Electric shower cable too short

[CrazeUK]

Hi guys.

I am putting an electric shower in but getting someone qualified to do the electrics either side.

I am just feeding the wire through from one end to the other.

The problem is, I bought a 15m role of 10mm. I have put the wire through the loft and it's just enough, but not left enough slack to cut the wire for the isolater switch to the shower.

Can this be spliced with a connector to add more cable?
If so, what type do I need?

Thanks

 

[Adam_151]

Pull it back from the shower position to the isolator, then put new section between isolator and shower, no point introducing unneccessary joints on a brand new circuit

 

[winston1]

Hi guys.

I am putting an electric shower in but getting someone qualified to do the electrics either side.

I am just feeding the wire through from one end to the other.

The problem is, I bought a 15m role of 10mm. I have put the wire through the loft and it's just enough, but not left enough slack to cut the wire for the isolater switch to the shower.

Can this be spliced with a connector to add more cable?
If so, what type do I need?

Thanks

Buy a 25m roll. Do you actually need 10mm? 6mm is enough for most showers.

 

[bernardgreen]

Buy a 25m roll. Do you actually need 10mm

Did you miss this part of the original post......

The problem is, I bought a 15m role of 10mm

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I am putting an electric shower in but getting someone qualified to do the electrics either side.

Did that qualified person tell you what cable size and route to use?

 

[CrazeUK]

Hi all. Thanks for your responses.

Pull it back from the shower position to the isolator, then put new section between isolator and shower, no point introducing unneccessary joints on a brand new circuit

Unfortunately the area where the shower will be has already been plastered and tiled. So won't be able to pull through.

Buy a 25m roll. Do you actually need 10mm? 6mm is enough for most showers.

The electrician said 10mm because it's an 10.5kw shower and the length of the run.

Did that qualified person tell you what cable size and route to use?

Hi yes. He came and checked. .

----------------
I guess the only option I can think of is putting a connector add a length of cable.

It seems like making a join in a new circuit is not a good thing, any reason why?

 

[crystal ball]

As long as the join is made correctly and is accessible (if required) no problem at all

 

[CrazeUK]

As long as the join is made correctly and is accessible (if required) no problem at all

Hey thanks for that. I can certainly make it accessible, it will be in the loft. But what is correctly? What sort of connector?

Thanks

 

[bernardgreen]

Can you tweak the cable from the consumer unit to the switch location to give enugh cable for the connection to the switch. Then add the connector and extra cable at or close to the consumer unit where it can be easily inspected.

Heat and / or smell from a failing connector in a loft or attic can go un-noticed and then it might easily become hot enough to create a risk of fire.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Unfortunately the area where the shower will be has already been plastered and tiled. So won't be able to pull through.

Did he come and inspect the installation of the cable before it was covered over?

But what is correctly? What sort of connector?

Your electrician is the only person who can legitimately answer that for you.


The reason I'm asking these questions, and making these points, is that this is notifiable work - it needs Building Regulations approval.

If you do it, then you needed to apply for approval before you start, which would have involved you explaining how you would comply with all the relevant Building Regulations. I'm guessing that you didn't take this route.

So what's left is using a registered electrician who will notify the work after the event via his registration scheme. The law requires him to declare that the work he did complied with the Building Regulations. So is he prepared to say that when he didn't actually do it all?

Plus, best practice and the requirements of his scheme membership mean that he has to sign an Electrical Installation Certificate:

I being the person responsible for the design, construction, inspection & testing of the electrical installation (as indicated by my signature below), particulars of which are described above, having exercised reasonable skill and care when carrying out the design, construction, inspection & testing hereby CERTIFY that the said work for which I have been responsible is to the best of my knowledge and belief in accordance with BS 7671:2008, amended to 2015 except for the departures, if any, detailed as follows:​

Here the parts I've highlighted are an issue. Choosing the cable type and size is Design. Choosing the route is Design. Choosing any junction box is Design. Being "responsible" for construction means, at least, telling you exactly where and how to install the cable, and supervising and checking that you did it as instructed (hence "Did he come and inspect the installation of the cable before it was covered over?").

Is he prepared to sign an EIC?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Can you tweak the cable from the consumer unit to the switch location to give enugh cable for the connection to the switch. Then add the connector and extra cable at or close to the consumer unit where it can be easily inspected.

It's not that cable which is the problem.

It's the cable from shower to switch which is too short, and he has plastered and tiled over that.

 

[333rocky333]

Remove from the Cu and it will reach the switch, then replace from the switch to the Cu with a new bit, for the sake of less than 10 metres its not worth joining

 

[333rocky333]

It's not that cable which is the problem.

It's the cable from shower to switch which is too short, and he has plastered and tiled over that.

I had not realised he had cut it yet, and its currently 1 length from shower to Cu

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Sorry - re-reading Craze's posts I think you're right.

 

[winston1]

Did you miss this part of the original post......

Of course not. If 15 m is too short, it makes sense to buy 25m.