My old shower( Triton Opal 9.5kw) has packed in, I have replaced it with a new (Triton Martinique 10.5kw), it works fine for a while and then stops, the switch in the fuse box turns off too, i noticed its got a 32a in the fusebox, is this correct?
electric shower upgrade from 9.5kw to 10.5kw
- Thread starter hmeah
- Start date
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32A would be ok for your old shower BUT not for your new one. The big problem is, WHAT SIZE CABLE DO YOU HAVE? Your old shower was probably on 6.00mm or even 4.00mm. Your new one needs 10.00mm as a minimum with a 45A MCB or RCBO, presuming you do not have RCD protection.
9500/230 = 41.3 Amps
10500/230 = 45.6 Amps
What size is your cable, that's your problem.
You have also completed electrical work in a bathroom by installing the new shower not matching the existing.
This is breaking the law and could be creating a danger to yourself and others.
If the wire is not the correct size (which I doubt it is as the circuit is protected by a B32) then you are lucky you have a B32 mcb that is tripping and not a FIRE.
10500/230 = 45.6 Amps
What size is your cable, that's your problem.
You have also completed electrical work in a bathroom by installing the new shower not matching the existing.
This is breaking the law and could be creating a danger to yourself and others.
If the wire is not the correct size (which I doubt it is as the circuit is protected by a B32) then you are lucky you have a B32 mcb that is tripping and not a FIRE.
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So you are also unsure about how the cable is run it could be between some nice flammable material.
Do yourself a favor and call in an electrician, the mcb tripping is your best friend at the moment.
i did get an electrician to install it, he said nothing about it, now its tripping, im calling him but phone switched off since yesterday!
I can see the wires behind the wall, its full of water pipes and bricks, no flammable materials...
If i changed the mcb downstairs to 45a, would it be okay, other then that i may take it back and get a 9.5kw, its what was installed...
I can see the wires behind the wall, its full of water pipes and bricks, no flammable materials...
If i changed the mcb downstairs to 45a, would it be okay, other then that i may take it back and get a 9.5kw, its what was installed...
Are you having a laugh? from the info you have supplied I doubt an Electrician installed a 10500w electric shower on a 32A MCB.
DO NOT PUT IN A 45A MCB - Get a qualified electrician to take a look at the circuit and complete remedial work as required.
No and no.
A 32A MCB is not suitable for the new shower.
It wasn't suitable for the old shower either.
Changing the MCB would require that the cable size, length and method of installation are known. Then there is the matter of whether an RCD is fitted, and whether the main protective bonding is the correct size (or even exists).
There are no DIY solutions to this mess.
Well Done Sir.
An electric shower is normally the highest demanding consumer in most households and it pays to ensure that this is installed correctly, can operate safely and disconnect the potential within the right time.
Hope you get it sorted and I hope we has assisted to prevent what could be a hazard.
Please post up an outcome once you get the circuit work completed.
Best Regards
An electric shower is normally the highest demanding consumer in most households and it pays to ensure that this is installed correctly, can operate safely and disconnect the potential within the right time.
Hope you get it sorted and I hope we has assisted to prevent what could be a hazard.
Please post up an outcome once you get the circuit work completed.
Best Regards
You need to use 240v in your calcs as the manufacturers are still pre 17th edn regs
(Okay, it is probably a sales ploy)
Your existing 32 A supply circuit is only good for 7.5 kW.
An MCB has a thermal element that allows extra current for a while and an electromagnetic element that trips immediately. The more extra current you have, the quicker the MCB trips. An MCB will only trip immediately if there is a short-circuit or similar fault (using electromagnetic element). (Lighting circuit MCBs sometimes trip when a light bulb blows as the current gets very high for a split second.)
A 32 A MCB might pass 40 A indefinitely and 45 A for between 1 and 20 minutes. The plastic cable insulation gets hotter and hotter. If a mistake was made during or since the installation (like loft insulation put against the cable), portions of the insulation could melt!
An MCB has a thermal element that allows extra current for a while and an electromagnetic element that trips immediately. The more extra current you have, the quicker the MCB trips. An MCB will only trip immediately if there is a short-circuit or similar fault (using electromagnetic element). (Lighting circuit MCBs sometimes trip when a light bulb blows as the current gets very high for a split second.)
A 32 A MCB might pass 40 A indefinitely and 45 A for between 1 and 20 minutes. The plastic cable insulation gets hotter and hotter. If a mistake was made during or since the installation (like loft insulation put against the cable), portions of the insulation could melt!
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