givemethebighammer
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 06:17 PM |
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Electric Shower advice needed please
I am about to fit and electric shower (well I'll put the thing in and plumb it, I'll get and electrician to wire the thing in).
However I am unsure of which rating (kW) to go for. Logic tells me to fit the highest rated unit the distribution board in the house will take. My
thinking is that the high rated unit will heat the water faster thus not reducing the flow of water too much.
So........
The distribution board is as follows:
MEM MEMERA 21
Marked total loading not to exceed 100A
Top ways=" spare;5A;5A;16A;32A"
these feed the cooker, lights, boiler etc
Bottom ways="spare;spare;32A;32A;32A;32A"
these feed the garage, and house sockets.
The main fuse is marked:
ln = 80A
l$%$^ (something I could not make out) = 30mA
Un = 240v
I intend to buy the unit from screwfix, just now sure if 8.5kW, 9.5kW or 10.5kW is suitable.
any advice gratefully received.
thanks
[Edited on 26/2/05 by givemethebighammer]
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Hellfire
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 06:26 PM |
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Get the largest KW you can - you wont regret it.
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Avoneer
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 06:27 PM |
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9.5kw will do the job on a 40A fuse in one of the spare slots and use 10mm cable from the distribution box to the shower. Make sure you plumb in a
non-return valve before the cold water enters the shower.
Pat...
No trees were killed in the sending of this message.
However a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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JoelP
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 06:27 PM |
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note - im not qualified.
but, you do want the highest rating possible. 10.5kw would be a blinding shower! p=va so 10500 = 240x A, or about 40amps. SO it needs a 45 amp breaker
or maybe higher. Also 10mm cable i believe.
This takes the total potential output well beyond the circuit board max, but im not sure if this matter - all that happens is the breaker will trip.
However, the 80A house rating will probably be a problem. Might be worth checking with the local electric board about a new fuse/ maximum possible
rating.
i regularily buy an 8.5kw shower from a local trade centre for about £35. Slightly better are the gainsbrough ones, should be about 50 for the 8kw
one. How much are screwfix prices? 
one point worth mentioning, is that household central heating boilers are often 24 or 28kw rating - plus cheaper fuel. So it is possible that a normal
mixer shower using hot water would be better. You would probably need to use a pump then...
[Edited on 26/2/05 by JoelP]
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givemethebighammer
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 06:28 PM |
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exactly my thinking, just need to know exactly how high I can go.
everyone beat me to it....
screwfix (gainsborough) are from £57 (8.5kW) upwards.
So are we saying the board will take the 9.5kW unit or is this pushing it ?. Sounds like 10.5kW is out of the question.
thanks
[Edited on 26/2/05 by givemethebighammer]
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dave1888
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 06:33 PM |
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A 40amp MCB should be adaquate for most showers remember you need to run a minimum of 10mm twin & earth cable from your fusebox to shower also fit
an isolation switch near the shower but not in the bathroom (usually fitted outside beside bathroom door)
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ReMan
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 06:38 PM |
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I see no mention of a bathroom in your posting.
are you building a car wash now?
The bigger the better. If the consumer unit is`nt up to it the electrician will fit a fused tap specially for the shower I believe.
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wilkingj
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 06:42 PM |
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Please bear in mind that the LAW changed on 1st Jan 2005.
ALL electrical work in your home needs to be done by a qualified person.
I am not sure if you can run the cables, but the work has to be tested and certificated by a Ticketed Electrician.
Its just gone a bit simmilar to Gas and Corgi registerd fitters.
Please have a read up on the new regs..
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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JoelP
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 06:45 PM |
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i think he knows about that cos he mentions getting a sparky in
also, i found that most sparkys wont stand for you laying your own cables, cos they still have to sign it off - if they cant inspect the full length
for cuts, or correct instalation, they wont sign it.
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givemethebighammer
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 06:49 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by ReMan
I see no mention of a bathroom in your posting.
are you building a car wash now?
