I need help with an electric shower wire which is too short

[Umarhafiz]

We had our bathroom renovated about 10 years ago and the original builder had left the shower wire too short and i didnt bother to get it fixed right away as we had another shower in the new loft extension done by the same builder around the same time. A few years go by and i then decided to ask someone to have a look and suprisingly no one had a simple answer i dont know if the electricians in my area are no good or it genuinely is a difficult or risky thing to do. to this day i have not found anyone who wants to do it so i have come here to get a better idea of what i could do or what is the best option. The bathroom has been tiled and there is a bath tub under where the shower is meant to be. Sorry if ive not given enough information im not very clued up when it comes to bathroom wiring or any wiring really.

 

[Umarhafiz]

Seems to be clipped in and dont see any other places it can clip into if needed to move

 

[Umarhafiz]

I was thinking what about cutting out the black plastic just below where the wires need to be inserted?

 

[littlespark]

I was thinking what about cutting out the black plastic just below where the wires need to be inserted?

I was just about to suggest that. It doesn’t affect the ip rating of the shower, the physical strength or a fixing hole.

It might though, cause an issue with any warranty claim in the future as it may be seen as unauthorised modification.

 

[Umarhafiz]

I was just about to suggest that. It doesn’t affect the ip rating of the shower, the physical strength or a fixing hole.

It might though, cause an issue with any warranty claim in the future as it may be seen as unauthorised modification.

Oh i dont care about warranty and i dont think it is still even under warranty as ive had the shower in storage for 10 years ?

 

[Umarhafiz]

Oh i dont care about warranty and i dont think it is still even under warranty as ive had the shower in storage for 10 years ?

And pretty sure was only 2 year warranty

 

[timhoward]

I agree with @littlespark. The shower will be about 45mm lower than the photo by the time the elbow is rotated and in place. If you trim a little plastic away on the left hand side I reckon you'll be ok.
If you are very close, you could consider putting 10mm bootlace long barrel ferules on the end which will give you an extra cm.

 

[Umarhafiz]

I agree with @littlespark. The shower will be about 45mm lower than the photo by the time the elbow is rotated and in place. If you trim a little plastic away on the left hand side I reckon you'll be ok.
If you are very close, you could consider putting 10mm bootlace long barrel ferules on the end which will give you an extra cm.

Lads thanks so much for all your help. I think cutting the plastic away will work i will update you on progress as i am trying to find my angle grinder to cut a chanel for the wire wish me luck

 

[timhoward]

Lads thanks so much for all your help. I think cutting the plastic away will work i will update you on progress as i am trying to find my angle grinder to cut a chanel for the wire wish me luck

Just don't cut through the wire now!!!

 

[littlespark]

Angle grinder???

junior hacksaw would do... or a Dremel?

 

[Umarhafiz]

Angle grinder???

junior hacksaw would do... or a Dremel?

I meant for the tile ?

 

[Umarhafiz]

Just don't cut through the wire now!!!

I think i have done a pretty good job and the look on the family's face when all that did it was a hole in the plastic

 

[Umarhafiz]

 

[Umarhafiz]

Only thing is i think the earth wire is a tiny bit too short what should i do?

 

[timhoward]

Only thing is i think the earth wire is a tiny bit too short what should i do?

Would making your hole twice as big, extending below it, give you any more length?
EDIT checked earlier photo, don't think it will

 

[littlespark]

4mm crimp on the end make long enough?
Crimp lug with a hole

 

[timhoward]

Only thing is i think the earth wire is a tiny bit too short what should i do?

I'd get shower on wall, water connected, two wires connected and then see where you are.
Might be one bootlace crimp on end, or lug crimp, might be need to crimp on a bit more wire.

 

[brianmoooore]

The earth stud is almost certainly just an anchoring point for the two wires connected to it, so I'd remove it from the shower, crimp a ring terminal onto the incoming 4mm earth wire, then bolt all three earth wires together with the stud, and leave them in free space.
May be a good idea to swap over the blue and brown at the top of the connection block, rather than try to cross over the incoming wires. Remove any printed 'L' and 'N' by the block.

 

[Umarhafiz]

The earth stud is almost certainly just an anchoring point for the two wires connected to it, so I'd remove it from the shower, crimp a ring terminal onto the incoming 4mm earth wire, then bolt all three earth wires together with the stud, and leave them in free space.

Ok that makes sense

 

[pc1966]

Maybe too late, but if you do need to use one of the "yellow" crimps for the earth then please, PLEASE, get a proper ratchet tool. They vary a lot in price, but even the cheap ones such as this are infinitely better than the horrible pliers-like ones that come with a kit of terminals. Most importantly, by time you have crimped far enough to release the ratchet then you can be reasonably[*] sure the crimp is tight:

Minotaur Ratchet Crimping Tool

Tightly join two electrical wires using this latching crimping tool from Minotaur. It works by heavily compressing the materials to create a permanent bond. You can take your pick from three different settings, each designed for use with cables ranging from 0.5 mm² to 6 mm² in diameter. This...

www.toolstation.com

Here are examples of the matching range of crimps, you would need to check the stud size to get the appropriate hole:

Yellow Electrical & Wire Connectors | Electrical Supplies & Accessories | Toolstation.com

UK’s best range of Yellow Electrical & Wire Connectors. Free Next Day Delivery or Click & Collect in as little as 5 minutes.

www.toolstation.com

I suspect the stud is M5 but you never know...

* = For a given definition of "reasonable". Of course for some industries and some applications you have to be very specific about the quality of tool and having the correct crimps for a given type of cable, temperature range, etc. But for most jobs the above are fine.

 

[Umarhafiz]

Does anyone know an electrician in manchester to wire the shower up at the fuseboard and to do testing?