Why do electric showers have external switches, or cords?

Question

Does it add to the electric bill to have this switched on all the time?

Answer 1

Every item of fixed apparatus must have a means of isolation for maintenance purposes, and it should be either lockable OFF or visible to the person carrying out the maintenance, Eg if there was no isolator and I was repairing the innards of your shower or cooker and you or someone else turned on the isolator I would get a shock or worse. You can't just use a circuit breaker or fuse for the same reason,and anyway a fuse is only single pole and does not isolate the circuit completely. The neon indicator in some switches uses negligible power if left on, 10p per year?? , and there is no need to switch off normally, only for maintenance.

Insulated pull cords of switches are allowed in all zones inside bathrooms except 0, the mechanism is not allowed in zones 0-2. Wall mounted switches zone 3 and outside only.

Answer 2

The Electrical Regulations ( BS7671) state that you must have local isolation for showers / cookers etc.
NO the little neon on the switch does not use a lot of electricity, it's not measureable and neglible.
The shower will only use electricity when in use.

Answer 3

They always have an external power supply so they can be isolated. Most have a light but it uses a fractional amount of energy.
The pull chord which is also common is so if you do try to turn it on and off with your wet hands you dont get electrocuted.

Answer 4

Because it uses more electricity (power) to function so it needs to be isolated, just the same as an electric cooker.

Answer 5

water and electricity dont mix whatsoever.It`s to stop you touching electic switches with wet hands

Answer 6

It is a safety measure.

Answer 7

if they were in the shower with you, you would get "fried"