Chrome trunking for bathroom

melb

Need new cabling for electric shower after we found out that original cabling was inadequate. The wall is fully tiled with large travertine tiles.
I know that the proper thing to do is remove tile chase in new cabling and replace tile but am going for easy option of wall mounted wiring and trunking.
Has anyone come across chrome trunking to ease the pain please?

Doozergirl

Don't you have or can't you find replacement tiles?

Not even from an aesthetic point of view, the idea of a full blown electric cable in a full on water area only hidden by a bit of metal trunking horrifies me! Is an electrician prepared to run it?

melb

Hi thanks for reply. It was an electrician who suggested it.

Doozergirl

melb wrote: »

Hi thanks for reply. It was an electrician who suggested it.

Is he just trying to avoid doing things properly or is it you?

Kiran

what is the wall the showers mounted on made out of? How is the old cable installed in the wall, is it loose/in conduit inside a stud wall? If so you can fish the cable using the old one to guide it. You can get chrome effect mini trunking but it looks a bit pants

rob7475

How about chrome pipe that you'd usually use for plumbing? Not sure if 15mm would be wide enough for a shower cable but I'm sure you can get the chrome pipe in 22mm too.

You'd have to make sure any ends were fully sealed (where it enters the shower would be my main concern).

xyz123

Doozergirl wrote: »

Don't you have or can't you find replacement tiles?

Not even from an aesthetic point of view, the idea of a full blown electric cable in a full on water area only hidden by a bit of metal trunking horrifies me! Is an electrician prepared to run it?

I am not sure what the rules state (but am assuming that electrician knows what he has proposed will comply and will give a certificate at end) but don't forget the cable inside trunking is not just bare copper. It has adequate insulation as well. Of course not suitable for submerging or frequent watering but inside a properly sealed trunking and protected adequately at fuse board is not the end of the world..

Doozergirl

xyz123 wrote: »

I am not sure what the rules state (but am assuming that electrician knows what he has proposed will comply and will give a certificate at end) but don't forget the cable inside trunking is not just bare copper. It has adequate insulation as well. Of course not suitable for submerging or frequent watering but inside a properly sealed trunking and protected adequately at fuse board is not the end of the world..

I may come from a different angle to the OP where 'not the end of the world' isn't really okay.

The actual idea of chrome plumbing pipe is a little less distressing than trunking which doesn't provide a waterproof seal.

FreeBear

Kiran wrote: »

How is the old cable installed in the wall, is it loose/in conduit inside a stud wall?

One would hope that the original cable is inside trunking - It could be clipped to the wall and have had steel capping fixed over the top which would make things interesting trying to pull a new length through.

If chromed copper pipe isn't big enough, the OP could have a look for polished stainless steel - A fairly standard item in industry, just look for steel stockholders in the local yellow pages. Or for short lengths, a stainless steel fabricator may have some (or use ebay).

Risteard

rob7475 wrote: »

How about chrome pipe that you'd usually use for plumbing?

No, no, no.

Plumbing pipe is not an electrical conduit, nor would it be earthed.

There is no such thing as chrome trunking.

Metallic trunking is typically galvanised steel (although stainless steel is available also). It is totally unsuitable for this and is an exposed conductive part and must be earthed. PVC mini-trunking can, however, be used with electric showers - some are designed to accept an entry from it. This isn't dangerous - the shower is designed to keep water away from live parts.

Risteard

Doozergirl wrote: »

The actual idea of chrome plumbing pipe is a little less distressing than trunking which doesn't provide a waterproof seal.

No it isn't. It is an abhorrent idea which is far, far worse.

The trunking does not need to provide a waterproof seal anyway - a shower designed to take an entry of PVC mini-trunking will be designed so as not to be compromised by this.