I'm replacing an electric shower for a customer and as usual my quote said I would only connect it if the wiring was suitable.
The old shower was 8.5kw and had been working well for years (but the on/off switch was faulty so it had to be replaced).
When I come to do the job I find the supply cable is just 4mm. Fuse is 32A
New shower is 7.5kw and draws exactly 32A
The cable is about 10m to the fuse box and where I can see it it is clipped direct.
I'm obviously unhappy to connect to a 4mm cable (and I won't) and tell the customer that the wiring is inadequate and will have to be changed.
They understand completely (apparently the original sparky didn't have a wonderful reputation).
But. The regs (7671 table 4D5A) say a 4mm clipped direct cable is ok for 37A.
So what exactly are my grounds for replacing the cable (apart from the fact i can't see the whole run)?
The old shower was 8.5kw and had been working well for years (but the on/off switch was faulty so it had to be replaced).
When I come to do the job I find the supply cable is just 4mm. Fuse is 32A
New shower is 7.5kw and draws exactly 32A
The cable is about 10m to the fuse box and where I can see it it is clipped direct.
I'm obviously unhappy to connect to a 4mm cable (and I won't) and tell the customer that the wiring is inadequate and will have to be changed.
They understand completely (apparently the original sparky didn't have a wonderful reputation).
But. The regs (7671 table 4D5A) say a 4mm clipped direct cable is ok for 37A.
So what exactly are my grounds for replacing the cable (apart from the fact i can't see the whole run)?