Heated Towel Rail - Likely MCB required

[WabbitPoo]

Just moved house and am checking out which circuits are which.

I have a 40A mcb to which is connected just the heated towel rail (it is both elec and CH) and the shower pump (an Aqualisa Quartz Digital which is wired to a 3A isolator in the loft)

My question is, would a heated towel raill really need 40A protection, or should I get that changed to something smaller? And if so, what?

TIA

 

[sparkwright]

I would expect there to be a switched fused spur somewhere for the towel rail.

Is there one? I would expect a 3 or 5 amp fuse to be in it.

What size cable feeds the towel rail switch (if there is one) and the pump switch?

 

[WabbitPoo]

Not sure on either. Will take a look when I can. Thanks a lot

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

My question is, would a heated towel raill really need 40A protection, or should I get that changed to something smaller? And if so, what?

The standard dual water/electric towel rail generally have a 150W heating element so only drawing about 0.65A.
The MCBs be design are there to offer a satisfactory load for the demand required, but is also a safety device that requires rating correctly against the cable size.
I assume that at one time an electric shower has used and now been removed, so the cable/circuit was then moved over for use on the towel rail.
There should be a fused connection unit attached to the flex that is connected to the element on the towel rail.

 

[Taylortwocities]

The supply to the towel rail should also be RCD protected. Is it?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

The supply to the towel rail should also be RCD protected. Is it?

Would that not depend on when it was installed?

 

[WabbitPoo]

The supply to the towel rail should also be RCD protected. Is it?

It is on the RCD side of the CU, if that is what you mean.....

 

[kai]

The safest thing to do is to downrate that breaker to a B6, well sufficient to power a towel rail etc. If its a Wylex board, breakers are readily available from good electrical stockists.