Nope definately in the bathroom,Ive finished the car so now I have to do all the stuff I promised the wife I'd do whilst I was building it
!!!
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Peteff
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 06:58 PM |
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I fitted a Gainsborugh SV800 last year. It's a 9.5kw unit and was the best I could use with the existing wiring. We are very pleased with it
and have never needed to use it on its highest setting.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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907
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 07:16 PM |
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Hi,
I think that over 10 kw you need wire that's bigger than cooker wire
(sorry, don't know the amps).
I had to take a 10.5 back and swop it for a 9.5
I think Pete's got it right.
Paul G
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JoelP
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 07:27 PM |
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single ovens use 2.5 cable, doubles 6mm (big range ones might need 10mm though), i think that 10mm is rated to 45 amps. should be ok....
myself, when i do the bathroom (if im allowed after the fiasco with the kitchen!!!) im gonna get one of those saucer sized overhead showerheads! and
run it off the combi with a pump. maybe uprate the boiler too if necessary as its getting a bit old. cos ive already got an electric hob and its
getting a bit much for the old board.
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lewis635
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 07:39 PM |
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I fitted a 8.5Kw Shower just after christmas using a 40A MCB and 6mm Cable which is rated to 45A IIRC.
I believe the power consumption is constant and the temperature of the water is governed by the flow across the element. Like stated previously there
must be a switch fitted-out of reach from the user. and the shower head must not be allowed to hang into the waste water. B&Q and Screwfix have
lots of usefull info on there sites. HTH
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Wadders
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 08:08 PM |
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no your not Joel, pumps are for tanked water only.
im gonna get one of those saucer sized overhead showerheads! and run it off the combi with a pump.
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JoelP
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 08:10 PM |
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well thats a good start!
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MikeR
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 09:20 PM |
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Woooaaaahhhhhh
slow down boyo....... don't make the mistake i made!
Before you decide to get the most powerful shower on the market you need to figure out how much flow you have! I made the mistake of getting hte
biggest shower i could. In winter its great but in summer the combination of not fantastic flow & warm water means it is almost unusable its so
hot. Even on the lowest setting as it can't flow enough water to run the cool temperature hence it runs damned hot!
i've got 9.5kw, 40 amp breaker, 10mm cable and the lights dim when its turned on (installed by a qualified electrician and checked by another -
cause i was worried by the dimming lights!)
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givemethebighammer
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 10:15 PM |
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thanks everyone, I think the 9.5kW is the one to go for. However I'm going to check with the electrician before I buy anything. Thanks for the
advice on flow Mike, however our mains pressure could be described as "too high" at the best of times (you know, the turn the tap on, soak
your trousers scenario), so should not be an issue.
thanks
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Hellfire
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 10:39 PM |
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So - regarding the Jan 2005 Law... is that all wiring? I'm not a qualified electrician either so does that mean I can't take a spur off or
anything? How f*cking ridiculous!!! I've seen some work that so called qualified electricians take together with plumbers and I'd be
dismayed if I'd have done it. So now all the library shelves are vacant of the DIY Electrical books are they? This government.. honestly, they
can kiss my vote goodbye!!!!
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JoelP
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| posted on 27/2/05 at 12:02 AM |
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it just encourages a bit of paranoia, everyone doing it making super sure that nothing can go wrong. if you're careful and know what
you're doing its ok in my books. Certainly removal and repairs. New installations are a bit more risky.
seeing some recent wiring at a job convinced me it is probably a good law!
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clbarclay
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| posted on 27/2/05 at 12:37 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
This government.. honestly, they can kiss my vote goodbye!!!!
I know what you mean, I'm thinking of voting tory just to get the current lot out.
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Hellfire
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| posted on 27/2/05 at 11:39 AM |
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I think this requires a further poll/topic.... should be a busy one That's why I'm not starting it!!!
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Hellfire
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| posted on 27/2/05 at 11:40 AM |
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Although I'm p!ssed off with Labour.. I'm not voting Tory!
LD prolly get my vote...
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