Power Showers And Combination Boilers

[stanbesida]

I had a combination boiler fitted in my Kitchen a number of years ago and I had an electric shower in my bathroom, when the combination boiler was fitted, they removed my hot water tank but they left the cold water tank in my attic and it is connected to the pipes where the hot water tank used to be. My shower has been playing up lately so I have purchased a Triton Power Shower, the problem is that it states on the box that it isn't compatible with a combination boiler but I am wondering whether it makes any difference seeing as the cold water tank is still in the attic.

[SlackAlice]

Power showers require seperate feeds from both Hot and Cold water tanks. You've only got a Cold water tank.

[TonyV]

if it's a power shower needs only a cold water and electric feed, whats the make and model?

[TonyV]

You will not be using gravity water tank feed, just a feed from mains water supply.

[douglas9401]

If you don't believe the manufacturers when they state quite clearly that it's not compatible with a combi boiler then your only solution is to go ahead with installation to satisfy yourself that they're playing fast and loose with their claims.

That'll teach them.

[hc4361]

This explains what any make of power shower needs, the different types of showers and the sort that is most suitable for your existing set up.
https://www.mirashowers.co.uk/blog/how-to/how-to-choose-the-best-power-shower/

There are a showers that connect to the cold water only and claim to be 'power showers' but they are not. What is the make and model of the shower you have bought?

[TonyV]

hc4361 yes they are this is the one I have.
more than enough power.

https://www.mirashowers.co.uk/showers/electric-showers/mira-advance/

[bhg481]

The type of shower that stanbesida has bought is one which uses a pump to increase the pressure at the shower head; it takes hot water from the cylinder and cold water from the header tank. The type of shower which TonyV has is one which takes only cold water and heats it. I installed the first type in our house and our daughter's house as we both had the old-style hot water system ie, a hot water storage cylinder. When her boiler needed replacement she replaced it with a combi-boiler and had to replace the shower as well.

[bhg481]

I should add that you can see the difference in the power consumption; the type TonyV describes use about 9kW because they need an very powerful heater to instantly supply hot water. They must also need a special electrical circuit as 9kW is too much for the normal ring-kain to supply. The type stanbesida has bought take only a few tens of watts and can be supplied via the lighting circuit.

[teacake44]

If you have a combi-boiler, you can't beat a shower from that, and easy to install. Have had a mira to mine for the last 12 years and not one problem. Have just replaced the shower head once.

[TonyV]

yes bhg does have it's separate feed and separate breaker in consumer unit.

[stanbesida]

Good morning and thank you for all your answers, the shower which I am replacing is a Triton Tamas and the one which I was going to replace it with is a Triton Thermostatic Power Shower. I assumed that because I was replacing one Triton for another I would be o.k. but I am not sure whether the Tamas is described as a power shower.

[bhg481]

stanbesida - the Triton Tamas is the single cold-feed type, similar to thr Mira as used by TonyV. The type you have bought is the dual-feed type, as used by me. You need to change it. Triton make an updated version of the Tamas and they also say that the Pietra, Serrano and Sensation are suitable replacements. You could also replace it with a Mira.
Incidentally, I was a wrong with the power consumption of my shower - it's about 450w, not a few tens of watts and I power it off the ring main. Still no special circuit, though.

[TonyV]

seems this one will meet your needs then.
https://www.tritonshowers.co.uk/power-showers