Shower Woes... keeps tripping trip switch

[ban-all-sheds]

I'm suprised that no one has yet asked what make and style your fuse box is.

Or whether it's an RCD or MCB that's tripping...

.
.
.

 

[bongos]

I have a 8.5KW shower on a 40A MCB supplied by 6mm cable but it is clipped direct and there is no insulation involved anywhere. You might find that it is ok to have the MCB upgraded if the problem is simply that it keeps tripping due to too much current being drawn (if it is the MCB not RCD). But this will depend on the installation methods for the cable and confirming the CSA of the cable (if it's 10mm then this will be much less of a problem).

You mention that you always use the shower on the highest setting - is there also a temperature setting switch as well? If you are finding that this is turned higher now (because the water entering your house is colder and so will require a greater current to heat it) it could be that this is causing the nuisance tripping that you are suffering (still presuming it is the MCB tripping).

 

[Ste7en]

Hi.

Well, we have had the electrician out to have a look at it and he checked the fusebox, light pull and shower.

He found a mess of cable behind the wall to the shower. Rather than cut it back when installed the cable had been folded and folded and folded and then rammed back into the wall.

The cable was a bit worn and some bare wire was exposed.

He chopped all the cable back and tidied it all up and it 'seems' to be working fine now.

BTW it was the RCD that was tripping.