9.5kw shower, 2.5mm cable.....

Ross Trician · Dec 11, 2008

got a call earlier this week from someone asking me to look at there shower as they had had an electric shock from it. intially advised them to switch of at pull switch, (not able to do so in fuse box as it was ild wylex 4 way and not marked up, customer unsure how to pull fuses etc)

Ayway,told em if they hadnt sorted it I could get today. basically found 2.5mm cable in pull switch and in shower, checked rating, 9.5kw,,,,,that didnt add up...lol. unable to get any proper test results, readings all over the place, (tested to satisfy curiosity of termination in cu, wondered if it was say 10m in cu and choky block joint somewhere) told customer of cable faults etc, looked in loft and found a molten lump of cables and signs of heating on loft woodwork etc.

asked em who fitted shower, "it was the chap who tiled the bathroom about 3 years ago, he seemed to know what he was doing and it's
been ok for all this time"

Part P is a good idea but still wont stop these sort of peopl eh!!!!!!

Ross Trician · Dec 16, 2008

It is on a 30A rewirable fuse, old wylex type. wasnt taking the fuse out tho.

got the job of sorting it all out tho, one of those jobs that your not sure you want to do or not....

simopesh · Dec 16, 2008

Well, of course no one will use the full power unless there is a serious desire of self boiling. However, 2.5mm for a 9500W shower is definitely a silly think to do.
I would consider a 6.0mm cable (9.5X4.2=39.9Amps)
Anyway, 2.5mm cable did survive for a number of years! How about a 6.0mm cable then? Remember guys, cable does not burn in the middle; it is either the beginning or the end! Always check your connection!

CUDABOY · Dec 16, 2008

Ross Trician said:
It is on a 30A rewirable fuse, old wylex type. wasnt taking the fuse out tho.

got the job of sorting it all out tho, one of those jobs that your not sure you want to do or not....

ive been "playing with wires"as wife calls it for 20 years and ive just finished a job i should have checked out a bit more before qouting!!! if its anything like one ive done itll be added and added,from now on im going to be more thorough espically if you likley to be changing c/u,an extra half hour inspecting etc should give you better idea of what you have to do,allow you to quote more accuratley,ie hours to do work and hopfully save you coming across somthing nasty and if youve quoted a fixed price extra labour etc eating into your profit................as it did with me.......ehem! always learning,somtimes earning.....