Electric Showers Made Simple

Electric showers

Electric showers require only a cold mains supply, thus there is no requirement for stored hot water.

As a very general rule these types of showers are suitable for a pressure range of 1.0 – 10.0 bar, have 15mm push fit inlet connections and ½" outlet connections and are suitable for unvented mains supply and will require an electrical connection with a Double pole isolating switch.  It is best to check the specifications for each item before you make a purchase as these do vary.

Our wide selection of electric showers are available from 7.8kW to 10.4kW, the higher the rating the better the performance you will receive from your electric shower. If you are upgrading your electric shower we recommend that you check the cable size prior to upgrading to a higher kilowatt shower and would always suggest that a qualified electrician is consulted during the wiring of these products.

A good example of a basic model electric shower is the New Team 7.8kW electric shower. For a higher rated model we can suggest the New Team 10.4kW electric shower.

New Team 7.8kW electric shower	New Team 10.4kW electric shower

Points to note:

• Electric showers can only be connected to mains cold supplies, 1.0 bar minimum
• Temperature is controlled by one handle that varies the volume of cold water entering the heating element. There are also power settings on a separate control (varies dependant on model)
• Electric showers must be installed to all relevant IEE Wiring Regulations (BS7671) and be protected with a Residual Current Devise (RCD)
• Isolating switch should be of the pull cord type, if not it should be out of reach of person using bath/shower
• Cable required depends on kW of shower, length of cable required and the way the cable is fitted (ensure cable size is checked prior to upgrading to higher kilowatt shower)
• It is advisable to fit easily accessible isolating and non-return valves to both inlets (where not already supplied). This will ensure future maintenance is made easy and compliance with Water Regulations. If in doubt consult your local water authority

Power showers

Thermostatic power showers use both hot and cold water supplies to obtain showering temperature, pumped from gravity fed system to give higher flow rates. They also have the benefit of a thermostatic mixer shower to give safe showering conditions. Thermostatic power showers cannot be used with combination, pressurised or unvented mains systems.

As a very general rule these types of showers are suitable for a pressure range of 0.1 - 1.0 bar, have 15mm push fit inlet connections and ½" outlet connections and are suitable for gravity systems only and will require an electrical connection with a Double pole isolating switch.  It is best to check the specifications for each item before you make a purchase as these do vary.

A good example of an integrated power shower is the New Team NT1000 XT power shower.

New Team NT1000 XT power shower

Points to note:

• Power showers can only be used in gravity fed situations (1 bar maximum)
• Power showers will empty both hot and cold tanks more quickly than a standard system, please keep this in mind when selecting shower. You may want to check the capacity of both water tanks and think about how long and often the shower will be used
• Thermostatic power showers provide the safest form of showering giving immediate response to fluctuations in supply pressure or temperature
• All thermostatic showers are factory pre-set to a maximum temperature, this can be increased/decreased depending on user preference
• Temperature is controlled by one handle with a push button to turn the pump on and off
• Power showers must be installed to all relevant IEE Wiring Regulations (BS7671) and be protected with a Residual Current Device (RCD)
• Isolating switch should be of the pull cord type, if not it should be out of reach of person using bath/shower
• It is advisable to fit an easily accessible isolating and non-return valave to the inlet (where not already supplied). This will ensure future maintenance is made easy and in compliance with Water Regulations. If in doubt, contact your local water authority

If you are unsure or need any assistance please feel free to call our Helpline on 0845 064 5907 or email us.

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All information and details given within these pages are for information purposes only, Tapstore.com cannot accept any responsibility or liability for any preparation work that is undertaken based on such specifications or information shown on our site. We always recommend that you obtain advice from a suitably qualified plumber before making a purchase

Last updated October 2008. Copyright © 2005-2008 Tapstore.com all rights reserved worldwide
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