8.5kw shower help please

continualdiamond

Having our bathroom re done due to upstairs flat flooding it.

We bought a 8.5kw shower & when the electrican was round on Monday to test that the electrics hadn't been damaged by the flooding he asked what shower we had bought.

When I told him, he didn't think the circuit would take it, he said it might, but that a 7.5kw would be best.

Anyway we can change the circuit to take the 8.5kw?

As we've opened the box to have a look at the shower, the shop now won't take it back.

HappyMJ

continualdiamond wrote: »

Anyway we can change the circuit to take the 8.5kw?

I think you meant can we...Yes of course you can. A thicker mains cable will need to be run from the shower room to the consumer unit.

continualdiamond

I know nothing about this, but would that mean the consumer unit as in power supply that is outside my bathroom?

Basically I have a white box with red switch that is in my hall that the electrican turned off, is that likely to be it? & would it be cheaper than having to buy a new 7.5kw shower & then try and sell the 8.5kw?

HappyMJ

continualdiamond wrote: »

I know nothing about this, but would that mean the consumer unit as in power supply that is outside my bathroom?

Basically I have a white box with red switch that is in my hall that the electrican turned off, is that likely to be it? & would it be cheaper than having to buy a new 7.5kw shower & then try and sell the 8.5kw?

If I understand you correctly your consumer unit (the white box with the red switch) is right outside your bathroom then you'll only have a few metres to run the cable from it to the shower so much cheaper just to replace the cable. Anyway I know it's only 1kw difference in power but it'll make a huge difference in the flow rate of the water keeping the 8.5kw shower.

Plumberman

The consumer unit is the main fusebox next to your elec meter..

HappyMJ

Plumberman wrote: »

The consumer unit is the main fusebox next to your elec meter..

Wouldn't the electric meter in a flat be downstairs and the consumer unit be inside the flat near to the front door? I have only one fuse in a box next to my electric meter the big incoming 100A fuse and that's it. That's not the consumer unit...

Plumberman

HappyMJ wrote: »

Wouldn't the electric meter in a flat be downstairs and the consumer unit be inside the flat near to the front door? I have only one fuse in a box next to my electric meter the big incoming 100A fuse and that's it. That's not the consumer unit...

Sounds like the white box with a red switch on it may just be a switch for the shower.

continualdiamond

My fusebox is in my bedroom. The electrican turned numerous ones off to find the one that was for my lights so he could test the light fitting in the bathroom.

Directly on the oppsite side of this wall is my electric meter box, which is outside.

So based on what you have said the white box with red switch is just the switch for the shower.

So obviously big job re cable wise to make it so the 8.5kw shower can go in.

paulpud

There is actually not that much more electrical loading for an 8.5kw shower over a 7.5kw model.

An 8.5kw takes around 36 amps whereas a 7.5 kw takes around 32 amps.

Assuming the existing circuit is wired in 6mm cable protected by a 32 amp circuit breaker, in many circumstances there shouldn't be a problem with upgrading the circuit breaker to 40 amps which would enable the fitting of the 8.5kw shower but still provide adequate protection to the existing wiring. An electrician should be able to verify this.

davidkj_2

6.0mmT/E maximum load is anything from 23.5amps up to 47amps it is all dependant on the way the cable was run you will need to get your electrician to check the method it was installed to. Any alterations in a room with a bath or shower in are notifiable under "part P" regulations.:)

continualdiamond

Well thought I'd come back to my thread & say that a power shower is now out of the question.

Discovered my old shower was only a 7kw & thought if it kept saying 'low flow' nearly alllll the time how on earth could it cope with a 7.5kw.

So we decided to get a mixer tap for our bath & good job we did.

Company came back round this morning to access if the walls had dried out as had a dehumidifier in all week. Got talking to the electrican about deciding to take the shower out etc & he was curious what wires did what. Explained that wall the other side was my kitchen & told him since he turned the switch off for the showe I've had a socket out in my kitchen.

Showed him which one & which he replied that the shower has been made to run off the fuse for my cooker & that its illegal & a shower needs its own fuse.

Click.....explains why I cannot use my oven + grill without the fuse tripping.

Soooooo pleased we just decided to get mixer taps & not get a 7.5kw shower. Otherwise we'd be stuck with 2 showers to sell.