Electric shower cable question

Risteard

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

Is "clipped direct" typical, though? I don't have any clipped direct wiring in my home; it's buried in a masonry wall, in steel conduit, or in trunking with a grouping factor to be applied.

Many people will have cables inside insulated plasterboard walls or ceilings.

Never mind 10mm, I have a 16mm cooker circuit. Don't know why, but that stuff's a pain to dress nicely in a CU.

For a standard domestic installation clipped direct is by far the most usual reference method. (Obviously it's not guaranteed to be this though.)

Ectophile

Risteard wrote: »

For a standard domestic installation clipped direct is by far the most usual reference method. (Obviously it's not guaranteed to be this though.)

Clipped direct is only usual in low-end rental property, or when people are on a very tight budget and can't afford to have the work done more neatly.


Most wiring is buried in walls, or inside conduit of you want the "industrial" look of a warehouse conversion. If it's in the loft, it's probably buried under insulation.

DocKate

Thanks, but we definitely won't be doing this ourselves. Anything to do with electrics we always get professionals in.

DocKate

It does have an RCD, which I believe is 32A. The consumer unit was replaced and all the electrics checked before we moved in to the property, so less than three years ago.

DocKate

Mr.Generous wrote: »

It really depends where the cable run is, If the mains board is in a garage and the single shower cable is attached direct to brick, up through a redundant airing cupboard (surface clipped) and into the back of the shower then you will be ok, 6mm can carry 47amps if its not enclosed or under insulation - unlikely I know.

If its in conduit or in the wall it shouldn't be used for a 9.5kw so you are stuck with an 8.5kw or a new cable. £700 is very high cost for the job I think.

The cable runs from the consumer unit, under the house through a large void so probably clipped direct there. Then up to the isolator switch through the wall, then under the house again and up the wall to the shower. Distance from CU to isolator switch approx 2.5 mtrs. and from there to the shower approx. 3.5 mtrs.

Mr.Generous

Ectophile wrote: »

Clipped direct is only usual in low-end rental property, or when people are on a very tight budget and can't afford to have the work done more neatly.


Most wiring is buried in walls, or inside conduit of you want the "industrial" look of a warehouse conversion. If it's in the loft, it's probably buried under insulation.

Don't think your actually allowed any exposed (standard) cables fixed to any surface in a rental property. Ask R, I can't find the reg.

baldelectrician

Mr.Generous wrote: »

Don't think your actually allowed any exposed (standard) cables fixed to any surface in a rental property. Ask R, I can't find the reg.

I disagree

Installs should be risk asessed when carrying out work

I carry out inspection and testing and would not fail an install if there were clipped direct cables - if they were flapping about etc that may be an issue.

Saying that I rarely install cables clipped direct these days but it can look neater- such as a cable along a brick seam for an outside light (much less noticable than trunking)