RCD size for electric shower

[splinter65]

I am fitting a new shower unit for my daughter. The consumer unit is fitted with a 63A RCD which is controlling three circuits: Cooker, sockets and immersion heater. I need to fit a 40A Mcb and am wondering if I could use the same RCD. I presume if the cooker, immersion heater and the shower where all on at the same time the load would be too much and the RCD would trip. Also i am using 6mm2 cable and at present the existing house wiring is run in a conduit down the outside wall of the house. Would it be ok to run the new 6mm cable in a separate conduit or would it be better to run it without conduit. (I`m thinking of heating and subsequent power loss)

cheers
roger

 

[Mac]

What rating is the shower.

 

[splinter65]

Hi. 8.5kw and the cable run is 10metres max

 

[plantpot]

another example of how part P is working

 

[Des 56]

Quote
the load would be too much and the RCD would trip.


Am I missing something here?
Would you care to elaborate on that statement ?

 

[monkeyelectric]

I am fitting a new shower unit for my daughter. The consumer unit is fitted with a 63A RCD which is controlling three circuits: Cooker, sockets and immersion heater. I need to fit a 40A Mcb and am wondering if I could use the same RCD. I presume if the cooker, immersion heater and the shower where all on at the same time the load would be too much and the RCD would trip. Also i am using 6mm2 cable and at present the existing house wiring is run in a conduit down the outside wall of the house. Would it be ok to run the new 6mm cable in a separate conduit or would it be better to run it without conduit. (I`m thinking of heating and subsequent power loss)

cheers
roger

Have you any electrical qualifications? if not i would reccommend you get an electrician to put it in, an rcd is not an overcurrent device its a fault current protection device

 

[eagleeye]

i assume you are not a qualified electrician ! why are you even attempting to put this circuit in if you don’t know what your talking about ! How would you test the circuit on completion ? do you know the regs for this ? this could be dangerous if you do this yourself by the sounds of it. Leave alone and get a qualified sparks to do it

 

[splinter65]

Whoops! Slapped wrist time is it. Sorry lads, just trying to save my daughter a bit of money and I have an electrician who always checks my work when I have completed. Sorry I upset you all...

 

[Mac]

Whoops! Slapped wrist time is it. Sorry lads, just trying to save my daughter a bit of money and I have an electrician who always checks my work when I have completed. Sorry I upset you all...

Split 17th edition board.10mm cable and a 40A MCB

 

[monkeyelectric]

Whoops! Slapped wrist time is it. Sorry lads, just trying to save my daughter a bit of money and I have an electrician who always checks my work when I have completed. Sorry I upset you all...

I see what your saying but it would be a lot safer to get a qualified spark in, after seeing some of the diy (and some so called sparks) jobs i've been to you'd see why its better to get the professionals in, but if you are competent and your mate can check it and connect it up you could route the cable to save some money that way(obviously keeping to prescribed zones and area's) personally i would use 10mm t+e it just allows flexibility for size of showers in the future, no hard feelings

 

[splinter65]

I have just finished installing underfloor heating at home and this has been passed as OK by my electrician mate. I am a careful and competent worker, having worked for BT for almost thirty years. Thanks Monkey for your advice, i will use 10mm. I assume it will be Ok to use the existing 63A RCD. Once again thanks.
Roger

 

[xraytek]

Whoops! Slapped wrist time is it. Sorry lads, just trying to save my daughter a bit of money and I have an electrician who always checks my work when I have completed. Sorry I upset you all...

Its good that you seek the correct information for carrying out the job, rather than making assumptions. But the problem is you will probably only get answers to the questions you ask, and nothing more.

You could easily follow the advice of this forum but locate the isolator (assuming you know one is required) in the wrong bathroom zone (assuming you know zones exist).

I think thats the reason why you received the response you got, so my advice is not to make assumptions and double check every last detail before you go ahead.

 

[Des 56]

Splinter
No problems with the phones in your home then
Wait till us holier than thou sparks want advise on telephone systems and get in there with the revenge
Boot on other foot will come

 

[monkeyelectric]

I have just finished installing underfloor heating at home and this has been passed as OK by my electrician mate. I am a careful and competent worker, having worked for BT for almost thirty years. Thanks Monkey for your advice, i will use 10mm. I assume it will be Ok to use the existing 63A RCD. Once again thanks.
Roger

Yeah that will be fine there is diversity applied to the other circuits (not the shower though) so that brings your maximum demand down and you're unlikely to use everything at the same time, all the rcd is for is protecting against earth fault not overcurrent, your sparky mate should be able to work all that out for you

 

[kduck]

The work is in the bathroom and its a new circuit so you need to notify your work to building control or if your spark is Part P reg he may do it.