power shower supply from light switch?

gactorsinger · 29 Jun 2006

i have installed a power shower which only requires a 3amp fused switch.
can i run this supply from the light switch to a fused switch box or do i need to take supply from a socket.
many thanks in anticipation of the children getting a hot shower rather than an electrocuted dad

gary

ban-all-sheds · 29 Jun 2006

1) It really really really should be powered from a socket circuit via an FCU.

2) There is a very good chance that there will not be a neutral at your light switch anyway.

3) Are you aware of Part P of the Building Regulations, and what it says?

gactorsinger · 29 Jun 2006

thanks for that, i did check and there is a neutral, it also feeds a fan in the bathroom,
however there is no point trying to make life easy for myself if its not allowed....
that being said can i therefore take a spur from a socket to a fused box and then from there to the shower??
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

gary

ban-all-sheds · 29 Jun 2006

gactorsinger said:
thanks for that, i did check and there is a neutral, it also feeds a fan in the bathroom,

Wonder why they didn't take the fan supply straight from the light. Is yours a fairly new house? Do all the switches have neutrals at them?

that being said can i therefore take a spur from a socket to a fused box and then from there to the shower??

Yes.

http://www.niceic.org.uk/downloads/NL139supp.pdf

gactorsinger · 29 Jun 2006

yes, sorry should have mentioned that, house is only year old, and paid a fortune and only got one power shower in en suite and not main bathroom, so thought i would attempt this bit myself, no problem with the plumbing but a bit put off with having to try and feed cable up through walls and the like.

assuming i can gain access to the attic easily enough, is that my best route for cable and should it be 2.5 twin and earth.
thanks gary

ban-all-sheds · 29 Jun 2006

Yup - 2.5mm² T/E.

But is there a socket circuit in the loft?

gactorsinger · 30 Jun 2006

no circuit in attic.
was going to take spur from socket in wall, feed cable up to attic and then back down to switched fuse box or use a pull cord and feed it straight to that....?
why do i feel your going to tell me not to do that!!

ban-all-sheds · 30 Jun 2006

No access under the floors?

No way to go straight through the wall from a socket to an FCU near to where the pump will be?

Don't go straight to a pull-switch BTW as you need an FCU, which if you can get it into the bathroom will avoid the need for a pull-switch.

With your suggested route the best thing wold be to put the FCU on the socket circuit, next to the socket in question, rather than spurring off it, and then go up to the loft etc with the load cable from the FCU.

Don't forget to observe the rules for cables concealed in walls:

http://www.niceic.org.uk/downloads/C5-43.pdf

http://www.niceic.org.uk/downloads/concealedcables.pdf

IEE article on concealed cables

gactorsinger · 30 Jun 2006

many thanks for all your hard earned information. i am assuming by fcu you mean "fused circuit unit"...
i will indeed do as you say and have read all info you have supplied.
if i post a reply to say thanks you'll know i have survived ok..
regards Gary

ban-all-sheds · 30 Jun 2006

Fused Connection Unit, aka Fused Spur

If possible, connect it directly to a socket circuit like this:

rather than branched off from a junction box or socket like this:

towman · 30 Jun 2006

ban-all-sheds said:
3) Are you aware of Part P of the Building Regulations, and what it says?

Good point, but last time I looked Fife was in Scotland - and Part P doesn't apply there

ban-all-sheds · 30 Jun 2006

Belle427 · 30 Jun 2006

towman said:
ban-all-sheds said:

3) Are you aware of Part P of the Building Regulations, and what it says?

Click to expand...

Good point, but last time I looked Fife was in Scotland - and Part P doesn't apply there

priceless!

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power shower supply from light switch?

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