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drunkenengineer · 29 Nov 2006

I currently have a Gainsborough RE600 shower (rating unknown) and intend replacing it with a Triton 9.5kW shower. The cable is 4mm.
Is this a problem? I think the RE600 is 9.5 but am not sure.
By the way, I'm a clanky type, not a greeny!

Steve · 29 Nov 2006

4mm²?????

Do me a favour. Open the shower switch up with the power off, and tell me what you see.

50p says its full of melted plastic and the switch no longer operates. If it isn't you've been very lucky indeed.

Dont use the shower again until you've replaced it with at least 6mm². However, since you're replacing the cable, you might as well go for 10mm².

4mm² will carry 37A IIRC, if run in free space. Your shower is 41 amps (ish)

scousespark · 29 Nov 2006

the RE600 is 8.5Kw, so 4mm is okay but you need to upgrade for a 9.5Kw shower. As crafy said, 10mm should be okay - unless you have a long run or the cable is affected by external factors (eg run through insulation)

drunkenengineer · 30 Nov 2006

Thanks to both
Didn't know the RE600 is 8.5 (lost the paperwork). Ill get a new cable run in.
Crafty, 50p please.
DE

WF100 · 9 Aug 2007

Crafty said:
4mm²?????

Do me a favour. Open the shower switch up with the power off, and tell me what you see.

50p says its full of melted plastic and the switch no longer operates. If it isn't you've been very lucky indeed.

Dont use the shower again until you've replaced it with at least 6mm². However, since you're replacing the cable, you might as well go for 10mm².

4mm² will carry 37A IIRC, if run in free space. Your shower is 41 amps (ish)

Hi Guys, I am not an electrician, but doesn't the current draw go up as the voltage goes down? i.e. if the voltage dropped to say 220V(I have seen this many times) the cable will need to carry nearly 39 amps.
So I am assuming that 4mm should not really be used???
Any thoughts????

Adam_151 · 9 Aug 2007

WF100 said:
Hi Guys, I am not an electrician, but doesn't the current draw go up as the voltage goes down? i.e. if the voltage dropped to say 220V(I have seen this many times) the cable will need to carry nearly 39 amps.

if the voltage goes down, then you need to increase the current *in order to maintain a constant power* (Power = Voltage x current), in a resistive load this doesn't happen, the current actually reduces as well (Current = voltage / Resistance),

9.5kw shower on 240v will take 9500/240 = 39.58A and has a resistance of 240/39.58 = 6.06 ohms

Put the same shower on 230v and the resistance is still 6.06 (its about the only thing thats constant-ish here), which means it'll draw 230/6.06 = 37.95 Amps, which gives it a power of 37.95 x 230 = 8.73kw (the change in power is in proportion the the change in voltage squared - [ P=V²/R])

Regardless of which, neither 4mm² nor WF100 would do! (I wouldn't put it past some though!)

FatGit · 9 Aug 2007

I remember once being told by a drip that they always use 6mm2 cable on a shower as it is easier to work with

He tried to use it on mine until I said he was putting in 10mm2 and I watched him do it.

CallEdsFirst · 9 Aug 2007

Adam_151 said:
neither 4mm² nor WF100 would do! (I wouldn't put it past some though!)

Wasn't there a picture not so long ago of a socket wired in coax????

bernardgreen · 9 Aug 2007

Or bind the cable to the cold water pipe, cools the cable and pre-heats the water......

That is a JOKE..... DO NOT do it.

SUNRAY · 29 Jul 2009

bernardgreen said:
Or bind the cable to the cold water pipe, cools the cable and pre-heats the water......

That is a JOKE..... DO NOT do it.

Sadly seen it done and frequently

Also seen cable run INSIDE the water pipe to a shower

securespark · 29 Jul 2009

CallEdsFirst said:
Adam_151 said:

neither 4mm² nor WF100 would do! (I wouldn't put it past some though!)

Click to expand...

Wasn't there a picture not so long ago of a socket wired in coax????

Might've been mine...

Goldberg · 29 Jul 2009

SUNRAY said:
bernardgreen said:

Or bind the cable to the cold water pipe, cools the cable and pre-heats the water......

That is a JOKE..... DO NOT do it.

Click to expand...

Sadly seen it done and frequently

I think you haven't.

SUNRAY said:
Also seen cable run INSIDE the water pipe to a shower

I'm sure you haven't.

ban-all-sheds · 29 Jul 2009

SUNRAY said:
Also seen cable run INSIDE the water pipe to a shower

How would that work?

Goldberg · 29 Jul 2009

SUNRAY

from United Kingdom

Joined: 28 Jul 2009 just to wind people up
Posts: 1 useless contribution
Location: Kent,
United Kingdom

ban-all-sheds · 29 Jul 2009

Ah - that's a difference between you and I.

I see absolutely no point in mincing around with euphemisms - the meaning is clear and doesn't change, so what's the point in putting lipstick on a pig? Use the L word....

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