You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion
Two high-power appliances on a single 40A RCD
Former Community Member
I have an electric shower installed on a 40A RCD, in a room adjacent to my kitchen. The shower is only used in an emergency - i.e. when our gas boiler is unable to provide hot water to our main bathroom. I would like to take a spur from this 40A connection to use for a new double oven, which is rated at 32A. Can anyone advise on a safe and legal way to do this, ensuring that only one of the two appliances can be connected at any one time?
Assuming a decent job was made installing the shower circuit the fabric of the building will have to be dismantled or flooring and the floor lifted anyway, unless it is accessible in a loft or runs up surface fixed, so hat sufficient cable can be accessed to install a junction box to divert the cable.
Then the additional equipment installed and alterations carried out, before making good again.
That is probably half the work of installing a completely new circuit and getting on for the same materials cost.
The cost of the cable to run back to the consumer unit, a RCBO and the other bits and pieces is not significant and I really cannot imagine the labour cost would be in the region of £800 for pulling a cable through a house, for that amount of money you can certainly take time and care doing it.
Andy Betteridge
Thanks for the info - and particularly the estimate of possible cost. Cost is, perhaps unsurprisingly, a significant issue. This is particularly true in the context of the purpose of the exercise, which is to install a £400 oven.
As a comparison, what do you think I should expect to pay for an alternative solution using either an MCB changeover switch or shower priority unit?
Assuming a decent job was made installing the shower circuit the fabric of the building will have to be dismantled or flooring and the floor lifted anyway, unless it is accessible in a loft or runs up surface fixed, so hat sufficient cable can be accessed to install a junction box to divert the cable.
Then the additional equipment installed and alterations carried out, before making good again.
That is probably half the work of installing a completely new circuit and getting on for the same materials cost.
The cost of the cable to run back to the consumer unit, a RCBO and the other bits and pieces is not significant and I really cannot imagine the labour cost would be in the region of £800 for pulling a cable through a house, for that amount of money you can certainly take time and care doing it.
Andy Betteridge
Thanks for the info - and particularly the estimate of possible cost. Cost is, perhaps unsurprisingly, a significant issue. This is particularly true in the context of the purpose of the exercise, which is to install a £400 oven.
As a comparison, what do you think I should expect to pay for an alternative solution using either an MCB changeover switch or shower priority unit?
