9.5kw shower on a 6mm

[egginyourface]

This has probably been done to death, but...

What is the best thing to do if you find 9.5kw shower on a 6mm cable and 40 amp breaker??

I told the customer cabling needs upgrading

 

[telectrix]

how is thye cable installed. if it's clipped direct, part chased in masonry, no problem if not smothered in insulation.

 

[egginyourface]

Theres now way of telling installation method.

One thing that did worry me and suggested that original installer was a bit of a cowboy was that the earth cable had been snipped back in shower unit..

So i doubt any cable calcs had been done on this one

 

[GLENNSPARK]

have a look at page 282 brb........

 

[PC Electrics]

Nothing. Unless...

the circuit is over 39m long (would need to be a large house)
or
the installation method is not clipped direct or equivalent.

On what basis have you advised an increase to 10mm csa?

 

[egginyourface]

On the basis that the cable leaves the fusebox then disappears into a cieling making its way to 2nd floor bathroom. And the snipping off of the cpc tells me this was not installed by a competent person

Theres is no way of really knowing wether its covered in insulation or not...

 

[telectrix]

floorboards up, then

 

[cagedanimal2010]

is there a reason for wanting to change? pir?

 

[egginyourface]

The old shower packed up and plumber was called to replace it like for like. Its been working on 40amp breaker for a few years with no trouble. I did a insulation resistance test and it didnt show any break down in the cable...

What about insulation in the walls that the cable might be passing through??

Should i start cutting out holes

 

[cagedanimal2010]

they stud walls?

 

[egginyourface]

yepppp

 

[cagedanimal2010]

is the a switch local which you can drop the box out of?

 

[egginyourface]

Im sorry if this is a bit of a daft thread... But don't really knw what shoudl be done in this situation.

The board looks like its been recently upgraded and the previous sparks seems to have thought a 40 amp breaker would be just fine.

Now i've been there and helped replace shower and it becomes my responsibilty

 

[egginyourface]

sorry caged animal didnt understand your post

 

[cagedanimal2010]

a switch box,

 

[egginyourface]

Do you mean the double pole isolator

 

[cagedanimal2010]

anything local that is in the stud wall, switches, sockets, dp switches, that way instead of cutting holes there is already one there.

 

[egginyourface]

Ok, did as you suggested. Walls are full of insulation. Advised customer that cable be upgraded or shower can be downgraded.... Hes not very happy

thansk all

 

[gaz2212]

Smaller shower... Job done

 

[Smudge]

i've had similar happen to me. When i gave the customer the 'good' news, they thought i was at it, and bumped me off the job. Really don't understand why some 'sparks' even bother taking the risk. For the sake of litterally a couple of quid extra for bigger cable, which the customer would be paying for anyway, why risk lives?? Unless it was a plumber that thought he could upgrade the shower on his own...(also seen this)