50 A Shower Isolator?

[Paulmcfadyen]

I want to upgrade my shower to 10.8 kW using 10 mm2 cable protected by a 50 A MCB. I understand this calls for a 50 A isolating switch. I don't want a ceiling pull cord as I want to keep the switch outside the bathroom, on the wall as with the present 45 A switch. Can anybody tell me where to get the 50 A plate switch that I require?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Crabtree do a good range of 50A plate switches, with & without neons, in white and various metals.

Unless you've got the sort of decor where this would be "cool ", and not "what the **** ":

Serious suggestion - check the small print of your shower spec (what make is it, BTW?) - if it's 10.8kW at 240V, then that is 45A.

 

[Paulmcfadyen]

Cheers for the quick reply. My decor would be of the "What the f***" variety. Not bought the shower yet, but probably going to get a mira sport 10.8. I've just checked, and that IS 10.8 kW at 240V, so I'm OK with a 45A switch, but only just?

Also, I'll need to upgrade from 6mm2 cable. Is it OK to run the new cable along the wall, just below the ceiling, then hide it behind coving which I plan to put up? I'd put it in the loft, but living in an intermediate floor flat, that's not really possible...

 

[fubar]

I've just checked, and that IS 10.8 kW at 240V, so I'm OK with a 45A switch, but only just?

You are okay with 45A. The manufacturers build in a small safety margin so it is fine to use a 45A isolator to switch just under 45A, but it is not okay to use a 45A isolator to switch more than 45A.

Also, I'll need to upgrade from 6mm2 cable. Is it OK to run the new cable along the wall, just below the ceiling, then hide it behind coving which I plan to put up?

It is okay to run the new cable along the top of the wall in a zone that extends 150mm from the top of the wall although I would strongly recommend that you create a channel, fix the cable in the channel and then fill over, before fixing your coving. Because you are putting up coving, you don't need to worry about making a good job of skimming over the cable and channelling the cable will avoid any nasty surprises if someone tries to take the coving down again.

If the coving is polystyrine based, you must provide some kind of barrier that prevents the polystyrine touching the (probably whie or gray) pvc insulation on the cable, even if the coving or cable were to shift.

--
Michael