cable size for shower

[John robertson]

Hi guys I have been asked to fit new shower and run new cable for it too, looking at regs book it would have to be reference method 103, which for 8.5kw shower would mean 16mm cable, can terminals in the shower take 16mm and the terminals in the isolator? I have tried looking for different cable routes but the board is downstairs and the bathroom is upstairs. 10mm is what is in at the moment. I don't usually do domestic electrical work so any advice would be great. I just thought 16mm was a bit overly for 8.5kw shower.

 

[Pete999]

Bit of a tight fit though?

So consequently unsafe, 4 by 16mm2 in a plastic accessory, get real Mate please.

 

[Welchyboy1]

Think how many small showers have been originally wired in 6mm, then attics filled with scratchy wool, then the shower upsized to a 9.5kW.

the vd must be massive.

And theystill probably running fine

 

[bill01803]

Bit of a tight fit though?

Fits fine

 

[LastManOnline]

And theystill probably running fine

Yes. I posed a question on a different forum as to whether any spark had come across a heat damaged 6mm cable supplying an electric shower.?. No one had. I personally never have. House I, m currently renting has our shower wired in 4mm (lying on top of, not under insulation) .To date every shower repair I have personally carried out has always been either a heat damaged pull switch or a heat damaged rcbo

 

[Grant1987]

Yes. I posed a question on a different forum as to whether any spark had come across a heat damaged 6mm cable supplying an electric shower.?. No one had. I personally never have. House I, m currently renting has our shower wired in 4mm (lying on top of, not under insulation) .To date every shower repair I have personally carried out has always been either a heat damaged pull switch or a heat damaged rcbo

It’s bad practice though isn’t it, when carrying out EICR’S I code it as a C3 with no thermal effects and downgrade mcb to 32A rather than the 40A installed. If I’m asked to replace faulty shower which is 8.5kw or above on a 6mm cable I will renew cable with 10mm it’s the right thing to do isn’t it.

 

[LastManOnline]

It’s bad practice though isn’t it, when carrying out EICR’S I code it as a C3 with no thermal effects and downgrade mcb to 32A rather than the 40A installed. If I’m asked to replace faulty shower which is 8.5kw or above on a 6mm cable I will renew cable with 10mm it’s the right thing to do isn’t it.

Yes it is. Of course 4mm would, nt meet any parameters and of I,m not suggesting it be used. What I am suggesting is there might be reasons to reconsider how we calculate cable size for loads like electric showers which in reality tend to be used a lot more sparingly than perhaps other loads like heat pumps which have more constant use . My shower is an 8.5 kW wired in 4 mm. The OP is talking about installing the same shower in 16mm.Are we missing something?
I regularly see 6mm covered in insulation in family homes where the shower is used 4 to 5 times a day without no obvious side effects

 

[Grant1987]

Yes it is. Of course 4mm would, nt meet any parameters and of I,m not suggesting it be used. What I am suggesting is there might be reasons to reconsider how we calculate cable size for loads like electric showers which in reality tend to be used a lot more sparingly than perhaps other loads like heat pumps which have more constant use . My shower is an 8.5 kW wired in 4 mm. The OP is talking about installing the same shower in 16mm.Are we missing something?
I regularly see 6mm covered in insulation in family homes where the shower is used 4 to 5 times a day without no obvious side effects

Yes fair enough I deviated from the OP using 16mm is overkill isn’t it. Yea it’s for sustained periods which would cause the problems isn’t it tbh a shower is not constantly run so the chances of damage are minimal but I just like to stick to my beliefs and prefer 10mm on shower circuits gives me peace of mind.

 

[LastManOnline]

I think your approach is the correct one. Err on side of caution.

 

[Grant1987]

I think your approach is the correct one. Err on side of caution.

Yes I am over the top with my caution, but I’m adapting and listening but each scenario is different isn’t it. Definitely stick to 10mm though for shower circuits not 16mm that must be a nightmare for a ground floor flat terminating ??

 

[Welchyboy1]

Yes. I posed a question on a different forum as to whether any spark had come across a heat damaged 6mm cable supplying an electric shower.?. No one had. I personally never have. House I, m currently renting has our shower wired in 4mm (lying on top of, not under insulation) .To date every shower repair I have personally carried out has always been either a heat damaged pull switch or a heat damaged rcbo

Nope never
Always the pull switch connections or a point of termination at shower/CU thats loose
Ive seen a few 6mm/10.5KW/45A mcb combinations that had obviously been in service for years with no issues

Unless its a special situation i always use 10mm standard for showers now
Notsure i would attempt to use 16mm tho, thats a brave man there!

 

[LastManOnline]

Nope never
Always the pull switch connections or a point of termination at shower/CU thats loose
Ive seen a few 6mm/10.5KW/45A mcb combinations that had obviously been in service for years with no issues

Unless its a special situation i always use 10mm standard for showers now
Notsure i would attempt to use 16mm tho, thats a brave man there!

I appreciate that 10mm is becoming the new norm. Makes sense long term. It would also be helpful if plumbers refuse to install 10.5 kW showers before first checking the size of the existing supply.