggestions, or anyone near Leicester could help out my elderly neighbour?

 

[tamz]

Why replace a 9.5 with an 8.5 kw? You have cut his already poor flow rate (when you get it working) by 10%

 

[ecowarm]

You say water turned out? do you mean on or off? if on and you have checked the solenoid, how? have you checked the resistance?

 

[jtsplumbing]

Is L & N crosse'd over ??

 

[secret squirrel]

Presuming you have wired it up correctly to the new shower, presuming you have because a monkey could connect L N E. Have you checked the isolation switch?

I have had to replace a few of these in the past,

Yes, the light may be on, on the shower but it may not be getting enough OOOOOMMMMFFFF when the shower is turn on.

 

[scotty plumber]

I think it could be a mix of poor quality shower and dodgy installation

 

[secret squirrel]

I think it could be a mix of poor quality shower and dodgy installation

I'd agree. However, electric shower, water goes in and comes out hot, even a rubbish shower should work for a few months, possibly not enough pressure but doubtful on mains?

 

[scotty plumber]

Your right the stop-valve may not be open full, There should be a fault finding page in the booklet that came with the shower

 

[PlumbBobBob]

was any muck disturbed when changing the shower and now blocking the filter?

 

[psmuk]

There is water to the shower . We tested it without the shower unit attached and water is running from the pipe.

This could be a coincidence but this started happening the day after EON insulated his loft which I believe the cables come from ?

Power goes to the unit and the extractor fan. And in the off position as the manual states the led lights up, and when switched to cold the led on the unit flickers sometimes.

Reading more and him not sure who fitted the shower originally could this be a cabling issue not 10mm ? Possibly it's using only 6mm?

Any one who replied around the LE4 area ?

Gary

 

[PlumbBobBob]

it's possible that the cable is too small but before it wasn't covered so could cool down. but now that it has been covered by the insulation it is getting over heated. i think first action should be to investigate the cable run in the loft and if possible uncover it.

 

[psmuk]

When he is home will go uncover all cable in loft above the bathroom.

So this could be the problem even though extractor fan powers up ok ?

 

[verdigrey]

Had a similar prob recently , turned out it was a faulty iso switch not letting enough power thru , not enough oomph ( as aprevious post said ) . Best to ask electrician .

 

[psmuk]

Been to his house to look at his cable going to shower he has live and netrual both of these are stranded and the earth is a solid wire (not stranded)

Reading up this cable is incorrect off to b&q to compare what I have seen with 10mm cable to be sure.

Explained to him who fit old shower may not of fitted it correctly.

His old shower was 6 years old and has no record of who or what company fitted it.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

the old shower at 9.5kw should have been 10mm for sure

 

[psmuk]

He has a 'handyman' who did various jobs for him. So not sure if it was installed following all proper guidelines. granted I just replaced the shower same connections same cabling assuming cabling was correct but now reading more I think the original cabling may be the problem.

Will check at B&Q in morning for sure it doesn't look 10mm thick to me to be honest

 

[secret squirrel]

Have you got a multi meter?

When the shower is turned on what power are you getting at the shower terminals?

it may be 6mm to the shower but 10mm to the shower switch,

have you taken the screws out of the isolation switch and tested these with a meter?

These are 2 very simple tests that could be done in 5 minutes!

A handyman may have installed it but is a qualified plumber/electrician trying to sort this?

 

[tamz]

He has a 'handyman' who did various jobs for him.

Seems like he still has :smile:

 

[psmuk]

I dohave a multi meter . I have in the past replaced 2 family members showers without any problems those were like for like shower. The is same brand different model and 1kw less so I 'wrongly' assumed the original shower was installed correctly.

We will find electrician to come take a look. Any local to LE4 on here?

If not if it is needed to be replaced what sort of cost would i expect to pay ?

 

[secret squirrel]

I dohave a multi meter . I have in the past replaced 2 family members showers without any problems those were like for like shower. The is same brand different model and 1kw less so I 'wrongly' assumed the original shower was installed correctly.

We will find electrician to come take a look. Any local to LE4 on here?

If not if it is needed to be replaced what sort of cost would i expect to pay ?

Whilst this may come across as a critism it is not intended to, it is different replacing things for family but anyone else this potentially comes at a cost. Your neighbour will not thank you for getting a bill to put things right!

A friend of mine decided to help his neighbour repair a tap, unfortunately, he made the tap worse then the isolator broke and it was a bit chaotic, luckily I turned up and sorted the mess out for the elderly lady at a cost of £200. New tap, isolators, re-gig pipework etc.

I am a 'cup half empty sort of guy' and no good dead goes unpunished. As you may have just found out. Even if your not out of pocket financially you've spent a day trying to sort this out so its cost you a day!

 

[dontknowitall]

Where's the water coming from? The mains or the cold water storage cistern?

Older showers worked off the cwsc but newer ones are more sensitive to incoming water flow and pressure and often don't work unless they're connected to the mains pipe.

 

[Dannypipe]

When you say the cable is 'stranded' I think you may be confused.


6 and 10mm have standed L&N. On 10mm the earth is also stranded and not a single wire..

6mm has strands about the same size as you will find in 1mm T&E cable and 10mm has a strands about the same size as 2.5mm twin and earth. I think 7 strands for 10mm if my memory serves me correct.