What does an electric shower really pull?

[acvc]

Not being able to afford a decent clamp meter ....... I was just wondering if electric showers do actually pull their stated load, i.e. the full 10.5/9.5/8.5kW. If they do, is it only as a boost to top up temperate intermittently? Or is it a constant load? I've just been thinking about a few situations I've come across where the MCB is rated lower than the shower load ..... and there hasn't been a problem.

Thanks chaps.

 

[SimpleSimon]

im a college goer so please forgive me ive got this wrong but refering to the under-rated mcb....

my understanding is that say its a 10kw shower it will pull 43.5A at full chat.
so refering to fig 3A4 in the bgb if 60898 type b mcb was rated at 32A it would take in excess of 10,000 seconds to trip (over 2 and a half hours) does that answer the question or have i got it wrong? will i require my tin hat?

Dave

EDIT: Too slow...simplesimon beat me to it

Hats off, your answer was better than mine.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

 

[Darkwood]

I came across a 10.5kW shower on a 40A MCB last week, and the guy had never had a problem with it in years. Just got me thinking.

As simple simon says you can get away with underated mcb/rcbo's because the time/current curve isnt usually met to warrant a tripping condition for the short duration of a showers use as a ball park a type b mcb/rcbo would last approx 30mins at 50amps which is 5 amps above a 10.5kw running on 230v, at 45amps its off the page and will probably take hours.
Note!... this is just an explanation as to why it dont trip and shouldnt be put into the design of the circuit and relied upon so as to be able to underate the mcb/rcbo.

 

[1shortcircuit]

A dumb question is one that isn't asked. We cannot all know everything and I'm sure someone else will be so pleased that they will not have to ask this question now:thumbsup

PS Have a look at this little beauty

 

[Silly Sausage]

What does an electric shower really pull?


Well if said shower is in a luxury environment, with lots of seductive, sensual and erotic things smooching around, and you've got a big fat wallet, probably some nice looking women.

Otherwise...

Stick an ameter in series on the neutral

 

[Geordie Spark]

I've turned over a new leaf in the politeness stakes since a poster told me off

Waddya mean lyke??? .......... us Geordies are ALWAYS polite !!!!

 

[Guest111]

If your skint buy a cheap one for now and when you realise how handy they are you can buy a dearer one,I bought my apprentice one for about 12 quid,was accurate enough to give him an idea and then I checked with my good one.Trust me worth their weight in gold and if you get a clamp that does DC as well even better,

 

[Paul.M]

I bought a Handyman clamp meter from the elex show last year for £20+ vat from the metrel stand (sister company). Not perfectly accurate but worth its weight in gold.

 

[telectrix]

i managed to get an alphatec 633 just as they were disappearing . nice little meter for under £60. resolution of 1mA, so not the top of the tree, but will do till i win the lottery.