Shower replaced by plumber blows fuse

[loz2754]

Got called to customer who has had a shower replaced 2 months ago by a plumber. Keeps blowing the fuse...

Turns out the replacement shower is rated at 10.5 kW.

Here is a picture of the consumer unit:

The shower is actually fed from the 15 amp BS1361 fuse for the immersion heater, next to the lights. Along with the immersion heater!
The fuse carrier is now permanently welded closed.

The good news the circuit is wired in 10mm cable.

Bloody plumbers!

Needless to say I'll be returning next week to test the whole flat and replace the consumer unit...

 

[westward10]

The lights on the 32A breaker?

 

[loz2754]

Well spotted

 

[buzzlightyear]

Whoho, a lighting on a 32 amp.i was first. Lol.

 

[loz2754]

Incidentally I've decided to go with 2 side by side consumer units instead of a dual tariff. Tons cheaper.

 

[Timbo]

What's an "IMMERS HATER"?
On peak 3.

 

[Pete999]

What's an "IMMERS HATER"?
On peak 3.

Heater that don't like getting wet?

 

[Vortigern]

Snap! just last week doing EICR found 9.5kw shower on 32a MCB and 6mm² and the terminations were tight, so tight I could not undo the L cable screw, welded.

 

[nicebutdim]

In laws got a shower upgraded to 9.5kW, a couple of years back, and recently asked me to take a look a it as fuse was blowing periodically.

You guessed it - 32A fuse in a melted carrier and 6mm cable.

Told them to get a spark in as a matter of urgency and not to use that shower until then. It's going to be a new board for a number of reasons, so it seemed best that the news should come from someone with qualifications. Chances are they've ignored the advice and will carry on until they break the fuse carrier. Terminations are all good and show no signs of thermal damage, but that fuse must be getting seriously hot.

Apparently the spark who installed this shower mentioned that the set up "wasn't ideal".

 

[Mike Johnson]

I am very old fashioned and have always fitted gravity showers in my properties, do people go for electric showers because they are easier to fit, or is there some other reason?

Or on another tack, with the modern trend towards mains pressure hot water tanks, I would think shower installations will change in the near future.

 

[pc1966]

I am very old fashioned and have always fitted gravity showers in my properties, do people go for electric showers because they are easier to fit, or is there some other reason?

Endless hot water without a combi boiler?

At least until the electric bill comes along!

 

[Mike Johnson]

I suppose it does away with the HWT and unfortunately the airing cupboard, does that mean that people without airing cupboards all have linenfold cupboards instead ? or am I just showing my age.

 

[pc1966]

Airing cupboards were handy places for wine/beer brewing.

 

[Mike Johnson]

And starting off your veg.

 

[littlespark]

I think I’m going to beat you, but I’ll have to get back into the customers house to take a photo for proof.

32A mcb to 4mm t&e.
t&e into 13A switch fused outlet
2x 1.5 t&e then to shower.
Couldn’t see rating plate on shower, but guess 7kW or above

I will be tearing this out in the coming weeks, and it’s already disconnected, by me... as the customer said the shower doesn’t work, and they’re remodelling the bathroom.

I suppose, if they had the shower on low, the 13A fuse might have held???