Like for LIke shower replacement Wylex 3036 Board

[ianphilip007]

hello

after a little advice re the above. Been to a few customers lately to quote for what i thought was just a like for like shower replacement. but on discovering the old wylex board and the 3036 fuses and abscence of rcd protection a simple shower replacement is not possible. was wondering what others advise there customers in a similar situation ? especially when cost is an issue

to add cable is of correct rating, fuse protecion correct its just the broken shower unit that customer wants replacing.

 

[telectrix]

cheapest. way would be to split tails into henleys, then feed a separate enclosure with RCD abd appropriate MCB for whatever shower you are fitting. this way has been used many times to get out of a complete CU replacement.

 

[ianphilip007]

thats a good option as it negates the need for the existing CU to be changed as you say. i dont think its possible to feed the RCD via the existing board and connect the shower circuit which would be the easiest and most cost effective as the wylex boards are usally only rated at 60amps. i cant think of any other options either. At least ive been giving the right advice guess they just didnt want to spend

 

[spark 68]

You could feed the shower (external enclosure) RCD from the existing fuse/MCB.

 

[ianphilip007]

even if the main switch on existing CU is 60amps ?? Its this that causes the issue with customers as the new showers (MI) state connecting to a mainswitch of at least 80amp rating

 

[spark 68]

You said it was like for like replacement, so it must have worked before, all you are doing is adding additional protection.

 

[spark 68]

Just read your edited post,

So is it not like for like ? is it an upgrade in kW ?

 

[ianphilip007]

yes your right like for like swap. Just the shower maunufacturers state that it should be connected to a main switch min 80amps in their instructions which made me think. unsure as to weather for a like for like you could supply via exisitng CU and just add RCD. Or as has been suggested the tails would need to be split and the shower fed from a seperate shower enclousre with the correct rating

 

[ianphilip007]

the shower is a like for like in kw rating,

 

[spark 68]

If you went with Tel's Plan A, and split the tails and fed the appropriate size MCB and RCD in a seperate enclosure, you would not need to upgrade the main switch, as you would be effectively removing a load from the existing CU.

 

[telectrix]

even if it is same rating as the old one, manufacturers instructions must be followed,as if the 60A main switch was to be overloaded, it's your head for the basket.

 

[ianphilip007]

yes i agree, dont think you could upgrade the mainswitch in an old wylex board anyway thanks guys for the advice.

 

[spark 68]

If you do what Tel said earlier,

The external shower CU/enclosure comes complete with an 80 or 100A Isolator and/or RCD as the main switch as well as provision for the MCB, and as you are splitting the tails you would not be adding any extra loading to the existing CU and 60A switch, in fact you would be removing a substantial load.