Electrical question - power shower wiring help please
20 May 2007, 10:45 PM
#1
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Electrical question - power shower wiring help please
Trying to work out where our power shower has failed. There is a box on the bathroom ceiling that has a power cord for the shower. Its always been left on. The power shower was being used today and all of a sudden just went off, looked at the box on the ceiling and the red power led had gone off.
Thought maybe the pump had over heated and auto shut off so just pulled the chord so the box was off and left it while we went out for the day. Come home and its still not working. Had the box off to see if there is a fuse in it and doesn't appear to be, just very thick wires joining via a connector block with the switch for the chord in the middle.
So where else would the fuse be for a power shower? The pump is in the airing cupboard but no obvious place near it for where it may be fused. I'm assuming this doesn't have its own fuse in the fuse box and all other electrics are working fine.
Thought maybe the pump had over heated and auto shut off so just pulled the chord so the box was off and left it while we went out for the day. Come home and its still not working. Had the box off to see if there is a fuse in it and doesn't appear to be, just very thick wires joining via a connector block with the switch for the chord in the middle.
So where else would the fuse be for a power shower? The pump is in the airing cupboard but no obvious place near it for where it may be fused. I'm assuming this doesn't have its own fuse in the fuse box and all other electrics are working fine.
20 May 2007, 10:50 PM
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Ah thanks, just edited above as I didn't think this would have its own individual fuse in the fuse box, like when the house was built and wired up there was no power shower so no provision for it in the fuse box?
Next question, how the hell do I find which fuse it is in the fuse box as nothing appears to be marked up when I looked at it earlier?
Next question, how the hell do I find which fuse it is in the fuse box as nothing appears to be marked up when I looked at it earlier?
21 May 2007, 07:58 AM
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A bit of confusion here.
Are we talking a power shower. ie the hot water comes off the central heating system and is mixed with cold water but at higher pressure through a pump.
Or are we talking about an electric shower that heats cold water as it passes through the shower unit.
Two different units and different wiring.
Cheers
Lee
Are we talking a power shower. ie the hot water comes off the central heating system and is mixed with cold water but at higher pressure through a pump.
Or are we talking about an electric shower that heats cold water as it passes through the shower unit.
Two different units and different wiring.
Cheers
Lee
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21 May 2007, 09:31 AM
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Hi Lee its one of these Gainsborough Shower Spares - Gainsborough Energy 2000x
and from googling it I think its an electric shower but there is a pump in the airing cupboard which I was assuming was to do with the shower.
and from googling it I think its an electric shower but there is a pump in the airing cupboard which I was assuming was to do with the shower.
21 May 2007, 09:51 AM
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It's an electric shower then, usually just come straight off your mains cold water pressure.
If you haven't got the neon on your pull cord switch then it's nothing to do with the shower at this stage.
You may have an extra breaker somewhere near your fusebox or one big breaker or fuse in your fusebox rated at 40-45amp, this will be tripped or blown.
As to why it's tripped or blown, that's your next problem.
Cheers
Lee
If you haven't got the neon on your pull cord switch then it's nothing to do with the shower at this stage.
You may have an extra breaker somewhere near your fusebox or one big breaker or fuse in your fusebox rated at 40-45amp, this will be tripped or blown.
As to why it's tripped or blown, that's your next problem.
Cheers
Lee
21 May 2007, 04:30 PM
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Was a 30A fuse that had gone, nothing else on that circuit though. How come an electric shower has a circuit all to itself?
The biggest problem was trying to buy new fuses for the fuse box, went to all the places you would think like DIY stores and they didn't sell them
eventually got pointed to an electrical trade supplies unit on an industrial estate who had them. I asked why they are so difficult to buy now and he said its because houses are now built with circuit breakers and not fuse boxes! Thats great but what about all the thousands of houses that still have the old system of fuse boxes and who still need to be able to buy fuses for them?!
