10.5kw Electric Shower -Fuse Question.

ITtim

I've just replaced an 8.5kw shower with a 10.5kw unit, I purchased a 45amp fuse.


I went to fit the fuse I purchased and found that the pins are slightly wider than my consumer unit and will therefore not fit.

The shower is in, and i've only got my old 40am fuse.

I really could do with a shower after fitting it and i'm not sure what will happen with the 40amp fuse installed. I'll obviously get the recomended one in due course but is the shower safe to use? Would it just trip?

Any replies appreciaited! :j

Owain_Moneysaver

Before upgrading to a higher rated shower you should have checked that the cable is adequate to support the higher power. Otherwise you run the risk of overheating the cable, possibly leading to a fire.

If you have cartridge, or much worse, rewirable fuses, that suggests your electrical installation may be rather dated and safety measures for using an electric shower, such as equipotential bonding or RCDs may not have been fitted.

ITtim

The wire meets the specified requirements, the fuse box is old and uses wire but the fuse specifically for the shower is a trip switch one.

I just need to know if i'm ok to use it on the 40amp fuse until I can get the correct fuse tommorrow.

latecomer

It should be ok as the shower will only draw maximum current when its on its maximum heat setting. definitely get the right fuse in asap though.

ITtim

Thats good then because I stink!

mikey72

ITtim wrote: »

The wire meets the specified requirements, the fuse box is old and uses wire but the fuse specifically for the shower is a trip switch one.

I just need to know if i'm ok to use it on the 40amp fuse until I can get the correct fuse tommorrow.

What size is the wire?

muckybutt

mikey72 wrote: »

What size is the wire?

What is the CABLE size ?

sillywilly

Yes cable needs to be 10. We had a friend of a friend fit the our new 10.5KW shower using the the old 6 cable.

Burnt out the shower switch and very lucky nothing more serious happened.

You need 10 cable. We also had it fitted to a new separate shower fuse box which is a 50.

Cost us £110 all certificated which possibly may be a lot. Small price if we don't fry each other to death!!

mikey72

muckybutt wrote: »

What is the CABLE size ?

Don't know, I can't see it from here.
That's why I asked the op.

ITtim

Don't worry, i'm still alive!

The cable is approx 14mm thick

booty40uk

The cable is approx 14mm thick

No , what size is the cable means what gauge it is, ie 6mm, 10mm etc; the actual csa of the cores.

Ps If the cable sheathing is only 14mm thick, then that suggests 4mm or maybe 6mm t&e, both of which are woefully small and therefore very dangerous.

With respect, you really dont seem to know what you are doing and i would strongly suggest having your work checked by a proffessional.

HTH

Andy