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Actual KW Rating of Electric Shower

ebee

Did anyone ever get an answer from manufacturers?

Example, not that long ago really, they used to quote the the KW rating for 240V Electric showers, from that you could calculate the expected heater impedance and current rating.

So far so good.

Then our nominal voltage changed to 230V to Harmonise with Europe etc.

But the manufacturers kept their stated rating.

Some then pointed out that at 230V a straightforward resistive element (non electronic) shower would actually run at less current and less voltage (if the voltage was actually 230 not 240) therefore less KW. 

So they started, I think to list both ratings, probably to keep trading standards happy .

So, the advertised shower KW nowadays, which rating do they give in the headline power advert?

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  • 0

    IME, the power of most electric showers is advertised as being the power used when operated on 240 volts. This is IMHO reasonable as the actual supply voltage most of the time in most places is nearer 240 volts than 230 volts. It also gives a larger figure.

    If the shower is used on an actual 230 volt supply then it will use less amps, and fewer kw.

    Also beware manufacturing tolerances that could result in the actual loading being several % MORE OR LESS than the stated nominal loading. And of course the actual supply voltage might be more than 240 volts or less than 230 volts.

  • 0 in reply to broadgage

    Yes Agreed, I just wondered what voltage the based their figure on thesedays

  • 0 in reply to ebee

    I think most still use 240V because it makes the appliances appear more powerful. Do they not also state the Voltage?

    They obviously should state the Voltage for the Wattage quoted otherwise the figure is meaningless.

    There is obviously also the point that changing the nominal Voltage has no effect on appliances.

  • 0 in reply to geoffsd

    Yes I remember that they did change it to give two options - the wattage at 240V and at 230V, I think some had pointed out it should be quoted at 230V because, notationally, that had changed to 230V and rather than put the "new lower figure" only they quoted both, but it`s a while since they did that and I think they snuck em back in at 240V . Well I doubt they`d put only the 230V Wattage. As said there will be a tolerance on them anyway and I often find voltages of around 250V as measured anyway

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  • 0 in reply to geoffsd

    Yes I remember that they did change it to give two options - the wattage at 240V and at 230V, I think some had pointed out it should be quoted at 230V because, notationally, that had changed to 230V and rather than put the "new lower figure" only they quoted both, but it`s a while since they did that and I think they snuck em back in at 240V . Well I doubt they`d put only the 230V Wattage. As said there will be a tolerance on them anyway and I often find voltages of around 250V as measured anyway

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