Need an extra RCD in the consumer?

[W.olly]

To day i wired up for my welder so i can use it at full wack, now i wired it to the cunsumer unit in the house that had a spare 40amp ( old shower RCD ), but now SWMBO want to keep the shower but i have taken the power for it.

As the consumer has no spare RCDs is there any type of RCD that i can fit as there is a bit of room along side for one to be fitted for the shower.

 

[rtbcomp]

RCD or MCB?

 

[madkayaker]

To day i wired up for my welder so i can use it at full wack, now i wired it to the cunsumer unit in the house that had a spare 40amp ( old shower RCD ), but now SWMBO want to keep the shower but i have taken the power for it.

As the consumer has no spare RCDs is there any type of RCD that i can fit as there is a bit of room along side for one to be fitted for the shower.

leave it to people who know what there doing

 

[ford34/2]

I believe there are loads of regs and guidance on electric showers, its not quite as easy as sticking a 40 amp MCB in a spare hole in a consumer board, the shower needs a 30 m/amp RCB, however the disb board needs to cope with a lot of amps, and the Isolation switch I think is min 80amp rating, new showers are big powerful appliances and may need big cables to supply them, you used to need a double pole on/off switch accesable to switch the shower on and off when not in use.
IF I WAS YOU,and as its megga important I would get some very professional help and a survey.Do it once and do it right.
It may be notifiable as well, but i`m not a leccy.

Stan

+ are all the bathroom pipes and fittings earthed???

 

[AndyStobbs]

Your shower wiring is still in place if I'm reading this correctly, is that the case?
All you've done is remove the wire from the DB, and put the welder wire in its place?

But the Mrs wants the option of the shower in the future, meaning you cant use the welder. You need a bigger DB essentially.

 

[W.olly]

Your shower wiring is still in place if I'm reading this correctly, is that the case?
All you've done is remove the wire from the DB, and put the welder wire in its place?

But the Mrs wants the option of the shower in the future, meaning you cant use the welder. You need a bigger DB essentially.

Yep thats correct

All i am asking is if there are RCD`s that can be added to a consumer unit along side the one ones that are already fixed in there, if not i will sorting a new consumer unit with a bigger rating, it will be a lot easier to fit a extra RCD than fit a new consumer unit.

 

[brightspark]

Yep thats correct

All i am asking is if there are RCD`s that can be added to a consumer unit along side the one ones that are already fixed in there, if not i will sorting a new consumer unit with a bigger rating, it will be a lot easier to fit a extra RCD than fit a new consumer unit.

is there a spare slot in the db not been used to put an extra mcb in . and what make of unit is it some mcb will fit diffrent makes of boards but some wont

 

[W.olly]

is there a spare slot in the db not been used to put an extra mcb in . and what make of unit is it some mcb will fit diffrent makes of boards but some wont

Dont know the make, its an old type that has some fuses the lights and sockets rings , but some have been replaced with RCD`s There is no more slots left, the reason i was wondering if there any RCD`s that can be added along side.

If need be it will be a new CU, he shower can wait.

 

[BrokenBiker]

can we get one thing straight first? do you want another RCD (residual current device) or an MCB (miniature circuit breaker) or 'fuse'

I am guessing you need an MCB as you will usually have 1 or 2 Rcds controlling a block of mcb's each on a split load. the rcd is not an over current device, it breaks the circuit if it detects a leak to earth. even if you do put in another RCD you will still need a breaker as well.

If you have no more space to fit anything, you need a new CU, and as MK says, leave it to someone who know what they are doing. putting a new circuit in (which you would need to do if you want 40 amp supply for a welder) is notifiable so you will need a test and inspection done as well.

 

[brightspark]

Dont know the make, its an old type that has some fuses the lights and sockets rings , but some have been replaced with RCD`s There is no more slots left, the reason i was wondering if there any RCD`s that can be added along side.

If need be it will be a new CU, he shower can wait.

probably an old wylex if it has fuses and plug in mcb.s sounds like a new db required and upgrade your earth bonding and a wiring test either that or buy a 2way consumer unit with rcd mainswitch and put it on a seperate supply

 

[W.olly]

probably an old wylex if it has fuses and plug in mcb.s sounds like a new db required and upgrade your earth bonding and a wiring test either that or buy a 2way consumer unit with rcd mainswitch and put it on a seperate supply

Thanks kida, ill sort a new CU then.

And sorry, my mistake i should of been saying MCB`s not the RCD`s