multiple showers

[captain_scarlet]

i want to install 2 showers, 1 into the upstairs bathroom and 1 downstairs bathroom ( my house is a terraced house that used to be a pair of flats). now i've read other posts here and understand that they cannot both be powered by using only 1 electric cable. also it seems that running 2 showers from 1 fuse box is'nt a good idea either because of the current drawn.( fuse box is to be replaced with a modern consumer unit soon).

but would'nt an electric cooker and a shower unit draw the same amount of current? if so then why not have 2 shower units, since 1 shower would take the place of the electric cooker at the fuse box (i have a gas cooker)?

if thats not feasible what are my options? install 1 electric shower and run the second from the combi boiler, or a shower pump but i'm not really sure what they are and would it work ok with a combi boiler?

 

[chrishutt]

If you have a combi boiler you will get a much better shower from that than with electric heating - about 3 times the flow of hot water! Maybe one electric shower as a back up in case the combi breaks down makes sense, but you could even run two showers off some of the more powerful combis.

 

[ChrisR]

Cookers don't have all the rings + the oven all on at once as a rule so sparkies apply "diversity".
Combi for one shower and electric for the other would be my choice too.

No electic shower lasts very long. If it's used a couple of times a day, two years seems to be about your lot . Personally I don't see the point of paying £250 for one when you can get the same power for £100 or less. I'd buy two cheap ones and keep one as a spare - at least you know you have one which you can fit quickly and easily when the first dies.
Have as high power as you can find though, say 10 Kw.