Decomissioning of shower circuit

[Need Help21]

Dear All,

I have an existing electrical circuit feeding an existing electric shower in a bathroom that I wish to decommission.

The existing installation complete with the shower circuit was signed off last year by an electrican to 16th edition regs.

The electric shower circuit is fed from the Consumer Unit via an RCD protected MCB. There is a 6mm old colour cable run from the Consumer Unit into the loft where it terminated into a Junction Box. There is then a new colour cable from the Junction Box to an isolator switch and then down the bathroom wall into the shower unit.

Please advise on the most appropriate method of decommissioning the circuit as a DIYer. If legal, as a DIYer I would like to remove the complete circuit including the cable into the Consumer Unit and removal and blanking off of the MCB.

Many Thanks





Need Help21

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[Need Help21]

As a DIYer, am I allowed to open the Consumer Unit to disconnect the cable from the MCB

 

[SparkyNinja]

As a DIYer, am I allowed to open the Consumer Unit to disconnect the cable from the MCB

Yes, assuming this is your property you are talking about.

Please observe any warnings on the CU, things like 'Switch off at main switch before removing this cover'. If there isn't a label on there like that, pretend there is.

If you find any difficuilties just get back to us with piccies.

 

[Taylortwocities]

As a DIYer, am I allowed to open the Consumer Unit to disconnect the cable from the MCB

Yes, of course.

But
1. turn the main switch on the consumer unit to OFF. This disconnects the line and neutral feeds to the box.
2. Be careful in there as the two thick cables into the main switch (that come from the meter) will still be live.
3. Disconnect the shower cable from the top of the mcb first and then the neutral and earth conductors.

It will be easier to leave the MCB in place. Just mark it as "spare" on the circuit schedule. That will save you having to take the busbar out - not easy for a novice.

I agree with the Toblerone One, leave the cable from the board up to the JB in the loft. You never know when it might come in handy!

 

[Need Help21]

Thanks people,

I intend opening the Consumer unit, disconnecting the cable from the circuit side of the MCB and recovering all if not part of the circuit.

Sorry to ask again, but can this be done legally as a DIYer?

Many Thanks





Need Help21

 

[Taylortwocities]

Sorry to ask again, but can this be done legally as a DIYer?

Yes. The legalities are only concerned with installation, not removal.

 

[kai]

Why don't you simply keep the shower, as it's only a year old?
Makes a very useful energy efficient way of managing body odour.