Hello Sparks (and mates and improvers). I have an electric shower at home creda 8.5kw. The shower is working however the spur is dodgy. Its been ok for four years but now when I click the spur down to send power to the shower the light on the spur only partly glows and I have to force the red button all the way down for the light to come on fully and give power. Does this just sound like a dodgy spur? Is it just a broken spring inside? Help appreciated and thanks in advance.
It's not a spur, it's a double pole switch and yes it is faulty and needs replacing. I you're doing this yourself do make VERY sure that you tighten all connections very securely.
Around £10 depending on make and where you buy it. Try to get a well known brand such as MK if possible.
Problems with shower switches and pull cords are nearly always caused by people that switch them off after every shower. I'm my opinion they only need turning off for maintenance.
I did once hear if you didn't turn them off after every shower you are more at risk of fire, is that not true?
I'd say you are more at risk of a fire if you continually use them, its not a pretty site when one burns out.
The switch, I've changed loads of burn out ones over the years and its nearly always someone who switches it off after every use.
But if you think of it, - the switch will NOT be damaged by burning caused by power bridging the contacts, as normally showers are first turned off at the shower, so switch and cable not under load. Also other 2 pole switches on other electric items in a home rarely burn out, despite being turned on and off very frequently. I know showers use more power, but still shows switches on washing machines, cookers and immersion heaters tend to last well. A friend on mine is a electronic/electrical engineer and always investigates faults. He said the problem is often caused by loose wires, but also noted that the contacts in MK pull cord switches are loose and will cause burning while shower is working. The contacts, for those that don’t know, are very similar to the points in old cars I do know I replace a lot of MK burnt out pull cord switches. I find they burn out, used or not
Of course it would work, but probably not for long! Perhaps the original one is 32amp and that's why it's failed.
Never use anything less than a 45A rated dp switch with a shower circuit. 32A is definitely not good enough (you are looking at price and cheaper price is not going to satisfy the requirements). Crabtree do a 50A rated pull-cord switch for the ceiling mounted and they are the best on the market. The two gang size vertical switches are the ones you need they have sufficient room to get the larger wires terminated correctly and tightly in the back box.