Help needed - shower!

[Adam_151]

Is it a unit manufactured by Gainsborough?

 

[Softus]

Feeling a bit silly now. I was just thinking about it and when the shower was initially fitted it had to be "primed" by pressing the on/off switch. I just checked and without the isolation switch turned on the water doesn't heat up

Well that might explain the confusion with the switch, however...

I'm guessing it's just something that neither of us had seen before and is perfectly safe to use

No!

The old shower was 7Kw and the new one is 8.5Kw. Does that really make a difference?

Yes - it's potentially dangerous, because the new shower will draw more current than the old, and the installer should have determined that the increase can be handled by all of the electrical components in the circuit. The risk is of overheating, and this can start a fire.

Do not use the shower until someone competent has checked the circuit.

I thought because I was just swapping one for the other that it would be simple and straightforward.

It's not your fault - this is a common misconception, but please find someone who's qualified.

I'm disabled so short of cash and really need my shower working.

I'm sorry to hear that, but this is something that can't be risked. If you're disabled then a fire would be even more devastating (i.e. possibly fatal) than for an able-bodied person.

 

[retro]

Is it a unit manufactured by Gainsborough?

Yep.

 

[dynomo]

When you switch off the isolator or the MCB, are you saying that the water still keeps flowing, or that the water does not go cold?

Your old shower may have had a solenoid which cuts off the water flow when isolated, your new shower may not.

Feeling a bit silly now. I was just thinking about it and when the shower was initially fitted it had to be "primed" by pressing the on/off switch. I just checked and without the isolation switch turned on the water doesn't heat up

I'm guessing it's just something that neither of us had seen before and is perfectly safe to use

Thanks alot guys.

Retro

DOH!!