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Electric Showers and plumbers

I had a phone call from my son yesterday, the shower in his house had broken and not being a plumber/electrician got a couple of quotes. The old one was 6.5 kW with 6mm cable. The plumbers all seemed to think that the cable and MCB should be replaced as the current rating was inadequate for a replacement, the MCB is 40A. I had a quick check what could be fitted as there are many more powerful ones available and this weather the water is not wonderfully warm! I have not really thought about shower cables for a long time as they are almost always in good condition. Table 4D2 6mm clipped direct says 46A, continuous rating. A 10.5kW shower takes 45.65A on 230V so is quite satisfactory on the 6mm cable. In fact, the model I was looking at (Mira fancy thermostatic, expensive) would only take this power at full flow and temperature rise as it has electronic thermostatic proportional control and normal running current would be modulated and somewhat less. I consider this to be perfectly satisfactory, but the plumbers obviously haven't read the regulations. I often find the same with cookers, various sellers suggest 10mm cable, which may well not be the existing size. Should any change be made, and why do would you do this?
Parents
  • Now that's a product - pity it is discontinued...

    I imagine it is not considered green, but set against laundry and putting bits of towel fluff in the seawater etc it may or may not be that bad.

    Specifications
    Electrical nominal power nominal power

    rating at 240V 
    9.0kW – (40A MCb rating) 
    rating at 230V   8.3kW – (40A MCb rating)

    Trickle current on OFF mode is 0.04A at 240V
    (9.6W) but is not isolated.
    Minimum cross sectional area of supply cable is 6mm².

    Derating factors should always be taken
    into consideration when selecting cable size.
Reply
  • Now that's a product - pity it is discontinued...

    I imagine it is not considered green, but set against laundry and putting bits of towel fluff in the seawater etc it may or may not be that bad.

    Specifications
    Electrical nominal power nominal power

    rating at 240V 
    9.0kW – (40A MCb rating) 
    rating at 230V   8.3kW – (40A MCb rating)

    Trickle current on OFF mode is 0.04A at 240V
    (9.6W) but is not isolated.
    Minimum cross sectional area of supply cable is 6mm².

    Derating factors should always be taken
    into consideration when selecting cable size.
Children
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