Fitting 10mm cable for electric shower

[kriss123]

Hi All

Can anyone advise me if I am alowed to put electric cable in place from fuse box to isolator switch and then from switch to where the shower will be sitting on the wall.

Am quite good at DIY and wondered if I could do this as it will cut down on cost of the work needing done, also does cable need to run inside walls or is it ok to protect it with cable trunking.

Thanxs in Advance

 

[vibrobullit407]

You will need to notify building control before you start this work. It would probably be cheaper to enlist the services of an approved scheme electrician. Get 3 quotes and ask if they are willing for you to carry out any works with there guidance i.e running the cable.

 

[ricicle]

He's in Scotland

 

[vibrobullit407]

He's in Scotland

missed that, not on the ball today!

 

[wingcoax]

He's in Scotland

missed that, not on the ball today!

It's been the weather today.

 

[vibrobullit407]

He's in Scotland

missed that, not on the ball today!

It's been the weather today.

 

[BigJon]

If the cable run is surface the use some PVC trunking, if your running inside walls have a search for "safe zones".
Do you know if your fuse box has RCD protection, if not you/your sparky will need to add an additional box to incorporate one.

 

[kriss123]

Thanks for the replies and "He is a She" from Glasgow

Love DIY ......think its because my Dad was a Builder before is passed away and I was always the one getting the hammer and passing the nails to him ect.

and to put you at ease deffo no offence taken

Makes me laugh when i go to local builders merchants and they speak over me to hubby......he just stares blankly and nods in agreement to what ever they say, as he can't hold a hammer the right way up!!!!

 

[kriss123]

The 6mm cable run inside the wall and is not atched to the fuse box it travels upwards so that it runs under the floorboards of the upstairs landing, then inside the bathroom wall and is connected to the isolator switch... then back down and runs under the floor of the bathroom, then up inside the wall to where the shower will be conected.

Due to Regs i know that the cable hase to be upgraded and i will need to as i want to install a 10.5kw shower.

Was thinking of following the original route of cable but on the outside of the wall but protected by trunking, until it reaches the upstairs landing where it can follow the route of original cable. Don't fancy pulling the 6mm cable out as this means digging it out of the wall adding to the cost. I can snip wire and pull it through at the point where it becomes visible upstairs. I would then get the Proffessionals in to finnish the Job

I did ask for quotes from local companies who do this type of work and they quoted between £500 - £ 700 quid, which they said was reasonable considering the work that needed done ??

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

When you say inside wall, do you mean inside the two leaf cavity?
This is not an ideal place for cable to be routed!
6.00mm cable is borderline for 10.5kW shower, what rating for protective device (MCB/Fuse) and cable sizing does manufacturers instruction give.
If you decide to run cable outside in trunking/conduit, it maybe worth consider using SWA and then no need for trunking/conduit!

 

[securespark]

Thanks for the replies and "He is a She" from Glasgow

Makes me laugh when i go to local builders merchants and they speak over me to hubby......he just stares blankly and nods in agreement to what ever they say, as he can't hold a hammer the right way up!!!!

I'm glad you can laugh...that sort of thing makes me livid. I used to go to garages with my sister and her car and they would talk to me. I'd say WTF are you talking to me for? It's not my car!!!

 

[kriss123]

Thanks for the replys

PrentisBoyofDerry[
When you say inside wall, do you mean inside the two leaf cavity?
This is not an ideal place for cable to be routed!
6.00mm cable is borderline for 10.5kW shower, what rating for protective device (MCB/Fuse) and cable sizing does manufacturers instruction give.
If you decide to run cable outside in trunking/conduit, it maybe worth consider using SWA and then no need for trunking/conduit!

I'm quite good at DIY but struggle with the wording:- can see wire behind plasterboard when I removed a piece to see where it was going.... so is this two leaf cavity??

The cable must be 10mm not check the fuse

Finally what is SWA??

Securespark
that type of thing used to drive me nuts, took the car a few years back to a well known Garage for its anual MOT & Full Service own my own and when i got it back it was running worse than when it went in so took it back and they said it was because everything had been changed and would settle down. Wasn't happy and got a guy I know who works for TS and he said oil, filters ect hadn,t been done. So took it back to the Garage and told them what I had done and if I needed to provide them with a report I could get one and they would pay for it. Manager said that as the spark plugs come in bulk it would be impossible to check every one and that the oil had deffo been changed.
Anyhoo stood my ground and argued my point and stood beside the guy asking what he was doing and why so service was redone and i was given a refund so long as i did not take matter any further.
Teach them to try and take advantage of a Blonde

Did any of you Guys think the quotes £500-£700 were ok or over the mark price wise
[/quote]

 

[ban-all-sheds]

can see wire behind plasterboard when I removed a piece to see where it was going.... so is this two leaf cavity??

No.

This is:

Finally what is SWA??

http://www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:swa

http://www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:swa-gland