Electric shower - no power!

Risteard

Mr.Generous wrote: »

Despite this a 30 a breaker might not trip as people rarely set the shower to max

I presume you're referring to a 32A circuit breaker.

An 8.5kW load if stated at the open circuit voltage of 240V (shower ratings typically are stated at this voltage) as opposed to the nominal voltage of 230V would draw 35.42A. A 32A circuit breaker must not operate at less than 1.13In, and must operate within one hour at 1.45In. Therefore below 36.16A a 32A circuit breaker is required never to operate in order to comply with BS EN 60898 to which it is certified.

murphydog999

Thank you all for your comments but can I say for the last time there is no isolater switch/box, Obviously there should be one, but there isn't!

On the fuse boards, the shower (which is 9kw) has a B50 fuse, it doesn't have a separate RCD, it is with 4 other fuses with a 30A RCD. Nothing has tripped so far, but when I do a test on the main board RCD it goes to it's mid position, when I turn it back on the RCD that the shower fuse is on trips, but nothing else. Does that help?

Risteard

murphydog999 wrote: »

Obviously there should be one, but there isn't!

There is no requirement.

Risteard

murphydog999 wrote: »

when I turn it back on the RCD that the shower fuse is on trips, but nothing else. Does that help?

This may be miswired in the distribution board. You need to contact an Electrician. I would recommend NICEIC Approved Contractors for a good, competent electrical contractor.

Alter_ego

Mr.Generous wrote: »

Despite this a 30 a breaker might not trip as people rarely set the shower to max and even if they do breakers are designed for overload protection, which is protection against overheating. It operates slower than RCD type earth leak protection. Overload protection typically operates on an inverse time curve where the tripping time becomes less as the current increases.

Post a pic of your mains board if in doubt.

Setting an electric shower to max only decreases the water supply. The electricity is either on or off.

littlerock

I had a similar electric shower in my upstairs bathroom and it had an on/off pull cord near the bathroom door (in addition to its own controls.) It looked like a bathroom light pull on off cord but actually turned on the power to the shower. I was told this was a legal requirement. Are you sure you don't have one somewhere nearby?

murphydog999

littlerock wrote: »

Are you sure you don't have one somewhere nearby?

Flippin' heck! How many more times! THERE ISN'T ONE!! PLEASE don't ask me again!!

However, there seems to be a differing of opinion. Is it a legal requirement or not?

Grenage

Legal requirement, no; good practice, yes.

Risteard

murphydog999 wrote: »

However, there seems to be a differing of opinion. Is it a legal requirement or not?

No. Any other answer is incorrect.

john240870

murphydog999 wrote: »

Flippin' heck! How many more times! THERE ISN'T ONE!! PLEASE don't ask me again!!

However, there seems to be a differing of opinion. Is it a legal requirement or not?

Oh just had a thought i bet there's a isolating switch somewhere have you looked
:rotfl: