Replacing Electric Shower..............

oysterman

Any ideas? I have a triton at mo, which i know i could replace like for like. Are there any sites i can visit tell you the good points & bad points about choosing showers.
Regards

orainsear

I believe that under part P regulations that you are now not allowed to do these things yourself unless you are certified competent, so bear that in mind. Also, remember that unless you want to have to re-install all of your wiring don't go above the power rating that you have at the moment. Also if you have not got one, it may be a prudent time to get a Residual Current Device added to the circuit. This is simply a safety device that shuts off the supply when it detects an imbalance in the current flow, and works much more quickly than the Mini Circuit Breaker that is in the fusebox.
As for replacement showers, I've never had any issues with Triton - they have always been reliable enough for me. A tip would be to go to a Wickes if you have one near you - they sell 'aquatronic' showers which are rebadged tritons - take one apart and there are Triton nameplates and stickers inside.
Another good shower that I'd recommend is Redring.

economiser

I don't think part P excludes fitting a replacement appliance. The following is a quite from the Institution of Electrical Engineers website:

https://www.iee.org/Publish/WireRegs/BR-PartP-dwellings.cfm

How will Part P apply to DIY work?

"Part P will apply to all electrical work in dwellings, whether carried out by professionals or DIYers.

Some DIY work will require the submission of a building notice to the local authority and the payment of a building control fee.

Some minor electrical work will not be notifiable, as explained above. Examples include adding a lighting or power point to an existing circuit, adding a spur to an existing circuit or replacing a light fitting."

I think fitting a replacement unit could be classfied as minor electrical work.

YorkshireBoy

economiser wrote:

I don't think part P excludes fitting a replacement appliance. The following is a quite from the Institution of Electrical Engineers website:

https://www.iee.org/Publish/WireRegs/BR-PartP-dwellings.cfm

How will Part P apply to DIY work?

"Part P will apply to all electrical work in dwellings, whether carried out by professionals or DIYers.

Some DIY work will require the submission of a building notice to the local authority and the payment of a building control fee.

Some minor electrical work will not be notifiable, as explained above. Examples include adding a lighting or power point to an existing circuit, adding a spur to an existing circuit or replacing a light fitting."

I think fitting a replacement unit could be classfied as minor electrical work.

I'm afraid that replacing a shower may not be classed as minor work, in the context of Part P. I've highlighted the key text from your link...

What types of electrical work are 'non-notifiable'?

The following types of work are non-notifiable:

Replacing accessories such as socket-outlets, control switches and ceiling roses

Replacing the cable for a single circuit only, where damaged, for example, by fire, rodent or impact(a)

Re-fixing or replacing the enclosures of existing installation components(b)

Providing mechanical protection to existing fixed installations(c)

Work that is not in a kitchen or special location and does not involve a special installation(d) and consists of:

Adding lighting points (light fittings and switches) to an existing circuit(e)

Adding socket-outlets and fused spurs to an existing ring or radial circuit(e)

Installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding(f)

Notes:

(a)On condition that the replacement cable has the same current-carrying capacity, follows the same route and does not serve more than one sub-circuit through a distribution board

(b)If the circuit's protective measures are unaffected

(c)If the circuit's protective measures and current-carrying capacity of conductors are unaffected by increased thermal insulation

(d)Special locations and installations are listed below

(e)Only if the existing circuit protective device is suitable and provides protection for the modified circuit, and other relevant safety provisions are satisfactory

(f)Such work shall comply with other applicable legislation, such as the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations

Special locations and installations(a)

Locations containing a bath tub or shower basin

Swimming pools or paddling pools

Hot air saunas

Electric floor or ceiling heating systems

Garden lighting or power installations

Solar photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems

Small scale generators such as microCHP units

Extra-low voltage lighting installations, other than pre-assembled, CE-marked lighting sets

economiser

It's all about interpretation I suppose. However if all you are doing is replacing one unit with another and simply reconnecting the existing cable to the new appliance I find it difficult to see how that can be classed as anything but minor.

However, it seems that we soon won't be able to do anything ourselves the way things are going. Perhaps we will need a "professional" to mow the grass soon.

LittleJo

Hi,
Seems strange anybody can work on cars, but not on household stuff.
Very odd.
Jo

Mr_Proctalgia

Regardles of what you think BS 7671 does NOT require the addition of a RCD for a shower either! Crazy I know, all you need to comply with is a 5 second disconnection time. However The manufacturer may well say one is required, all I can say is that water is in fact a poor conductor but wet people aren't - Good luck.

Here is the link to it all

http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1130907

gromituk

LittleJo: I guess a car at least has an annual MoT test if 3+ years old; a house doesn't.

This shower replacement cannot be done legally by a non-qualified person I'm afraid: I was going to post the link above myself, because it makes clear that any work in kitchens or bathrooms is forbidden.