Hi. I need to replace our electric shower. Our old shower is a Gainsborough 850E rated at 9.5 kw. Navigate to this page for some details: http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/showers/gainsborough-850e.
It may be helpful to add that this shower has two power settings. If we use the shower on the highest setting it trips the mcb in the consumer unit. If used while set at its lowest setting it’s fine and does not trip. However just recently I noticed a brown mark down the side of the shower unit casing. At closer inspection it turned out that the plastic terminal block that joins the twin and earth from the consumer box to the wires inside the shower unit was overheating and burning through the outer casing.
The mcb that is currently feeding the shower is a Proteus 632/2 32A 240/415v
TYPE 2 M6.
Navigate to this page for some details:
http://www.proteusswitchgear.co.uk/product_details.asp?product=1324
It is my understanding that this 32A mcb is inadequate and that really it ought to be a 40A mcb. The reason being that a 9.5kw shower needs a 40A mcb.
Is this correct?
Was this the reason that the Gainsborough shower, while on its highest setting has been tripping and now, even while on its lowest setting, has burnt a hole through the side of the unit?
We have bought a Triton Amber 111 to replace the old one. This is rated at 8.5kw. So, s said before, I believe I need to replace this 32A mcb with a 40A. Is this correct?
I have managed to locate the part I need, I think this is it: http://www.proteusswitchgear.co.uk/product_details.asp?product=1330
My only concern is that it is labelled as a M4 not a M6 like the lower rated breakers.
Why is this and is it ok for my needs?
The twin and earth connecting everything is 10mm, so that’s fine.
Also while I’m here. Is there any reason why I can not have the shower unit standing 5-10mm from the tiles, obviously held off by spacers. I wish to do this cause otherwise I would need to get involved cutting the water pipe back and stuff…just so that I can align the showers inlet with the 15mm water feed.
Thanks D
It may be helpful to add that this shower has two power settings. If we use the shower on the highest setting it trips the mcb in the consumer unit. If used while set at its lowest setting it’s fine and does not trip. However just recently I noticed a brown mark down the side of the shower unit casing. At closer inspection it turned out that the plastic terminal block that joins the twin and earth from the consumer box to the wires inside the shower unit was overheating and burning through the outer casing.
The mcb that is currently feeding the shower is a Proteus 632/2 32A 240/415v
TYPE 2 M6.
Navigate to this page for some details:
http://www.proteusswitchgear.co.uk/product_details.asp?product=1324
It is my understanding that this 32A mcb is inadequate and that really it ought to be a 40A mcb. The reason being that a 9.5kw shower needs a 40A mcb.
Is this correct?
Was this the reason that the Gainsborough shower, while on its highest setting has been tripping and now, even while on its lowest setting, has burnt a hole through the side of the unit?
We have bought a Triton Amber 111 to replace the old one. This is rated at 8.5kw. So, s said before, I believe I need to replace this 32A mcb with a 40A. Is this correct?
I have managed to locate the part I need, I think this is it: http://www.proteusswitchgear.co.uk/product_details.asp?product=1330
My only concern is that it is labelled as a M4 not a M6 like the lower rated breakers.
Why is this and is it ok for my needs?
The twin and earth connecting everything is 10mm, so that’s fine.
Also while I’m here. Is there any reason why I can not have the shower unit standing 5-10mm from the tiles, obviously held off by spacers. I wish to do this cause otherwise I would need to get involved cutting the water pipe back and stuff…just so that I can align the showers inlet with the 15mm water feed.
Thanks D
