Installing a shower pump - electrics
Discussion
Or more accurately replacing an old shower pump.
I have recently replaced an old and worn/noisy shower pump with a Stuart Turner 3.0 bar stand twin pump.
I have two electrical questions
1. The old pump/pipe work had no earth bonding on the copper pipes. The instructions for the new pump say:
This appliance must be earthed via the supply cord, which must be correctly connected to the earth point located in the terminal box (which it is). It then goes on to say copper or metallic pipe work must have supplementary earth bonding where the continuity has been broken by flexible hoses or plastic components.
The old pump/pipe work did not have any supplementary earth bonding. Is there a reason my old pipe work wouldn't have had, but the new should? Or is it a case that it should have been done at the time and wasn't?
If this needs to be done (which I assume it does) is it simply a case of fitting two earthing clamps to the copper pipes between the pump and the shower and connecting the two with 4mm earthing wiring, which is what the instructions suggest?
2. The old pump was connected to a spur from the immersion heater. This appears to divide opinion, I have read some electricians say this should not be done as the immersion should have a dedicated feed. Others say it is not best practice but is not unsafe and given pumps are often fitted in the airing cupboard (which mine is) it is the obvious place to take a spur from.
I have lived here for 1.5 years with this set up without any problems. I don't actually use the immersion but obviously want it to work/be safe in the event the gas central heating fails. I will add a pic in a moment.
I have recently replaced an old and worn/noisy shower pump with a Stuart Turner 3.0 bar stand twin pump.
I have two electrical questions
1. The old pump/pipe work had no earth bonding on the copper pipes. The instructions for the new pump say:
This appliance must be earthed via the supply cord, which must be correctly connected to the earth point located in the terminal box (which it is). It then goes on to say copper or metallic pipe work must have supplementary earth bonding where the continuity has been broken by flexible hoses or plastic components.
The old pump/pipe work did not have any supplementary earth bonding. Is there a reason my old pipe work wouldn't have had, but the new should? Or is it a case that it should have been done at the time and wasn't?
If this needs to be done (which I assume it does) is it simply a case of fitting two earthing clamps to the copper pipes between the pump and the shower and connecting the two with 4mm earthing wiring, which is what the instructions suggest?
2. The old pump was connected to a spur from the immersion heater. This appears to divide opinion, I have read some electricians say this should not be done as the immersion should have a dedicated feed. Others say it is not best practice but is not unsafe and given pumps are often fitted in the airing cupboard (which mine is) it is the obvious place to take a spur from.
I have lived here for 1.5 years with this set up without any problems. I don't actually use the immersion but obviously want it to work/be safe in the event the gas central heating fails. I will add a pic in a moment.
Two circuits, best practice.
Below is from the Stuart and Turner manual
Connections: The pump must be permanently connected to the fixed wiring of the mains supply using the factory fitted supply cord, via a double pole switched fused spur off the ring main and NOT connected to the boiler or the immersion heater circuits.
Below is from the Stuart and Turner manual
Connections: The pump must be permanently connected to the fixed wiring of the mains supply using the factory fitted supply cord, via a double pole switched fused spur off the ring main and NOT connected to the boiler or the immersion heater circuits.
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