The biggest problem was trying to buy new fuses for the fuse box, went to all the places you would think like DIY stores and they didn't sell them
eventually got pointed to an electrical trade supplies unit on an industrial estate who had them. I asked why they are so difficult to buy now and he said its because houses are now built with circuit breakers and not fuse boxes! Thats great but what about all the thousands of houses that still have the old system of fuse boxes and who still need to be able to buy fuses for them?!
21 May 2007, 07:44 PM
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Do you know what KW the shower is?
The smallest shower in the link you posted was 7KW
Anything 7.5KW and above and it's going to blow again given a long enough shower.
7KW is right on the knuckle.
7000W/230V= 30.5amp
You can modify most fuse boxes to accept circuit breakers, some manufacturers sell direct plug in circuit breakers to replace fuses.
Electric showers need a seperate feed due to the the very high current they draw. I have a 10.5KW shower which has it's own distribution board with tails direct from the meter, 63A rated RCD, 50Amp Circuit Breaker and dedicated 10mm feed to the shower.
If you ever upgrade your shower remember the rest of the system will need upgrading as well.
Cheers
Lee
The smallest shower in the link you posted was 7KW
Anything 7.5KW and above and it's going to blow again given a long enough shower.
7KW is right on the knuckle.
7000W/230V= 30.5amp
You can modify most fuse boxes to accept circuit breakers, some manufacturers sell direct plug in circuit breakers to replace fuses.
Electric showers need a seperate feed due to the the very high current they draw. I have a 10.5KW shower which has it's own distribution board with tails direct from the meter, 63A rated RCD, 50Amp Circuit Breaker and dedicated 10mm feed to the shower.
If you ever upgrade your shower remember the rest of the system will need upgrading as well.
Cheers
Lee
21 May 2007, 09:48 PM
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Lee thank you for that explanation. The link I posted is the model of my shower. Its always been fine for the last 2.5 years and however long before we moved in but when it blew it was after the shower had been used for a long time by the Mrs and then straight after by my son so I guess it was on too long for that size fuse. Plus the fuse looked old compared to all the others I checked.
I will go back to that electrical wholesaler where I got the fuses from and ask if they can get me the circuit breakers for the fuse box as that would be much better.
I will go back to that electrical wholesaler where I got the fuses from and ask if they can get me the circuit breakers for the fuse box as that would be much better.
21 May 2007, 10:02 PM
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Looks like that model was available in a range of differing power outputs which is quite common. 7KW, 7.5KW, 8.5KW, 9.5KW 10.5KW etc etc.
Depends on which output you have as to how long a 30amp fuse or breaker is going to last before it blows or trips.
Cheers
Lee
Depends on which output you have as to how long a 30amp fuse or breaker is going to last before it blows or trips.
Cheers
Lee
22 May 2007, 08:10 AM
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If there is nothing marked on the internals or casing of the shower you are buggered. 
Wouldn't worry too much if the first 30 amp fuse has lasted 2.5 years.
If you can match up a circuit breaker for the board they usually come as 32 amp which will give you a touch more without any safety issues.
Cheers
Lee
Wouldn't worry too much if the first 30 amp fuse has lasted 2.5 years.
If you can match up a circuit breaker for the board they usually come as 32 amp which will give you a touch more without any safety issues.
Cheers
Lee
22 June 2007, 02:26 PM
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Turns out the shower itself has been on its way out, changed the fuses a couple of times until it finally went pop the other day and smoke billowed out the fuse box and the wiring melted about 4-6 inches back up the cabling 
Now having the fuse box replaced with trip switches and a new electric shower. Only got 6mm wiring though so can't have anything powerful, luckily an uncle has his own electricians firm so has checked it all out for me and told me what was what.
Thanks again for your help Lee.
Now having the fuse box replaced with trip switches and a new electric shower. Only got 6mm wiring though so can't have anything powerful, luckily an uncle has his own electricians firm so has checked it all out for me and told me what was what.
Thanks again for your help Lee.
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