What is a "separate, permanent connected supply"

[robgraham]

This is called up in the instructions for installing a digitally controlled non-electric shower. The water controlling box runs off

12v dc from a separate psu connected to the mains.

The actual requirement of "a separate, permanent connected supply must be taken from the consumer unit to the appliance", would suggest that that this supply is to be a radial from it's own MCB. This is nonsense surely and looks suspiciously like someone has just copied the instruction set for a mains driven electric shower.

I've advised using an fcu from the nearby ring circuit, but is this likely to run into problems with people like insurance companies as the manufacturer's instructions have been ignored ?

Rob

[Andy Wade]

It does look that way, from what you've said. It may be though that all they're trying to say is it must be hard-wired (to an FCU on a suitable circuit) and not connected using a plug'n'socket.

Try contacting the manufacturer or importer to obtain clarification an/or make a complaint. You're quite right though - BS 7671 now requires manufacturer's instructions to be followed, which is a problem when so many instructions are utter crap, or the authors simply have no knowledge of UK wiring practice.