I need your expert advice ! :)

[Crxg]

Hello everyone,
I often browse the forums on here and get most answers I need but I need some help please.

Here goes !

I moved into a new house in September and have been learning the construction of the house rapidly,

There was an extension built above the garage in 2008 at which time the new consumer board was fitted and wiring was done for the extension which included a shower room and bedroom.
I discovered it the first 2 weeks that the shower was leaking behind the tiles and since ripped the whole thing out and started from scratch.
When I went to the consumer board and flicked the RCD marked shower I discovered it was the cooker circuit and when I flicked the RCD marked cooker discovered it was the central heating circuit.
"That's odd" I thought so re labeled the RCD accordingly and moved on, only to discover that the shower has been spurred of a socket on the new ring main for the extension.

So my question is after all that, is this safe ! as I was under the impression a shower had to have its own circuit, and also I wanted to add 4 more sockets to the new ring main but now unsure if a power shower is spurred off it.

I am starting to thing the extension was built and wired by cowboys

Thank you please

 

[timtheenchanter]

what type of shower is it, if its electrically heated, then yes, it needs its own circuit, if its a power shower, ie water heated by your hot water system, then the shower only has a booster pump in it, and a spur is acceptable.

 

[Crxg]

what type of shower is it, if its electrically heated, then yes, it needs its own circuit, if its a power shower, ie water heated by your hot water system, then the shower only has a booster pump in it, and a spur is acceptable.

Hi there, it is a Mira xs thermostatic power shower with hot and cold feed from the central heating system,

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

If the extension was built in 2008, there should be certificates including schedules of inspection and test results also circuit diagrams, are these available to you?
If the shower is an electrical powered shower and not booster pumped as timtheenchanter has stated should be designated circuit only.
You state RCD rather than MCB or RCBO, are you aware that a RCD will protect a number of circuits, so when tripped will de-energise more than one circuit.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

it is a Mira xs thermostatic power shower with hot and cold feed from the central heating system,

This can be powered via a 3A double pole fused connection, so that is okay. If done that way.

 

[Crxg]

That's good to know. That's great thank you guys. Can I add the extra sockets in the ring main without any problems ?

 

[Crxg]

If the extension was built in 2008, there should be certificates including schedules of inspection and test results also circuit diagrams, are these available to you?
If the shower is an electrical powered shower and not booster pumped as timtheenchanter has stated should be designated circuit only.
You state RCD rather than MCB or RCBO, are you aware that a RCD will protect a number of circuits, so when tripped will de-energise more than one circuit.

How would I tell the difference between them ?[/img]

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

RCD

Untitled

• PrenticeBoyofDerry
• 29 Jul 2009
• 13

The RCD will have a test switch on it, when pressed cuts off power to a bank of circuits, normally 63A or 80A at 30mA detects earth leakage

RCBO

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• PrenticeBoyofDerry
• 25 Apr 2012
• 5

The RCBO also has test button this will protect single circuit, so the Amp rating will be between 6A-50A at 30mA and combines as an earth leakage device and a MCB

MCB

Untitled

• PrenticeBoyofDerry
• 25 Apr 2012
• 3

The MCB used to protect against overload or short circuit.

 

[Crxg]

RCD

Untitled

• PrenticeBoyofDerry
• 29 Jul 2009
• 13

RCBO

Untitled

• PrenticeBoyofDerry
• 25 Apr 2012
• 5

MCB

Untitled

• PrenticeBoyofDerry
• 25 Apr 2012
• 3

You beat me too it , they look like MCB.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

That's good to know. That's great thank you guys. Can I add the extra sockets in the ring main without any problems ?

Do you intend to extend the ring final circuit or add spurs or fused spur?

 

[Crxg]

Thank you prenticeboyofderry, So is it ok for me to add the sockets on this ring main ? There is only 4 doubles on there at the moment

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

read post previous to your latest.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

It's okay to add them, providing you do them using the correct method.

 

[Crxg]

It's okay to add them, providing you do them using the correct method.

we are submitting at the same time.

The ring main runs around the loft and then down to the sockets below and then back up. I actually want to put the sockets in the loft area so it is just cutting the cable in the loft and fitting the sockets at the cut, no extending or spurs

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

If you are just breaking directly in to the circuit and installing sockets in-line, that should be okay.
But make sure it is the RFC you are breaking in to and not a spur of the RFC.
You can spur only one extra socket outlet (this can be single or double gang) off any one socket outlet on the RFC, so you can not spur again of an unfused spur. You can install a 13A FCU (fused connection unit) in to the RFC and then run as many socket from that as you wish, but will be restricted to a maximum load of 13A on that addition, over all the new socket outlets.