Old shower broken!

[Sggb]

Hey guys

Moved into a new house. Old shower (9.5kw) has broken. It’s being supplied by a 17mm cable (so 10mm?) and goes into the board with a B32 30ma RCB with a “test me” button so assume it’s protected (sorry I know nothing about electrics).

I am getting the whole bathroom redone but wanted to get a new shower in for a few months. Can I get a 8.5kw installed with this setup? It’s never tripped with the old shower setup but I think the B32 should be a B40? Is that right? I ideally don’t want to change anything yet hence the thought of putting a lower kw shower in.

Any help appreciated.

 

[ericmark]

In real terms the thermal part of the trip takes time to trip which is likely far longer than the time taken to shower, so in the main the trip will hold with over 32 x 230 = 7.36 kW. So likely 8.5 kW will work. The reason for the trip is to protect the cable from over heating and the cable also needs time to warm up, so it is still protecting the cable.

However in a bathroom as a special location you will need either a scheme member electrician or involve the LABC to fit the shower so up to what they are prepared to do. Best I idea is to let the electrician buy the shower after you have told him which you like, and let him make the call as to what size he feels he can get away with.

 

[Sggb]

Thank you