Shower pump

[AlvoSlim]

I've replaced my shower with a new shiny version. The shower head has been raised slightly and the shower head is bigger. As a result the flow isn't great and so I'm planning to put a pump in. Obvious place seems to be up the loft where the h and c feed pipes drop into the studded wall to feed the shower mixer.

My question is, what regs am I likely to need to meet in connecting the pump. Any further tips or pitfalls to be avoided gratefully recieved.

I assume that I'll have to run a cable off the main power circuit rather than the conveniently accessable lighting circuit on current rating grounds.

Also, will a spur do the job, or should I incorporate the pump into the loop.

..or should I give up, save myself the aggro and the potential for burning my house down and get a pro in????

 

[Tim 77]

..or should I give up, save myself the aggro and the potential for burning my house down and get a pro in????

Yes.

 

[AlvoSlim]

Would it be too much to ask why?

 

[Tim 77]

Would it be too much to ask why?

Less aggro for you and more money for us struggling sparks



Seriously, unless you're 100% sure on what you're doing then I'd leave it to a pro.

 

[Steve]

TIM! dont be so rotten.

Alvo, chances are, you can take a feed from your local lighting circuit, but it must be RCD protected, usually done by a Fused connection unit with built in RCD.

 

[ricicle]

Alvo, chances are, you can take a feed from your local lighting circuit

Not really considered good practise.

 

[AlvoSlim]

Thanks for the help, but I'm a little confused as to whose opinion to go with though. Could anyone be a little more specific? I've got a light cable a couple of feet from where the pump would go, can i tap in???

 

[Dippy]

You need to check the loading on the circuit you intend to tap into, and the current rating of the pump. If you overload the circuit then the protection on it (fuse, MCB whatever) will trip. Hence your original assumption and ricicle's advice.

 

[Steve]

The MCB should also be labelled appropriately too, if you add anything that isn't an "upstairs light"

 

[securespark]

Shower pumps in my experience have a 5A fuse.

They may not be rated at 5A, but they do have quite a hefty start-up current.

A Lighting circuit is (generally) also 5/6A, so best to use a connection to the ring.

 

[Steve]

Use a C6.

<runs and hides>

 

[securespark]

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat...........

 

[Tim 77]

TIM! dont be so rotten.

.

Sorry, I'd had a bad day yesterday

 

[Pensdown]

If your emersion feeds other hot water outlets around the house I would recommend that you fit one of these for your pump take off.

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=76906&ts=46407

 

[phredd]

If you have poor pressure at the shower head, it is possible that there will be insufficient pressure to activate the pump if it is mounted higher again. Most shower pump instructions say to fit the pump on the floor next to the hot water cylinder.
Phredd