Shower shocks!!!!!!!

[stidge]

Hi all, Just had a phone call from customer telling me they are getting minor shocks when in shower and touching the controller/head.It is not an electric shower.They have a dual RCd CU and apparently all earthing is up to date,Has anyone come across this before ? Any advice on where to start looking. Any advice on finding this fault woluld be much appreciated.Thanks

 

[timo]

What type of shower is it mate. Power shower run by a pump. Gravity fed via tanks in loft? or from a combie boiler? Maybe look at the pipe run but sounds strange if the install is upto 17th and water bonded shouldnt be happening ?

 

[nickblake]

Firstly test the Ze on the incomming supply make sure there is no supply fault then do an R1R2 test ,IR test , then Zs , and RCD tests
as you would normally ,check all connections make sure they are tight especially in the shower switch they can come out and generally have a good visual check of the connections

Nick

 

[JD6400]

First off i would check the rcd is not shagged ?

 

[stidge]

its off combi timo,the main incomer(lead) is earthed to board,but the feed to old copper pipework upstairs is plastic????surely if there was some current leakage the RCD would trip no???

 

[IQ Electrical]

its off combi timo,the main incomer(lead) is earthed to board,but the feed to old copper pipework upstairs is plastic????surely if there was some current leakage the RCD would trip no???

Yes the RCD will trip but normally over 15mA and that's quite a tingle!

 

[nickblake]

Agree with IQ doesnt take much

 

[Engineer54]

One of the reasons why householders and plumber alike should know it's foolish to mix and match between plastic and copper in households, ....or anywhere else come to that!!

First off i would be checking the resistance of that upstairs pipework, it may just be picking up a partial connection with the bonded pipework from downstairs. Then check out any electrical connections at the power shower pump(s) etc!!

 

[stidge]

Thanks all,been today sorted,plasterer had screwed through live on t&e noting else,didnt show up on IR test,leak right above sodden joist making wall,shower live!!!!!!!!THANKS TO ALL AGAIN

 

[DaveyD]

So no tests showed this? You had to hunt?

 

[stidge]

yes davey d, The IR test on broken cable one minute was >500 then the next minute <50 !!!!!

 

[JD6400]

yes davey d, The IR test on broken cable one minute was >500 then the next minute <50 !!!!!

Have found this a few time myself , normally with a screw bang through the center of the cable !
Makes you think either the meters faulty or you have just lost the plot and forgot how to test !!!

 

[davelerave]

there was a similar incident posted here recently

i'm guessing it mightn't show on IR testing if only the phase/line conductor is nicked

when the surrounding area gets wet -i the wall might be 'live'