Swapping like for like electric shower

Tilikum17 · 30-06-2021 08:41AM #1

Just wondering would this be farly straight forward to do?turn off the power, turn off the mains.

Outkast_IRE · 30-06-2021 08:48AM

Assuming its a mains fed shower by what you have said so far.

After you turn off the mains leave the kitchen tap open so the water in the pipe naturally tries to drain to that as much as possible.

If you are competent its not a bad job , but a word of caution in that there is a lot of power going to the shower, you need to ensure the cables are very secure in the terminals of the new shower and there is no sign of overheating on the cable. Make sure the kW rating of the new shower is the same or less than the old.

Also you need to be 100% sure you are leak free on the water side as water and electrics are potentially deadly.

Ensure you follow the instructions around sealing it up afterwards too . Actually read the instructions that come with it and you will be fine. Lads that run into problems dont read the instructions correctly and skip steps.

If in any doubt whatsoever , get a professional . Swapping a like for like shower is an easy job for them and they should be happy to take it on.

listermint · 30-06-2021 08:51AM

I'm very much DIY orientated. But for this if you have to ask. Get someone in tbh.

TheChizler · 30-06-2021 08:54AM

It's one thing I wouldn't do myself, electrician I called had difficulty getting a satisfactory earth which is something I wouldn't have been able to check for with a standard multimeter. Did all the prep work though.

kirving · 30-06-2021 08:55AM

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

you need to ensure the cables are very secure in the terminals of the new shower and there is no sign of overheating on the cable

Just on this point, they must be very secure as there will be high current and vibration from the motor. Just be careful not over tighten the terminals either. You want to avoid damaging the cable or breaking the terminal block. Use the correctly sized screwdriver so as not to damage the screw head too.

Then follow the commissions procedure with the new shower to the letter to make sure you don't get an airlock or run the heating element with no water.

mcgragger · 30-06-2021 08:56AM

is it tank or mains fed? - there is a difference.

Can you isolate the electricity from the main panel competently?

Do you have the correct plumbing fittings if something goes wrong?

Do you have the correct tools?

Can you follow the new commissioning steps comfortably ?

As a previous poster said- its an easy job for a tradesman. Should only cost €80 ( thats what I charge) for a simple swap out, so long as water isolation valve exists. ( some old installs ive come across have a water feed with no valve directly to the shower for some inexplicable reason)

My brother did his own recently and bought a tank fed shower for his bathroom - his water feed was mains. Destroyed a 280 T90 Sr.

Tilikum17 · 30-06-2021 09:27AM

Cheers for the replies. I’ll get a plumber in to be on the safe side. I’d be grand with the wiring, the plumbing not so much.

monkeybutter · 30-06-2021 09:32AM

Tilikum17 wrote: »

Cheers for the replies. I’ll get a plumber in to be on the safe side. I’d be grand with the wiring, the plumbing not so much.

do it yourself, its dead easy, like for like, no worries on extra power usage etc, save yourself 100 plus euro

Wearb · 30-06-2021 12:46PM

Tilikum17 wrote: »

Cheers for the replies. I’ll get a plumber in to be on the safe side. I’d be grand with the wiring, the plumbing not so much.

I think that's the best thing to do. You'll have less worry afterwards.

Swapping like for like electric shower

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