Double Pole 45A ceiling shower switch, is it faulty?

[spectrepaul]

Hope someone could give me a bit of advice as I am not sure if I have a faulty switch or not:

I bought a Double Pole 45A ceiling switch from Wickes as I am fitting a shower which is a 9.5kw Triton shower.
I have already put the 10mm twin and earth cable through to the bathroom from the consumer unit and fitted it to the consumer unit via a 45A circuit breaker which is on the RCD side of the consumer unit.
I have connected the cable to the ceiling switch after fitting it to the ceiling, so everything is in place and connected at both ends with correct connections etc.
The only thing I haven't done yet is connect a 10mm twin and earth cable from the load side of the switch to the shower as the shower is not in place yet as I have to take the bath out and do some plumbing first as fitting a new bathroom suite.
So the only thing connected to the switch is the cable to the consumer unit.

I thought I would test the switch and connection to the consumer unit before connecting the shower cable. I flicked the circuit breaker for the shower to on and the led on the ceiling switch came on red. This stays red and lit even if I pull the cord to on/off.
So the light stays on even though the mechanical indicator says off for the pull cord.
I turned off the circuit breaker for the shower and the light went off.

I have left the circuit breaker off now until I get chance to connect the shower but my question is, is this normal for the light to stay on on the ceiling switch. I have a feeling it is because the circuit is not complete as there is nothing connected to the load side of the switch but I thought the switch should work with the light going on and off when I pull the cord even though the shower is not connected yet.
May when I connect the shower, the light will turn on and off on the switch when I pull the cord??

Not sure if I have a faulty switch.

Any help is welcome. Thanks.

 

[micknew]

You have connected the feed to the output side of the switch.
Swop cable to the other side of the switch.

 

[spectrepaul]

Hmmmmm, thinking about it, I think I have. Gona have a look now. Was sweating buckets when fitting it because the cable is so thick it was tricky to fit the wires in. Going to be even harder when there are shower cables in as well.

Will get back to you shortly.

 

[spectrepaul]

Well took the cover off and yep I connected to the load instead of the supply, silly me!!!

Switched it over and everything is now fine, the light works correctly!

Thanks pal, first time on this site and help within a few minutes, great and cheers again.

 

[Des 56]

Someone will no doubt come on and post a warning that "this is notifiable work" and you are breaking the law and you could end up in Wandsworth prison (where you may find they have invested in an electric chair) for this extreem law breaking

Thats if you haven't already involved building control or you stop telling people what you have done

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Your not alone in doing this mate, almost every apprentice does this at one time or another ... the smart ones realise what they have done wrong after a bit of thought ... though fewer bright sparks these days unfortunately.

 

[Octopus]

Next time buy and fit a Crabtree 50A pull shower switch - far, far easier to fit.

 

[micknew]

Hmmmmm, thinking about it, I think I have. Gona have a look now. Was sweating buckets when fitting it because the cable is so thick it was tricky to fit the wires in. Going to be even harder when there are shower cables in as well.

Will get back to you shortly.

Get a deeper back box, you will need it for 10mm T&E.

 

[Engineer54]

Change your existing pull switch for a Crabtree 50A pull switch!! Or as you have already suspected, your going to have real difficulties connecting those 10mm cables....

 

[dg2908]

Can anyone on this forum recommend a good 45 or 50A pull switch to fit a square pattress, preferably with two earth terminals? I'm told the round Crabtree one is the best but this one is to replace an MK one already on a square pattress. Contactum give theirs a 25 year guarantee but it only has one earth terminal and I'm sure two would be much easier to wire up.

 

[Engineer54]

Crabtree every time!! The connections/accommodation for 10mm cables as far as i know, can't be beaten...

 

[Brendan976]

I agree with eng 54 , Crabtree are by far the best for connecting purposes, dump the sqaure one and fit the Crabtree as the partress is integral to the pull switch.
Ben

 

[MDJ]

Hope someone could give me a bit of advice as I am not sure if I have a faulty switch or not:

I bought a Double Pole 45A ceiling switch from Wickes as I am fitting a shower which is a 9.5kw Triton shower.
I have already put the 10mm twin and earth cable through to the bathroom from the consumer unit and fitted it to the consumer unit via a 45A circuit breaker which is on the RCD side of the consumer unit.
I have connected the cable to the ceiling switch after fitting it to the ceiling, so everything is in place and connected at both ends with correct connections etc.
The only thing I haven't done yet is connect a 10mm twin and earth cable from the load side of the switch to the shower as the shower is not in place yet as I have to take the bath out and do some plumbing first as fitting a new bathroom suite.
So the only thing connected to the switch is the cable to the consumer unit.

I thought I would test the switch and connection to the consumer unit before connecting the shower cable. I flicked the circuit breaker for the shower to on and the led on the ceiling switch came on red. This stays red and lit even if I pull the cord to on/off.
So the light stays on even though the mechanical indicator says off for the pull cord.
I turned off the circuit breaker for the shower and the light went off.

I have left the circuit breaker off now until I get chance to connect the shower but my question is, is this normal for the light to stay on on the ceiling switch. I have a feeling it is because the circuit is not complete as there is nothing connected to the load side of the switch but I thought the switch should work with the light going on and off when I pull the cord even though the shower is not connected yet.
May when I connect the shower, the light will turn on and off on the switch when I pull the cord??

Not sure if I have a faulty switch.

Any help is welcome. Thanks.

Gasp, gasp and double gasp, jeez

 

[telectrix]

or just connect a bit of 3 pole choc block. who needs a switch anyway. more trouble than they're worth. LOL. :ban:

 

[rmc86uk]

If I were you I would get a qualified Electrician in to do the works for you. Also can I just add regards this inform building control I wonder how many Electricians on here actually inform building control when working on their own property? I bet the answer is none!

 

[ebee]

I Do, always

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Someone will no doubt come on and post a warning that "this is notifiable work" and you are breaking the law and you could end up in Wandsworth prison (where you may find they have invested in an electric chair) for this extreem law breaking

Thats if you haven't already involved building control or you stop telling people what you have done

was this my que to come in here Des?.....lol