Shower 9.5kw

[leepy]

Hi all my sister bought a house with old 9.5 shower she's had bathroom
Upgraded and plumber ask her if she wanted like for like shower fitting so he's fitted a 9.5 kw shower its fed on a 6mm cable fused at 45amp mcb today the pull switch failed when the shower pull switch was open the live cable to shower is all burnt,
Please can we have advise on this situation

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Op- been said already, get a proper electrician in!!!

Sounds like that circuit has been compromised & needs checking. What area are you in? (as in london, midlands, etc).
If not keen in a forum member checking it, try the competant persons register, at least they will all have paid to be above board, assessed each year,etc.

 

[leepy]

I'm in Leeds wot my worry is is the cable up to the job cause it's only 6mm also it's not rcd protected the plumber said I will put like for like in and he said the previous one was 9.5 kw thanks for your help looked on net at different opinions regarding 6mn being ok and some say 10 mm

 

[SPARTYKUS]

I'm in Leeds wot my worry is is the cable up to the job cause it's only 6mm also it's not rcd protected the plumber said I will put like for like in and he said the previous one was 9.5 kw thanks for your help looked on net at different opinions regarding 6mn being ok and some say 10 mm

As said in other posts depends on the route (every inch of it, not most of it) that the cable takes. 6mm squared is on the cusp really and I think alot of (if not all) sparkys fitting it from new would use the next size up (10 mm squared).

I am more worried that the circuit is damaged. That is why you need it looked at professionally.

All the best

Spartykus

p.s. there are some very sound individuals on here based in Leeds

 

[goldie]

Leepy, without finding out the current carrying capacity of the cable which is always quite hard if we dont know which route the cable has taken and what thermal effects etc have to be taken into account.
As a rule i wouldnt install a 6mm2 t+e for a 9.5kw appliance,
I would have used 10mm2 t+e. If i was in your situation i would fit an 8kw shower and replace mcb/rcbo for a 32a, or replace the cable to a 10mm2 t+e if your keeping the same shower unit. If your keeping the same cable make sure you pull as much of the damaged stuff out before terminating and essential testing would be necessary to make sure the cable is still safe to use and that its got the correct protection. Oh and swap your pull switch. It may be that the existing 6mm2 cable is not capable of carrying the current required at full load so will become damaged/burnt before the protective device trips.

 

[oldtimer]

Remember if a plumber can do electrics whats the point of us but yet again on this forum stupid plumbers upgrading showers but the catch is they are not going to be there when the customer discovers that the shower is too big for the supply cable plus burnt cables are down to bad or slack connection but what the hell go for an 11kw shower and I keep asking where is this going to stop

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Will get worse before it gets better oldtimer. I think.

 

[Engineer54]

Leepy, without finding out the current carrying capacity of the cable which is always quite hard if we dont know which route the cable has taken and what thermal effects etc have to be taken into account.
As a rule i wouldnt install a 6mm2 t+e for a 9.5kw appliance,
I would have used 10mm2 t+e. If i was in your situation i would fit an 8kw shower and replace mcb/rcbo for a 32a, or replace the cable to a 10mm2 t+e if your keeping the same shower unit. If your keeping the same cable make sure you pull as much of the damaged stuff out before terminating and essential testing would be necessary to make sure the cable is still safe to use and that its got the correct protection. Oh and swap your pull switch. It may be that the existing 6mm2 cable is not capable of carrying the current required at full load so will become damaged/burnt before the protective device trips.

Doubt very much that this shower will be operated at anywhere near full load, ...not unless his sister has skin like leather!! ...lol!!! It's the same with most of these other high KW shower units. They just heat up the shower water a little quicker, as far as i can see.... lol!!

 

[SPARTYKUS]

agree engineer54 but I have been to house where the shower had been left on all night ...... usually they're only on for a bit and not at full rated load but as you know you have to cover muppetry as well !!

 

[Engineer54]

I don' particually like the things myself, i've only experienced them once and that was only a 4.5KW unit last time i was in China. That was plenty hot enough for me, (or anybody else) and couldn't turn that thing up more than half way, so why they have 8.O, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5KW shower unit's i just don't know?? ...Seems like madness to me!!

 

[SPARTYKUS]

I don' particually like the things myself, i've only experienced them once and that was only a 4.5KW unit last time i was in China. That was plenty hot enough for me, (or anybody else) and couldn't turn that thing up more than half way, so why they have 8.O, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5KW shower unit's i just don't know?? ...Seems like madness to me!!

Prefer a tank of hot water and a pump meself.....

 

[Engineer54]

Well that's what i'm used too, and luckily have now!! lol!!

 

[oldtimer]

Prefer a tank of hot water and a pump meself.....

Thats what I have and people are "amazed" when they ask me being an electrician why dont I have an electric shower

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Doesn't matter how many kWatts, in comparison to the above they're all.... In my best oiyrish, "shoite". Ps hope not too clise to bone mods!

 

[telectrix]

it's a bit like having a 54" plasma TV in a 12ft square living room.just that it's 2" bigger than next door's.

 

[Engineer54]

Thats what I have and people are "amazed" when they ask me being an electrician why dont I have an electric shower

I know what you mean....lol!! I also don't particually like electric hobs either, much prefer gas, although i do like the new induction hobs which i fairly recently purchased in Cyprus. Normal electric hobs there just isn't any control over the heat. Even when you've finished cooking the bloody things are still hot enough to fry several eggs on...lol!!