Electrical Advice Required.

Sjdickso

I had a new shower fitted in october, last week we had a issue with it and a engineer has been today and fixed it.

What he did say though was a bit concerning i just want to clarify that this is correct.

the shower is a 8.5KW showing and i think the it is either 6 / 8mm twin & earth cable to the unit. I have a really old CU box, it's then one you actually use fuse wire. there is a couple of push button breakers. I think they is called wylex and i have got type B (push in type block)

Any way the engineer reckons i should have a 45amp breaker in there in stead of a 30amp one. He said it may be a fire risk how the current setup is.

I would have thought thought it would be safer with 30amp one as it will just trip if it gets too much.

Can anyone shed any light on this, sorry not very tecnical with electrical stuff.

I can only find 40amp ones on screwfix

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro ... 6&id=77992

But have come across these

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Electri ... tment=2615

4th from the bottom.

notsure.gif

Mark_Dj

It must need a bigger fuse to power it right, the lower fuse will keep blowing as it's running more power using the shower. Thats what I think anyway. Some of the lads will be able to help you out better 🙂

Sjdickso

Cheers Mark, but it has never popped / tripped since i have had it since october and the old shower never did either?

Mark_Dj

I am not sure then mate, it's probably a safety thing with it running more power.

vocky

the maximum current of the shower is about 37 Amperes, so you need a minimum of 40 A circuit breaker

as the current is greater than the 30A MCB it could melt

cable should be 6mm twin + earth

Sjdickso

Cheers Vocky, what would melt the cable from the CU unit? Would it just not trip out before it would melt?

Here is a picture of the current breaker

It says on the back 250V m,ax 5a m1 15 \ 45a m1.5

What type of breaker is it so i buy the correct one?

I presume i will have to buy online at the b&q ect waont stock things like this.

vocky

it's just safe electrical practice, it's better to over-rate than under-rate

Sjdickso

Neil, I think i just edit that post with pics as you reaplied. Do you know what breaker that is /\

vocky

they're quite old, they were introduced to replace fuse holders

Sjdickso

Will this one work from the link on my first post at tool station?

vocky

wylex do them on this site 😃

http://www.reconelectrical.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=27543

vocky

Sjdickso said:
Will this one work from the link on my first post at tool station?

that will do the job 😃

blimey they're hard to get hold of now dunno..

Sjdickso

😃 😃 Thats great Cheers!

l7jnd

Sjdickso said:
Cheers Vocky, what would melt the cable from the CU unit? Would it just not trip out before it would melt?

Here is a picture of the current breaker

It says on the back 250V m,ax 5a m1 15 \ 45a m1.5

What type of breaker is it so i buy the correct one?

I presume i will have to buy online at the b&q ect waont stock things like this.

Hi Mate,

if this is your current circuit breaker then it is made by MEM not Wylex and the wylex or equivalent units will not fit. Look at the pins. On your current breaker they look flat in the horizontal, the Wylex ones are flat in the vertical if this makes sense and they won't fit.

PM me a piccy of your fusebox and I'll be able to confirm if they will fit or not. Take the picture with the breaker out.

I run an electrical contracting firm and we deal with these things everyday.

I think you might be looking at a new fusebox / consumer unit.

vocky

well spotted that man 🙂

it's been quite a few years since I did any house wiring stuff, mainly computer controlled machines these days :lol:

I must admit my first thought was fit a new consumer unit, but they ain't cheap to have fitted, especially if you need the board to do the 'tails'

Sjdickso

Cheers for all your help guys. well i am prob going to have a new CU unit fitted some time this year.

vocky

well I would save your money and wait until you have the new consumer unit fitted 😃

your current unit must be very old, 30years + notsure.gif

Sjdickso

Neil my house is 23years old, so that will be the age of the fuse board / box . So when i have some spare cash thats what i will do, get a proper sparky in get a new Consumer unit fitted.

vocky

blimey, not so old then :shock:

must be me getting old :lol: