- May 25, 2011
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- Practising Electrician (Qualified - Domestic or Commercial etc)
The other weekend I was away (getting wet in a tent) but ended up taking two callouts as the phone was on divert still. Couldn't attend in person as the wife would have killed me. One was simple enough and I told her to call someone else, but then on the other call it was 'the old dear' who's trip had gone. So I spent half an hour or so talking her through selectively turning circuits back on until she was back with something liveable - I think my phrase was something like 'let's get your lights and kettle back on at least'. Obviously, no means of charging her for time on the phone (though bless her she did put a £20 Tesco's gift card and thank you note in the post afterwards).
And I've just stumbled across this email exchange below whilst looking for something else..... so am I a soft touch fool to myself or just trying to be as professional as possible?
[From a blank email containing a DNO supply upgrade enquiry form.........]
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:01:20 +0100
From: xxxxxxxx
To: xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: shower
Dear Jacqui,
I've received this from you just now but have no idea why?! Is it a possibility that you meant to send this to another electrician, or is this something that you would like me to assist you with?
If the latter then I'll gladly do so, please explain the background for me (as you wouldn't normally need to upgrade a supply for a domestic electric shower!).
Kind Regards,On 21/08/2012 16:24, jacqueline spence wrote:
hi sorry it did get sent by mistake, but just wondered we are all electric with electric storage heaters for heating would we still be ok to put a shower in
Not a problem!
Now, whilst happy to give you some general pointers, you do need to understand that I'm saying this without having seen your property nor having any knowledge of the exact set-up that you have. It may be that a qualified electrician will take a look and offer you different advice based on what they have found rather than just me doing some guessing based on experience!
If your storage heaters are running on economy 7 (as in, they only come on over night) then unless you are in the habit of regularly showering for hours on end at 3am, then you're probably ok. Most homes are 'electrically quiet' overnight (hence the cheaper rate electricity on E7) so if this is the only case for needing an upgrade (which will cost you £££) then it's a fairly weak one. HOWEVER - if you have lots of other electric heating on during the day / evening from things like panel heaters, fan heaters etc then this WILL have an impact.
A 7.5kw electric shower in reality only draws around 30 amps, even a small house fitted with a 60A supply (most are normally 80A) can cope with that for the few minutes that it's on quite safely. Even a 'big expensive' sports power (10.5kW) will only draw around 40A.
Hope this helps! If you'd like me to come and take a look in person with a view to doing the works then let me know, I'd be happy to give you a quotation. In the meantime, if this has been helpful and saved you a few ££'s with another electrician then drop some change into the Cancer Research pot the next time you pass one.
Chris.
And I've just stumbled across this email exchange below whilst looking for something else..... so am I a soft touch fool to myself or just trying to be as professional as possible?
[From a blank email containing a DNO supply upgrade enquiry form.........]
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:01:20 +0100
From: xxxxxxxx
To: xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: shower
Dear Jacqui,
I've received this from you just now but have no idea why?! Is it a possibility that you meant to send this to another electrician, or is this something that you would like me to assist you with?
If the latter then I'll gladly do so, please explain the background for me (as you wouldn't normally need to upgrade a supply for a domestic electric shower!).
Kind Regards,On 21/08/2012 16:24, jacqueline spence wrote:
hi sorry it did get sent by mistake, but just wondered we are all electric with electric storage heaters for heating would we still be ok to put a shower in
Not a problem!
Now, whilst happy to give you some general pointers, you do need to understand that I'm saying this without having seen your property nor having any knowledge of the exact set-up that you have. It may be that a qualified electrician will take a look and offer you different advice based on what they have found rather than just me doing some guessing based on experience!
If your storage heaters are running on economy 7 (as in, they only come on over night) then unless you are in the habit of regularly showering for hours on end at 3am, then you're probably ok. Most homes are 'electrically quiet' overnight (hence the cheaper rate electricity on E7) so if this is the only case for needing an upgrade (which will cost you £££) then it's a fairly weak one. HOWEVER - if you have lots of other electric heating on during the day / evening from things like panel heaters, fan heaters etc then this WILL have an impact.
A 7.5kw electric shower in reality only draws around 30 amps, even a small house fitted with a 60A supply (most are normally 80A) can cope with that for the few minutes that it's on quite safely. Even a 'big expensive' sports power (10.5kW) will only draw around 40A.
Hope this helps! If you'd like me to come and take a look in person with a view to doing the works then let me know, I'd be happy to give you a quotation. In the meantime, if this has been helpful and saved you a few ££'s with another electrician then drop some change into the Cancer Research pot the next time you pass one.
Chris.
