Changing an MCB....

[Teddy54]

Hi folks , I need to change and MCB in my flat as the rating is to low for the circuit its supplying, Only problem is I have never seen this kind of busbar before. Its goes were the Breaker is sat on top of the busbar just behind the screw/clamp and not actually in the seperate bit at the back on the bottom side.

Now my questions is , am I ok to buy a normal breaker and just cut out the pop outs at either side of the screw and sit the breaker on this way?

Hope this makes sense and any help greatly appreciated.
Cheers

 

[telectrix]

a 32A type B will not trip at 36A. you've either got a faulty MCB, or the fault is elsewhere. if the shower cable is 6mm and covered in insulation, upping the rating of the MCB may well result in a 999 call.

 

[Teddy54]

I go back to my post, check how long it would take your existing mcb to trip when pulling your 36 amps

It takes roughly 15 minutes

 

[Spazz]

That sounds like a fault.

What have you got on that circuit?
A Shower or Cooker?

 

[Teddy54]

That sounds like a fault.

What have you got on that circuit?
A Shower or Cooker?

Shower

 

[telectrix]

so, it's either faulty, or the current exceeds 36A. if the MCB is OK< then it would need 50A approx. to trip in 15mins

 

[Spazz]

Ok go back to the start - turn shower off and does it trip within 15 mins
If not:
Turn shower on and see how long it takes to trip - a shower should not trip at 32A unless you have a shower with several pumps all drawing the current.

Then see how long that takes to Trip.

 

[Spazz]

Quick question:
How long has the shower been installed for?
How long has the 32A MCB been installed for?
How long has the tripping at 32A been going on for?

Answer those questions to give us an idea if its a fault or not

 

[Teddy54]

Ok go back to the start - turn shower off and does it trip within 15 mins
If not:
Turn shower on and see how long it takes to trip - a shower should not trip at 32A unless you have a shower with several pumps all drawing the current.

Then see how long that takes to Trip.

Its once the shower is on it takes roughly 15 mins to trip. Never happens for me when I shower just for my girlfriend as she takes ages washing her hair etc

 

[telectrix]

simple then. set the shower on cold. soon get her out.

 

[a1guvner]

an incentive to get a move on, lol

 

[Spazz]

How long do you take in the shower?

and when your GF gets out is the shower box soaking wet?

Also answer the questions above

 

[needasparks]

Man of few words ehh.

 

[Teddy54]

Quick question:
How long has the shower been installed for?
How long has the 32A MCB been installed for?
How long has the tripping at 32A been going on for?

Answer those questions to give us an idea if its a fault or not

Its a new shower. It happend with the old shower a few times then eventually that shower chucked it. I
MCB about 10+ years.
A few months.

 

[a1guvner]

Its a new shower. It happend with the old shower a few times then eventually that shower chucked it. I
MCB about 10+ years.
A few months.

Is the rating the same as the previous one?

 

[Teddy54]

How long do you take in the shower?

and when your GF gets out is the shower box soaking wet?

Also answer the questions above

5mins roughly.

No not atol, warnedher about that because thought that may have been causing problem orignally.