Can I have a shower?

[mte29]

Hi i want to get a shower installed in my flat. There is space in my Consumer Unit which has an RCD. The RCD in the CU is rated at 63A and i already have on it a 40A cooker, and 2 x 32A socket circuits. Will installing a shower be two much?

Thanks

 

[rebuke]

It depends what the expected load is, and what the suppliers cutout is - both for whether the RCD is useable, and whether the supply is up to an electric shower.

If the RCD won't take it, then if it's a new enough CU an electrician (I'm assuming you're not intending to this yourself?) can probably find a suitable RCBO (RCD and MCB combined) and fit that to the unprotected side.

 

[mte29]

Thanks for your reply rebuke. The shower i have seen is 10.5kw (i want a decent one as going to lose my bath to fit in new cubicle).
The main switch is rated at 80A and only has 2 x 6a lighting circuits on.

In your opinion will this shower be to much, don't want to buy it if electrician then cannot wire it in.

 

[Chri5]

Should be an issue, the main fuse at 63a can handle + 50% for short periods.

How often do you think you'd take an extended shower, while using every ring and oven on the cooker (at the same time).

 

[seco services]

The shower i have seen is 10.5kw (i want a decent one as going to lose my bath to fit in new cubicle).

as you say you live in a flat i take it you are going to get your water pressure checked if you plan on having a 10.5kw shower.
or worry about that when you find it don't get hot ?

 

[mte29]

I am going to show the plumber the shower before i buy it so i imagine he will sort that.

 

[mrskiles]

Are you sure an electric shower is right for you? Does your flat have hot and cold water tanks? If so then you would be better with a Power shower, they are much better then the electric showers and the power consumption would be alot less.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

going to lose my bath to fit in new cubicle.

Why not put the shower over the bath?

 

[Goldberg]

as you say you live in a flat i take it you are going to get your water pressure checked if you plan on having a 10.5kw shower.
or worry about that when you find it don't get hot ?

Did you mean when he finds that it gets too hot?

 

[Goldberg]

... Power shower, they are much better then the electric showers and the power consumption would be alot less.

Would he shower for less time, or at a lower temperature?

If not, then why would the power consumed be a lot less?

 

[seco services]

as you say you live in a flat i take it you are going to get your water pressure checked if you plan on having a 10.5kw shower.
or worry about that when you find it don't get hot ?

Did you mean when he finds that it gets too hot?

thats if he's got the pressure to even raise the pressure switch in peak times

 

[Goldberg]