fitting a shower

[user pro]

I have an old house (1960) with an old fuse box, i fitted a shower some time ago now about 15 years, no problems, Recently I bought a new shower and found this had different readings i.e 10.5 kilawatts.so if you can check this out and tell me if its right, I will be more assured
(1) 10mm wire leading to the fuse box and shower (2)45 amp fuse which I believe they call a MCB now plugs in like a fuse with a trip, plenty of earthing, one thing I would like to know is there a safety gadget I can put between these( Fuse & Shower) in the form of a juntion box You see Im one of the old diyers everything has changed.
hopeful

 

[Steve]

Fit a 45A fuse (an MCB is preferable to a fuse, you can buy them to plug into old wylex fuse boxes, instead of a fuse, if a wylex is what you have) and run 10mm² cable to a shower RCD unit (you can buy these ready-assembled from Screwfix and the like).

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=101863&ts=95709&id=69659 (CLICK) is an RCD unit, this is what you need.

Some people would recommend you get a new fuse box (consumer unit) fitted before fitting this shower, since these old fuse boxes were not designed to take high currents such as what your shower draws.

Also, this shower could do with being on a 50A MCB, since it is slightly pushing it on a 45A one (dont even know if they go above 40A for the old Wylex boards do they?) Job for a spark, but dont use the same one i did.

Plenty of earthing?? You will abviously have the main earthing conductor from the fuse box, it is also now required to have earthing conductors between the shower, lights and pipework in a bathroom, but i will leave someone else to elaborate here, since this is not something i know much about

EDIT: dont forget you need a shower isolator in the bathroom. Use a 50A one.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Fit a 45A fuse (an MCB is preferable to a fuse, you can buy them to plug into old wylex fuse boxes, instead of a fuse, if a wylex is what you have) and run 10mm² cable to a shower

I read his post as saying he already had 10mm² and a 45A MCB..

Also, this shower could do with being on a 50A MCB, since it is slightly pushing it on a 45A one

£ to a p that rating is at 240V, i.e. 43.75A

it is also now required to have earthing conductors between the shower, lights and pipework in a bathroom,

You mean supplementary equipotential bonding, not earthing....

 

[Steve]

it is also now required to have earthing conductors between the shower, lights and pipework in a bathroom,

You mean supplementary equipotential bonding, not earthing....

Thats the one.

 

[Spark123]

1960s house wiring?, may need to check the presence and suitability of main equipotential bonding conductors as well, (earth conductors between copper pipe services such as gas and water where they enter the premises preferably within 600mm, back to the MET (main earth terminal)).
Also, you don't make clear if the 10mm² cable and 45A MCB are part of the old install or you are putting them in? How is the cable installed?, should be OK if not installed in a conduit in an insulated wall. What length of cable?