Codeigniter database connections error and db_select

I'll try to be brief and to the point.

1. I'm using Codeigniter 3.1.4. with HMVC
2. Working perfectly on localhost with 'pconnect' = FALSE;
3. Problem at live server through shared hosting.
4. max_user_connections = 10. Set by the Hosting company.
5. Also added mysql.allow_persistent = Off to php.ini file.
6. Gives the error Message: mysqli::real_connect(): (42000/1203): User <user> already has more than 'max_user_connections' active connections Filename:mysqli/mysqli_driver.php Line Number: 201
7. Line 201 is calling mysqli::real_connect within db_connect function of mysqli_driver
8. CI's official statement is "...CodeIgniter intelligently takes care of closing your database connections".

With pconnect = FALSE; and CI's "intelligent" closing of database connections, I don't see what should be causing the problem.

EDIT

• Was previously loading database groups through $this->load->database('group', TRUE); in each model (only one such call per model).
• Tried resolving above error through autoloading 'database' library and setting $this->db->db_select('dbName'); in respective controllers+models but it's not always selecting the correct database when controller+model is loaded.
• Does anyone know how db->db_select() works?

Any ideas would be great help. Thanks.