Bathroom Fan Heater

[POWERSUCTION]

Hi

I'm thinking of installing a fan heater in the bathroom. I have the option of getting either a 1kw or a 2kw. I currently already have 2 heaters in the house on there own circuit amounting to about 2kw in total.

Should I connect the bathroom heater, irrespective of which one I purchase, to the other two heaters circuit or connect it to the main ring.

Unfortunately, no instructions are given with the fan heater as to its connection.

Regards: Ryan

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Did you know that your older brother is trying to get you into trouble?

He's copied your question word for word, and is going around saying that it was his question all along, and you were the one that copied him!

I'd go and sort him out, if I were you

Install a fan heater in his Zone 0 - that'll teach him not to mess with you

For your bathroom (and don't tell him this):

1) Don't put a fan heater in Zone 0

2) Don't put a fan heater in Zone 1

3) If you put it in Zone 2, it must be rated IPx4 or better (see http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/DataSheets/IPNumbers.htm)

4) In Zone 3, or outside the zones, I don't think there are any restrictions other than normal wiring regs for fused spurs, as you can't have a socket. And I think 30mA RCD protection.
And take note of where the supply cable runs - it musn't pass through lower numbered zones to get to a higher one unless buried 50mm deep.

5) You should have a pull-cord switch to operate it, with the switch itself in Zone 3 or beyond.

6) Confirm all this with a qualified person, or satisfy yourself that it is correct - I'm just a reasonably knowledgeable amateur, and I don't know everything.


For info on what the zones are, see http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Book/7.2.2A.htm.

Also see http://amdea.org.uk/bath1.1.pdf, as it has diagrams showing the extents of the zones - easier to grasp than just the wordy descriptions.

Which circuit to use? Whichever one has capacity. What is the capacity of your dedicated heating circuit? (Why do you have a dedicated heating circuit anyway? - is it a ring?). If they both have capacity, I guess for consistency you should put it on the heating one.

Finally 1kW v 2kW - no idea really, you should consult a proper H&V engineer, or trawl the internet, but my gut feel is that 1kW should be enough for a small to medium bathroom, unless you want it to become a sauna.