total noob question please be kind

[bradharris]

1st off hello all

right ill get to point,

i would like to fit a electric shower in my bath room and as iv never done anything like this iv been reading info on hear and diy shops via leaftlets ect

basically i am in need of a few questions answered:

what size wire will i need for a 8.5kw shower?

whats teh best sort of isolator for the shower too as iv got a smallish bath room (i think pull cord one would be better then switch)??

cheers for any info ect brad

 

[industryspark]

85kw shower!!!!!!!!

would think about 300mm2 cable should suffice!

think you mean 8.5kw, this is notifiable work, read the part p stuff in the wiki.

dont attempt this job yourself, get a registered spark in to do it so you get piece of mind!

if you dont know 100% what your doing you may just kill yourself or one of your family.

sorry if sound a bit dramatic mate but this is the best advice that you can follow.

 

[breezer]

Welcome to the forums

what size wire will i need for a 85kw shower?

85kw are you sure that is right?

I would suggest you try a serch on these forums, basicaly it depends on cable run, and part p

 

[bradharris]

doh i forgot the full stop have edited it sorry

as for doing the work i have a friedn of the family who is a sparky with qualiyfications and he said he is more the happy to come round and pass off/tell me ware iv gone wrong after its done but he is up to his nack in work so cant come and help me do it so teh old man has been roped into helping me

 

[breezer]

so why not ask him in the first place?

 

[bradharris]

he gone on holiday for 2 wks and i was hoping to get it done in next 2 wks should of put that in last post

 

[Steve]

By all means do the work, but please dont apply power to it before your friend has seen it.

Standard shower circuit nowadays involves 10mm² cable, 40 amp MCB (for 8.5kw), and RCD protection.

Where the RCD protection is afforded depends on your consumer unit. And many early consumer units/fuse boxes were not built for the high currents electric showers demand - they wont take fuses or MCBs over 30/32 amps - in this case an upgrade is recommended. However, if you're lucky you will have a modern white consumer unit with MCBs and an RCD.

It is hard for us to tell you exactly what you need without seeing your mains intake and fuse box.

A pull cord is the standard means of isolation for a shower.

 

[bradharris]

ok i think these are the pictures u asked for!!

fuse box:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/bradharris/houseelectrics1001.jpg

power to house i think???:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/bradharris/houseelectrics1004.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/bradharris/houseelectrics1003.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/bradharris/houseelectrics1002.jpg

as the 1st pic shows theer are a couple fo spare blanks hopefully can be used for shower? also the power cabel to the shower should be able to run straight up the wall as its just std devied and the bath room is right above the fuse board and all the floor up stairs does come up too

 

[WSDLTD]

That job really needs looking at by a qualified electrician, there is far too many regulations and procedures to carry out to explain them on here your consumer unit doesnt have capability to supply your shower so you will need to have a new seperate rcd consumer installed, seek help ptherwise you could be seriously playing with fire!! WATER AND ELECTRIC DONT MIX

 

[securespark]

Is that box in the garage a submain feeding a remote consumer unit?

You appear to have no RCD protection for any circuits.

You appear to have a 60A fuse in the intake.

You may need supplementary bonding in the bathroom, and main bonding to service pipes.

 

[bradharris]

i have a little bin cupboard connectde to hose at front both my gas main and elec is in there

 

[JohnD]

That Consumer unit looks rather old but a bit familiar - is it by any chance a Crabtree with big brown breakers?

I think the switchfuse by your meter is an 80Amp max one - looks like a MEM 800KMF.

The contents of your cupboard look quite modern. If you want a big electric shower ask your supplier if they will upgrade your main fuse.

 

[bradharris]

yea the old man surgested replacing the whole fuse board due to it being as old as house ~40ys with one with rcd protection so i think ill go this route before i do shower would make sence yes?

 

[JohnD]

Yes but both jobs are covered by Building regulations so unless you use an electrician who is a member of a Self Certification scheme you will have to notify your local council and pay the inspection fee.

 

[bradharris]

ok thats sounds cool enough ill let u guys no how we get on

cheers