Shower upgrade on a very old consumer unit

[sparky in training]

Hi all

Came across a situation today where somebody was enquiring about upgrading their shower from an 7.5kw to a 9.5. Apparently he had a very old consumer unit with only 4 circuits. lights up and down, sockets up and down. cooker and existing shower. I wanted to know how you guys would tackle this job? I'm aware of the requirements of ADS and cable sizing etc however how would you have dealt with he old fuse box, this contained the rewireable fuses.

Could you upgrade one of those fuses to say 45amp and then go into a new consumer unit with a MCB / RCD or RCBO or would you recommend a new CU?

Would the regulations see this as an alteration to an existing circuit seeing as the cabling will require upsizing? If it is classed as a new circuit can the existing CU be used as it is metal and just put an RCD in?

 

[Octopus]

I would give the option of the garage unit "lash up" or the additional cost for a new board ......................

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Replace the whole thing adding a garage board by splitting the supply is the house basher option.

It seems you are motivated by unnecessary board changes, a recent thread on multiple cables in an MCB had the same result. ££££'s I guess.
Not your money though is it.

 

[westward10]

It seems you are motivated by unnecessary board changes, a recent thread on multiple cables in an MCB had the same result. ££££'s I guess.
Not your money though is it.

We all work at different levels I suppose.

 

[7029 dave]

IMO, going for the CU upgrade does make good sense, however if the budget is tight then additional small 2 way will do the job. Lets remember all of us, that remembers countless switch gear for lights, power etc, we were all encouraged to condense such arrangements into one unit a long time ago.!

 

[MJPD29]

Replacing the whole board would be the best option but if they don't want to pay for it use a 1 way board protected by an end or just use an rcbo. Cable may also need changed to 10.mm depending on how far away shower is.

 

[WillWX]

I have no issue fitting a 2 way if needs be, however a 10mm cable in a Wylex 2 way with RCBO/s, is a horrible job, it's a real struggle to get everything to fit neatly. Stoopid things.

 

[Phil Thompson]

A complete shower board should run you around £35-40 , add in tails and escos and you're about £50 mark.
Should be less than going the RCBO route.

 

[telectrix]

i.m just still laughing at imagining leesparkykent fitting a 2 way CU to a OAP. wonder what size fixing screws fit a OAP's head.

 

[Dave OCD]

Inch '8s' should be perfectly adequate Tel.

 

[telectrix]

think he's need 2" 10's to penetrate my thick skull.

 

[dmxtothemax]

if the customer gets what they want, at a price they can afford, and it's safe.
Then thats game set and match !'