New house - shower and immersion on same switch?

Joefarq1 · Mar 2, 2019

hi all,

Thanks in advance for having a look at this problem.

Long story short, we have just moved into a new house. Unfortunately it’s transpired that the shower pump is also connected to the switch for the immersion heater.

I'm not a morning person at the best of times, but having to get up 30mins earlier than normal to put the immersion heater/shower on before I get in is not ideal!

Has anyone ever seen this type of setup? Also, is there anything that can be down about the switch? Like some sort of Smart switch or timer??

Really appreciate any help.

Joe

P.s. I'll obviously get a qualified spark to do any work required

[ElectriciansForums.net] New house - shower and immersion on same switch?

westward10 · Mar 2, 2019

There are plenty of immersion timers out there from standard mechanical to WiFi types. There is nothing wrong with the set-up although your water heater switch seems to be connected back to front as the neon indicator is on when the switch appears to be off.

Squid · Mar 2, 2019

westward10 said:
There are plenty of immersion timers out there from standard mechanical to WiFi types. There is nothing wrong with the set-up although your water heater switch seems to be connected back to front as the neon indicator is on when the switch appears to be off.

If that is the case then I would be worried about the whole house installation..........

westward10 · Mar 2, 2019

Maybe or is just wants tidying up, surface dual box will make it look better.

Midwest · Mar 2, 2019

A sparks could re-terminate that, so the shower pump could be switched independently from the immersion, as well.

westward10 · Mar 2, 2019

May not even require the rcd spur. Dual box and matching accessories.

telectrix · Mar 2, 2019

probably it's been connected wrongly. supply and load the wrong way round. shower pump should come from supply side. 10 minute job to fix.

bill01803 · Mar 2, 2019

Shower pump should not be off the immersion, that is just very lazy work.

Midwest · Mar 2, 2019

Why not?

DefyG · Mar 2, 2019

bill01803 said:
Shower pump should not be off the immersion, that is just very lazy work.

In an 'ideal world'!
Does seem odd that being a new build it hasn't had its own circuit or spur off the ring unless it was an after thought?

Midwest · Mar 2, 2019

From the pic, I'm assuming a new house for the OP, not a new build house.

DefyG · Mar 2, 2019

Midwest said:
From the pic, I'm assuming a new house for the OP, not a new build house.

Yes, see what you mean. Décor doesn't give impression of being a new build!

bill01803 · Mar 2, 2019

From OSG
"Water heaters fitted to storage vessels in excess of 15l heating installation capacity, or permanently connected heating appliances forming part of a comprehensive space heating installation, should be supplied by their own circuits.
Immersion heaters should be supplied through a switched cord-outlet connection unit complying with BS1363-4."

telectrix · Mar 2, 2019

bill01803 said:
From OSG
"Water heaters fitted to storage vessels in excess of 15l heating installation capacity, or permanently connected heating appliances forming part of a comprehensive space heating installation, should be supplied by their own circuits.
Immersion heaters should be supplied through a switched cord-outlet connection unit complying with BS1363-4."

agreed but tapping off 2A for a shower pump is not going to fry anything.

westward10 · Mar 2, 2019

bill01803 said:
From OSG
"Water heaters fitted to storage vessels in excess of 15l heating installation capacity, or permanently connected heating appliances forming part of a comprehensive space heating installation, should be supplied by their own circuits.
Immersion heaters should be supplied through a switched cord-outlet connection unit complying with BS1363-4."

Which Regulation is that in BS7671.