Electric Shower & Consumer Unit within my flat

[Southsider]

New to this forum and looking for some advice.

My shower (Gainsborough 10.5kW SCL) is no longer working. I think its the shower engine thats packed up. The shower has probably only been installed in the last 2 years.

I am looking to install a new shower however I am a bit concerned about the electrical installation. The board is made by Wylex and has 6 ways - 1no 5 Amp, 2no 15 Amp, and 3no. 30 Amp. On one of the 30 Amp ways instead of a breaker there is a black cover plate fitted over the front and badged 30 Amp.

From this 30 Amp circuit a cable is taken from the consumer unit to a double pole fused isolator. The isolater is within the same enclosure/cupboard as the consumer unit. From the double pole fuse isolater the twin & earth cable feeds the shower (room adjacent to electrical cupboard).

First thing I want to know is that if I install a new shower (9 kW Mira Sport) what is the minimum amount of work needed? Should the fuse be upgraded to 45 A? Consumer unit states max 60 A load.

Also whats the easiest way to check I have the correct size of cable? Get a short length of 10mm twin & earth and check against the cable installed?

Any advice appreciated as I have a very basic electrical knowledge but would like to get a rough idea of the work required before I get quotes to carry out the work.

Here's a pic of my consumer unit and the double pole fused switch.

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/7373/dscf1038zy8.jpg

[sparkyork]

hi matey, welcome to the forum.

firstly are you in rented accomodation or is it your own property? if its rented then get your landlord to sort it out!

if its your own property then as your going to be carrying out work on this circuit then it should be rcd protected. i could be wrong as well but im led to beleive that there should be a suitable pull switch or the like, within the bathroom aswell (someone will confirm whether im wrong or right on this!)

imo, if someone comes to quote for the work then:
1, they will check your main earth bonding to your gas and water or oil services

2, they will possibly either a)upgrade the isolator switch to a rcd protected outlet or b)recommend upgrading your fuse board and feeding the shower from this

3, if they discover that the cable supplying the shower is 6mm they may upgrade this 10mm (i would personally), they may also say that you should have access to electrical switch for the shower within the bathroom

id be expecting to pay at least £150 for the works, and possibly alot more if your main earths need wiring as well as possibly a new fuse board.

hope this helps in anyway.

rich

Originally Posted by sparkyork

hi matey, welcome to the forum.

firstly are you in rented accomodation or is it your own property? if its rented then get your landlord to sort it out!

if its your own property then as your going to be carrying out work on this circuit then it should be rcd protected. i could be wrong as well but im led to beleive that there should be a suitable pull switch or the like, within the bathroom aswell (someone will confirm whether im wrong or right on this!)

imo, if someone comes to quote for the work then:
1, they will check your main earth bonding to your gas and water or oil services

2, they will possibly either a)upgrade the isolator switch to a rcd protected outlet or b)recommend upgrading your fuse board and feeding the shower from this

3, if they discover that the cable supplying the shower is 6mm they may upgrade this 10mm (i would personally), they may also say that you should have access to electrical switch for the shower within the bathroom

id be expecting to pay at least £150 for the works, and possibly alot more if your main earths need wiring as well as possibly a new fuse board.

hope this helps in anyway.

rich

Rich, "main earths"? surely you mean main protective bonding

(sorry to be pedantic, but i spend all day drumming this into students!)

[sparkyork]

yeah!! sorry shakey lol!

i didnt wanna talk to scientific to this gentleman! ill have to get me self all lingoed up, cos i think im gonna need me 17th course asap!! (bet you knew that was coming!)

rich

[wayne]

got to get the definitions right ,eh shakey
its fundamental to understand there is a difference between earthing and bonding

Originally Posted by wayne

got to get the definitions right ,eh shakey
its fundamental to understand there is a difference between earthing and bonding

defintely Wayne

someone talking about 'earth bonding' (or similar) will fire my engines up quicker than someone telling me you cant be an electrician without NVQ3.................

[sparkyork]

defintely Wayne

someone talking about 'earth bonding' (or similar) will fire my engines up quicker than someone telling me you cant be an electrician without NVQ3.................


sorry guys! lol, i will have to learn to think before i type! to be honest tho i was a bit nervous about posting on this thread just incase i was way out with everything else!

rich

Originally Posted by sparkyork

defintely Wayne

someone talking about 'earth bonding' (or similar) will fire my engines up quicker than someone telling me you cant be an electrician without NVQ3.................


sorry guys! lol, i will have to learn to think before i type! to be honest tho i was a bit nervous about posting on this thread just incase i was way out with everything else!

rich

hey Rich, i would rather someone chip in and use wrong terminolgy than not chip in at all

i will PM you tommorow with those 17th edtion dates

[sparkyork]

cheers matey :-)

[wayne]

mine is not the only opinion ,however its the one i value