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Hi. I fitted a new shower yesterday but it's not working. I don't know what's going on with it but it's strange. The old one is probably about 15 - 20 years old and before I fitted the new one I tested (with an electricians screwdriver) the black and red cables and they were both live. I consulted an ex-electrician friend of mine and he said that the black cable could be the neutral for something else as well and if there was anything untoward it would blow on the main board.

I fitted the shower and, nothing. The pipe work and water side of it is spot on, but one thing I noticed is when the isolator switch on the ceiling is switched to 'on' the red light doesn't light up until I turn the control on the shower to 'off'! When I turn the shower control to 'on', the red light on the isolator switch goes back off. Any ideas?
 
Hi. I fitted a new shower yesterday but it's not working. I don't know what's going on with it but it's strange. The old one is probably about 15 - 20 years old and before I fitted the new one I tested (with an electricians screwdriver) the black and red cables and they were both live. I consulted an ex-electrician friend of mine and he said that the black cable could be the neutral for something else as well and if there was anything untoward it would blow on the main board.

I fitted the shower and, nothing. The pipe work and water side of it is spot on, but one thing I noticed is when the isolator switch on the ceiling is switched to 'on' the red light doesn't light up until I turn the control on the shower to 'off'! When I turn the shower control to 'on', the red light on the isolator switch goes back off. Any ideas?
Time for Mr Electrician to attend he will have a better Electrician's screwdriver than the one you have.
 
Think you need to verify your connections, specifically polarity.

Yes I'll have to get somebody round. On the other side of the wall is the airing cupboard with the cylinder and header tank. Also in the corner of the cupboard there runs a flat grey cable straight up into the attic, then another flat grey cable running back down next to it that goes through the wall into the bathroom. This is what the old shower was feeding off so I just used the same foir the new shower.
 
Best to leave it turned off at your consumer unit (fuse board) until you can get an electrician out. Where in the midlands are you ? There are plenty of people on here who may be able to help if they know you're not far away.

Oh and by the way there no such thing as an "electricians screwdriver" unless the person who owns them is an electrician.
 
Hi. I fitted a new shower yesterday but it's not working. I don't know what's going on with it but it's strange. The old one is probably about 15 - 20 years old and before I fitted the new one I tested (with an electricians screwdriver) the black and red cables and they were both live. I consulted an ex-electrician friend of mine and he said that the black cable could be the neutral for something else as well and if there was anything untoward it would blow on the main board.

I fitted the shower and, nothing. The pipe work and water side of it is spot on, but one thing I noticed is when the isolator switch on the ceiling is switched to 'on' the red light doesn't light up until I turn the control on the shower to 'off'! When I turn the shower control to 'on', the red light on the isolator switch goes back off. Any ideas?
Where in the Midlands are you situated? if it's not to far from me I may be able to take a look see, PM your location nd I'll check the distance from me to you.
 
Best to leave it turned off at your consumer unit (fuse board) until you can get an electrician out. Where in the midlands are you ? There are plenty of people on here who may be able to help if they know you're not far away.

Oh and by the way there no such thing as an "electricians screwdriver" unless the person who owns them is an electrician.

I have a couple of electricians to call, one is on holiday though and one was up to his eye balls in it yesterday and couldn't get. Oh electrician's screwdriver is what I've always called it, its my colloquialism. Like my plumbers spanner and joiners wood saw
 
I'm in
Where in the Midlands are you situated? if it's not to far from me I may be able to take a look see, PM your location nd I'll check the distance from me to you.
I'm in derby mate thanks for the offer. I was hoping to have it all wrapped up and sorted for when the Mrs got back from a couple of days away, but now it looks like she'll have to wait and she will only use somebody she knows or knows of. Not gone to plan.
 
I have a couple of electricians to call, one is on holiday though and one was up to his eye balls in it yesterday and couldn't get. Oh electrician's screwdriver is what I've always called it, its my colloquialism. Like my plumbers spanner and joiners wood saw

Fare enough all plumbers are spanners !
 
If both poles are 'live' it's likely that there is a break in the neutral before the shower, probably at the isolator. It may be you have wasted your money buying a new shower when the fault is elsewhere, simple testing would have identified this.
 
Oh electrician's screwdriver is what I've always called it, its my colloquialism. Like my plumbers spanner and joiners wood saw

If you're gonna do any electrical work get yourself a 2 probe voltage tester. Less than £30 for a basic one and will tell you if its live and what the voltage is, those neon screwdrivers and non contact indicators are not reliable and should not be trusted. Could well save your life, especially if you're standing in a wet shower.
 
I suggest you DO NOT have a shower or let anyone else do so until this has been checked out by a professional.
 
no need for a shower atm, it's not even easter, let alone xmas.
 

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