Electric shower upgrade.

Coolhandluke

My existing electric shower is a 7kW model and is protected by a 30amp fuse in the consumer unit,if i wanted to upgrade to a 10.8kW model which requires a 45 amp fuse is it just a matter of replacing the existing 30amp fuse with a 45amp one?

weekendwarrior

No, you need to find out the thickness of the cable, it may only be 6mm. Where 10mm will probably be needed for a 10.5kw shower.

part p rules will also apply.

Alan_M_2

Yup it will be a minimum 10mm cable, and double check the rating, I have a feeling 10.5 KW is 50 amp, or on the borderline of 50 amp.

alwynevans

Whatever you do, do not fit a 10.5kW shower to a 6mm cable. It'll probably go on fire and burn your house down, max of 8.5kW on a 6mm cable and even that's risky

ednotdave

Coolhandluke wrote:

My existing electric shower is a 7kW model and is protected by a 30amp fuse in the consumer unit,if i wanted to upgrade to a 10.8kW model which requires a 45 amp fuse is it just a matter of replacing the existing 30amp fuse with a 45amp one?

:eek: BEWARE! :eek:

This is exactly what part P regs are all about - you don't know what you are doing, so... DON'T DO IT YOURSELF

Alan_M_2

Actually part P doesn't stop the householder doing anything, that's whole falicy of the thing, it just stops companies or individuals doing the electrical work and charging you for it, in a nutshell.

The homeowner can do what he wants, as long as when He comes to sell the house any altered wiring is certified by the local council, that's of course if you admit that the work had been done, if you can't see it and it's burried under the floor/in a wall who knows any different?

You see the problem? Nonsence set of legislation brought on because an MP's daugther was electrocuted in a freak occurance accident.

Coolhandluke

Mira's customer service agent in N.Ireland is telling me that 6mm is the required cable size , although Mira themselves in a response to an email i sent them wont specify a size as various factors such as length of cable run,bends in cable etc is a deciding factor.

plumb1_2

Alan_M wrote:

Actually part P doesn't stop the householder doing anything, that's whole falicy of the thing, it just stops companies or individuals doing the electrical work and charging you for it, in a nutshell.

That's why Corgi, is also [EMAIL="dog@s"]dog's[/EMAIL] b**locks.

raymond

Alan_M wrote:

Yup it will be a minimum 10mm cable, and double check the rating, I have a feeling 10.5 KW is 50 amp, or on the borderline of 50 amp.

alwynevans wrote:

Whatever you do, do not fit a 10.5kW shower to a 6mm cable. It'll probably go on fire and burn your house down, max of 8.5kW on a 6mm cable and even that's risky

How can either of you possibly know what size cable is required.

In order to calculate the required cable size, you need information aboiut the installation, particularly the length of cable run. It could be anywhere between a couple of feet and tens of metres. If you dont know the answer then dont post, it could be dangerous !!

Alan_M_2

raymond wrote:

How can either of you possibly know what size cable is required.

In order to calculate the required cable size, you need information aboiut the installation, particularly the length of cable run. It could be anywhere between a couple of feet and tens of metres. If you dont know the answer then dont post, it could be dangerous !!

Which is why in my post, I clearly stated He need to check, as after years in the business overseeing and running the installations of bathrooms, most showers of that rating require a 10mm cable in the average domestic installation.

So my advice is based on years of experience and a suggestion that the rating and cable size be double checked, your reply is based on what? Having your head stuck up your backside?

Alan_M_2

Coolhandluke wrote:

Mira's customer service agent in N.Ireland is telling me that 6mm is the required cable size , although Mira themselves in a response to an email i sent them wont specify a size as various factors such as length of cable run,bends in cable etc is a deciding factor.

That's simply wrong, in fact Mira should be saying "Consult a qualified electrician" and nothing else. Which is fundamentally what you need to do, as the work will require the suitable certification now.