electric shower -

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Join Date: May 2008

Posts: 226

im sure this has been asked before but i cant find it..........

a straight swop for old to new electric shower do i need a sparky

 

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Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: Essex

Posts: 487

No, providing swapping like for like. Be very careful if your increasing the KW of the shower though.......

 

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Join Date: Apr 2008

Location: South Shropshire

Posts: 515

No need if you know what you're doing. When I fit a replacement (especially a higher wattage) I always phone a friend.

 

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Join Date: May 2008

Posts: 226

its an old shower so not sure of the kw, the new one is 8.5kw

 

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Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: Essex

Posts: 487

6mm cable into a double pole isolator, then a 30amp mcb (think its mcb, must trip out), depending on the cable runs etc but I'd need to look it all up....

 

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Join Date: Apr 2008

Location: South Shropshire

Posts: 515

There was me thinking it had to be 10mm (but maybe not for that size shower)! This is why I phone my sparky friend and get him to change things if necessary.

 

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Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: Essex

Posts: 487

I don't think so, but then you do need to consider length of runs etc if its over a certain length (again need to check) its 10mm. If I have a doubt I check with my sparks as well..... just in case.

 

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Join Date: May 2008

Posts: 226

can the fuse at the mcb give me an idea of the kw

 

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Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: Essex

Posts: 487

Its 30 amps, to be sure you'll find it in the instructions for the shower mate. If it is above 8.9kw then it jumps considerably to (don't quote me) 45.

 

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Join Date: Jul 2009

Location: North Devon

Posts: 379

Call an electrician you are starting to sound like jambo!!!

you need a sparky as all new showers must have and rcd or rccb fitted to stop the customer dancing hard when they go live due to water getting into your electrical work. All the fuse (not reccommended now) or mcb does is protect the wiring from overheating and causing a fire.
The cable rating depends on both the length of run and wattage of shower. Unless your qualified in electrics dont mess with it, its what we all harp on about with gas work, so follow our own example, and if youre not competent as in niceic quals/registration your insuruers wont cover you when your customer gets a h**d on due to your cock ups with their wiring.