I need help with an electric shower wire which is too short

[Umarhafiz]

We had our bathroom renovated about 10 years ago and the original builder had left the shower wire too short and i didnt bother to get it fixed right away as we had another shower in the new loft extension done by the same builder around the same time. A few years go by and i then decided to ask someone to have a look and suprisingly no one had a simple answer i dont know if the electricians in my area are no good or it genuinely is a difficult or risky thing to do. to this day i have not found anyone who wants to do it so i have come here to get a better idea of what i could do or what is the best option. The bathroom has been tiled and there is a bath tub under where the shower is meant to be. Sorry if ive not given enough information im not very clued up when it comes to bathroom wiring or any wiring really.

 

[littlespark]

The “shrink” part of crimp n shrink is heat shrink sleeving.

it goes around the crimped cables, and when heated will shrink and pull tight against cable and crimps, just for added safety. Much more robust than insulating tape.

it is a simple job for someone with the right tools. As mentioned, you could have 40A running through it, and you don’t want to be in the shower when that joint suddenly fails.

 

[telectrix]

freeze his goolies off when it goes cold.

 

[Umarhafiz]

The “shrink” part of crimp n shrink is heat shrink sleeving.

it goes around the crimped cables, and when heated will shrink and pull tight against cable and crimps, just for added safety. Much more robust than insulating tape.

it is a simple job for someone with the right tools. As mentioned, you could have 40A running through it, and you don’t want to be in the shower when that joint suddenly fails.

Ok that makes sense thank you

 

[Spoon]

You would also need to put some decent heatshrink around all the joints and both cables.

 

[loz2754]

That's 10mm twin and earth. Stranded 4mm CPC.

 

[Umarhafiz]

That's 10mm twin and earth. Stranded 4mm CPC.

So would need 10mm crimps not 6mm?

 

[littlespark]

Yes.... and they don’t come insulated, so definitely heat shrink over them

SEPARATELY

 

[loz2754]

10mm through crimps for the brown and blue. 4mm insulated yellow crimp for the CPC (bare earth conductor).
And a crimping tool appropriate for the type and size of each crimp.

 

[timhoward]

You also need to consider if It might actually be cheaper to get someone in to do it as you'd need:
-a short section of 10mm T+E (and probably have to buy more than you want)
-2 x 10mm crimps
-1 x insulated 4mm crimp
Heat shrinking in various sizes
6mm earth sleeving
+ Crimping tool if you don't have one

It all adds up!

 

[pc1966]

This is probably pushing DIY limits, as you will need the proper crimp tool and some means of heating the heat-shrink. An electric paint stripper gun can be used for that with great care as they can also melt PVC insulation and destroy it.

 

[loz2754]

And don't forget a multifunction tester to test the Zs and RCD trip times once the shower is installed.

 

[Umarhafiz]

You also need to consider if It might actually be cheaper to get someone in to do it as you'd need:
-a short section of 10mm T+E (and probably have to buy more than you want)
-2 x 10mm crimps
-1 x insulated 4mm crimp
Heat shrinking in various sizes
6mm earth sleeving
+ Crimping tool if you don't have one

It all adds up!

Yh i was thinking that as i also wouldnt know if ive crimped it properly and stuff like that anyone know how much i should be paying for a job like this?

 

[pc1966]

If you have space to put it in, and it is definitely away from any water, but you have some means of accessing it for any maintenance, then something like this junction box is a better bet:

60A Junction Box 3 Terminal White

A selected range of special purpose moulded and stainless steel accessories

www.cef.co.uk

If it were me and I could somehow get the cable in the roof space above it, then using something like that and a longer run of new wire down to the shower would be easier.

 

[littlespark]

Would it be an idea to fit the shower unit higher?
It might be simpler extending the water pipe up, than the cable down.

 

[loz2754]

Would it be an idea to fit the shower unit higher?
It might be simpler extending the water pipe up, than the cable down.

Good suggestion