I'm posting this here as I feel it is more electrical related than plumbing.
I'm half way through my bathroom refurbish - and having spoken with a knowledgeable work colleague, I'm now in a quandary about my shower.
We bought the house about 6 years ago. The current shower was installed at the previous owners instruction - I don't know when.
The current shower is a "Scalemaster Softline SL80", which from their website (scalemaster.co.UK) appears to be 8.5kW.
I'm no expert, but looking at the current connected cable I would say it is 6mm².
Also, our fuse box has NO RCD's. The shower fuse is the one on the far left. I haven't pulled it yet so I don't know if it's rewirable or cartridge. I'm guessing it's 30Amp.
Now, here is the dilemma - the new bath is L shaped. To centralise the shower head will mean moving it across about 4 inches from its current location. Which will require moving the control unit and it's associated feeds.
If I'm going to have to move the pipe and cable slightly, then maybe I should consider a new shower at the same time (before I tile it all up).
My colleague has recommended I change to a power shower, and now I'm totally confused as to which way to turn...
So I'm left with 4 options.
#1 - just put the existing shower back, just moved over a few inches.
Not really happy with this due to the discovery on the electrics - pushing the wire and the fuse to the max with no RCD.
#2 - replacing with a lower rated shower, 7.5kW?
We have quite high water pressure and I'm worried 7.5kW won't be man enough.
#3 - get the wire replaced with 10mm².
Not really an option as we're getting into the "complete rewire" area, I don't have the money!
#4 - power shower. Replace the 6mm² with a 1.5mm²? 13Amp cable spurred off of an existing 13Amp circuit.
My colleague thinks this is OK to DIY, but I'm certain this requires part P (whereas simply replacing like for like does not).
If I go this route I WILL get an electrician in to be safe.
The problem with this (and at least I have access to the wall and the floor right now) is that I will need to cap the mains water feed and run new gravity feeds from the hot and cold supply.
So based on the above, what do you guys recommend?
I'm half way through my bathroom refurbish - and having spoken with a knowledgeable work colleague, I'm now in a quandary about my shower.
We bought the house about 6 years ago. The current shower was installed at the previous owners instruction - I don't know when.
The current shower is a "Scalemaster Softline SL80", which from their website (scalemaster.co.UK) appears to be 8.5kW.
I'm no expert, but looking at the current connected cable I would say it is 6mm².
Also, our fuse box has NO RCD's. The shower fuse is the one on the far left. I haven't pulled it yet so I don't know if it's rewirable or cartridge. I'm guessing it's 30Amp.
Now, here is the dilemma - the new bath is L shaped. To centralise the shower head will mean moving it across about 4 inches from its current location. Which will require moving the control unit and it's associated feeds.
If I'm going to have to move the pipe and cable slightly, then maybe I should consider a new shower at the same time (before I tile it all up).
My colleague has recommended I change to a power shower, and now I'm totally confused as to which way to turn...
So I'm left with 4 options.
#1 - just put the existing shower back, just moved over a few inches.
Not really happy with this due to the discovery on the electrics - pushing the wire and the fuse to the max with no RCD.
#2 - replacing with a lower rated shower, 7.5kW?
We have quite high water pressure and I'm worried 7.5kW won't be man enough.
#3 - get the wire replaced with 10mm².
Not really an option as we're getting into the "complete rewire" area, I don't have the money!
#4 - power shower. Replace the 6mm² with a 1.5mm²? 13Amp cable spurred off of an existing 13Amp circuit.
My colleague thinks this is OK to DIY, but I'm certain this requires part P (whereas simply replacing like for like does not).
If I go this route I WILL get an electrician in to be safe.
The problem with this (and at least I have access to the wall and the floor right now) is that I will need to cap the mains water feed and run new gravity feeds from the hot and cold supply.
So based on the above, what do you guys recommend?