Chicken bald back

[bluekarin]

our electric shower is on its last legs (icy cold showers brr). It does this every winter, but this year we've had to turn the dial right up to where normally it would be scalding point. So, we need a new one.

 

Question is, which one?

 

We don't want to spend over £200 and it needs to be just an electric shower not a power one as we don't have the pump. Does anyone have any recommendations or even where to buy one from? I've just been looking at B&Q, Homebase and Wickes but am slightly bewildered.

[LeeMeadfan]

Hi - you can get some good showers for under £100 - all the stores you mentioned, plus Argos do some cheap deals.

 

One thing to watch for though is the wattage and whether your current (sorry unitentional 'electricty' related puns there! )wiring set up is suitable, otherwise they can cause your electirc to 'trip' out.

 

obviously you may already have suitable wiring etc. so I would go for looking at reviews and the cheaper the better!!!

Hope this helps a bit!

[LeeMeadfan]

sorry - meant to also say we had a Triton shower , that lasted ages and was still going strong when we moved. That was under £100.

Don't think they make the particular model we had anymore. We did have to replace a part on it (hubby is an electrician so luckily knew what he was doing!) but think we'd had it for approx. 5 years plus and was used 2-3 times daily (not by same person

[Egluntyne]

We got one from Wickes. Cheapo. Not massively powerful, but perfectly OK.

[Patricia W]

Triton here too.

[Steve the Gas]

Iirc, you need a 45amp mcb/fuse for a 10.5kw shower and 10mm2 cable to feed it.

8.5kw to 9kw I think 6mm2 cable and a 30 amp mcb/fuse, could be wrong tho - but helps in choosing the KW to suit your existing wiring..

[jon888]

ive just fitted a new shower in our bathroom as our old one was relieving water all over the floor.

 

The 1st thing to do is to check the power output of your shower and then either replace with like for like (in terms of power) or if you want to upgrade then make sure you check your existing electrical set up for you shower circuit. For a 7.5kw shower you'll need a 32A mcb. for 8.5kw and 9.5kw you'll need a 40A Mcb. For a 10.5kw you'll need a 45A mcb This information is available on the back of the shwoer box that I got from b&q. The fuses are easy to change and avail;able from b&q for around £7/8. It also strongly recomends that for showers rated above 8.5kw, 10mm^2 wiring should be used(although i read somewhere online that its really a must for 9.5kw). If you dont already have 10mm^2 for your shower circuit then it could mean a complete re-wire if you want to go above 8.5kw.

 

I upgraded from a 7.5 triton to an 8.5 triton and just changed the mcb and i've had no problems. All sorted for under £80

[Redwing]

We had a new shower fitted a couple of months ago

 

Our plumber said to get the same make as then the pipe would go in at the same point and mean that the tiling, old holes etc... will all kind of line up or be hidden (if that makes sense) so if your pipe goes in to the shower on the right at the bottom and you swap to one that goes in at the middle then the unit will be offset from where it was previously and what used to be behind the old shower will be visible, also bear in mind if the old shower was rectangular and the new one is curvy then the trunking for the wires may not sit as nicely etc...

 

What I am trying to say is that its maybe best to go for one the same shape and size as the old one if you are not redecorating!

 

Incidently our old shower was a Mira Zest and was excellent, the new one is a Mira Vie and not nearly so good

[Treekeeper]

Don't forget it is now illegal to carry out electrical work in your own home especially in the bathroom and kitchen.

[bluekarin]

Don't forget it is now illegal to carry out electrical work in your own home especially in the bathroom and kitchen.

 

Oh, I didn't know that. There is no mention when you look for new showers about it being a requirement to have an electrician fit it. Just a recommendation. We will get our BIL to check it is all safe (as that's his job).

 

We have gone for a Wickes own label (but really a Triton under the bonnet) Aquatronic + 2 (I think). I hope it will be okay. Be much better than what we currently have. It is a bigger unit to our old one, so no worries about old gubbins being on view. I think the pipes are on the correct sides, so that in theory be a fairly easy swap Thank you all for your help. It was much appreciated

[WarrensWorld]

Don't forget it is now illegal to carry out electrical work in your own home especially in the bathroom and kitchen.

I don't think so, I've fitted 3 and replaced 2 so far. As has already been stated, make sure the wiring is the correct guage and your MCB is the right rating and you'll be fine. If you're replacing like with like its really easy. Just make sure you remove the MCB whilst you're doing the work. Just in case someone switches it on, it has been known. Turning the water off is good too.......