Electric Sowers

paul1763 | 20:53 Thu 04th May 2017 | How it Works

10 Answers

I know technically it's wrong but can a 7kw shower be run off a normal 13A plug? If I keep the thermostat just above warm as I'd like to have warm water in my shed for hand washing etc

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Buenchico

That sounds like a good way of setting the place on fire to me!

If you try to draw around 30A through an unmodified 13A plug the fuse will blow. If you replace the fuse with, say, a metal bolt (which, for the avoidance of any doubt, I am most definitely NOT recommending!), the 30A fuse on the ring circuit will probably hold but as soon as you plugged anything else into that circuit it would then be likely to blow.

Further, if you've used 13A cable to run between the plug and the shower unit it will get VERY hot, as would the cabling feeding the socket itself. A teaching colleague of mine once managed to draw 34A through a 13A socket. The wall in which the cable to that socket ran was so hot that you could burn yourself simply by touching it (so you can guess how hot the actual cable must have been!)

Simply run a 13A extension cable to the shed and plug a kettle in!

mazie

If it's just for hand washing after a heavy garden session, I run my hands under the hose and have a couple of towels in the shed for drying. This occurs mostly in the summer. Wouldn't recommend it in the winter

douglas9401

It's good that people check these things and avoid catastrophe.

Isn't it?

woofgang

you could use a kettle or a portable electric ring and a saucepan?

paul1763

Question Author

Thanks for your answers, as I said I know it's wrong and was hoping that by keeping it just around the warm mark it may not draw any where near its maximu power requirement. Also as buenchico suggests Re extension lead, all the sheds are property wired with theirown fuse boxes

Old_Geezer

You are simply seeking permission to do an unwise thing. No one in their right mind would ok it. Use a kettle for warm water.

woodchopper

Most showers restrict the water flow to add heat to the water - would still draw the full current of the mains - lethal through a 13a plug.

malagabob

Not a good idea. A 7kwshower should have its own supply back to the consumer board and fuse.
Reminds me when I was doing a job of installing a bathroom suite/ hot water cylinder for a farmer, who was converting for B&B. He asked If I could supply the cylinder immersion via a 3 pin and wall socket. Investigated what was needed, but he didn't like the cost. I Gave that a wide berth.

malagabob

Investigated the correct way to do it I should have said. LoL