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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> Old Skool Electrical Show & Wylex Standard CU https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1349609134 Message started by Gary on Oct 7^th, 2012, 12:25pm

Title: Old Skool Electrical Show & Wylex Standard CU
Post by Gary on Oct 7^th, 2012, 12:25pm

Hi All,

Recently purchased my first house (currently waiting for it to all go through) bought as project.

Currently has a Heatre Sadia Sapphire electric shower circa 1988 installed which I'm not 100% happy with the installation of.

http://www.partsarena.co.uk/baxi/System/DATA/Dx/DS1/installation/3044/I48-3044/I48-3044.htm

So far I've only been round the house twice and taken pictures, not been able to test anything etc.

The plan is a full rewire and probably a combi boiler (currently back boiler) in the new year - I'm just wanting to make sure in the interim that everything is as safe as possible, a family member nearly lost their house due to a similar shower installation and the circuit cable becoming the 'fuse'

Current setup

There is a metalclad Wylex Standard CU fitted with a mixture of MCB's and rewireable fuses. It looks like there has been work done in the past. The shower appears to be currently protected by a 30A rewireable fuse (based on labelling only), there is a 45A DP isolator mounted outside the bathroom. Wiring looks like it is 6mm (see CU picture)

Shower

My intial thoughts were that at the very minimum I should swap the rewireable for a Wylex plug in MCB. I was also under the impression that ideally the high rating circuits should be closet to the main switch.

Ideally the shower should be RCD protected as well

Should I bother with the MCB on a temporary basis or shall just junk the thing for the time being and get a combined bath tap/shower ?

Any thoughts chaps ?

(PS have spotted the tap shower attachment so know there is a good chance the shower is already Kaput)

Title: Re: Old Skool Electrical Show & Wylex Standard CU
Post by Lectrician on Oct 7^th, 2012, 5:28pm

There is little point replacing the rewireable fuse with an MCB, although if it made you feel safer, swap the one for the cooker over as thats not needed either.

An RCD would be required these days, but not previously. I would feel happier showering under it if there was an RCD.

Having the highest rated circuits closest to the main switch was a never a regulation, just a best practice. While most sparkies will still try to do this on new installs, when adding circuits we don't.

Title: Re: Old Skool Electrical Show & Wylex Standard CU
Post by Gary on Oct 7^th, 2012, 6:38pm

Thanks for the response.

So in short apart from putting a standalone RCD between the CU and shower not much point making any other changes

Like you I'm somewhat hesitant at showering under it without an RCD