Anyone know what is happening with the shower? It is shorting the electrical circuit in the house and the breaker kicks in. The shower (electric) works if set on cold, but once the button for warm or hot shower is used, the whole circuit cuts out and the electrics go down in the house. It's been working fine until today.
Would anyone have any suggestions or good advice?
Thank you!!
2007-08-26 02:56:58 · 23 answers · asked by pickles 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Yes you have a point of use water heater (blah blah blah). and it may be the heater is just kaput and needs to be repaired or replaced.
With out going into how electricity works too much.
The hot water draws a lot of amps (uses a lot of electricity).
You probably added some more electricity to the same circuit, like a new window air conditioner or a coffee pot.
Its all good till you turn on the hot water because the cold doesn't use any electricity. You need to have an electrician add a new circuit to your panel for only the hot water. That will end the problem.
It could be a minor thing but it is dangerous to think you can just put a larger fuse/breaker in as the wires inside the wall maybe getting hot pulling that amount of electricity and could catch fire.
2007-08-26 03:08:05 · answer #1 · answered by Village Player 7 · 3⤊ 5⤋
As all the other sparkies have said this sounds like an earth fault within the shower unit, most likley the element has corroded and shorted to earth. unless this is a really expensive shower I wouldnt bother having a spare element fitted. The cost of a resonable new shower is less than £100 trade. The new part will cost at least £50 plus fitting and they tend to leak unless you are really lucky.
If you fit a new one dont be tempted to fit a 9.5 or10Kw unit if your present shower is 8.4KW the existing cable will almost certainly be inadequate for the larger capacity showers ( I have sent many customers back to the DIY store to get another 8.4 kw because the cost to upgrade the cable and switchgear is £100,s.)
2007-08-27 08:23:08 · answer #2 · answered by rapid 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The only thing you can do is get it checked out by an electrician.
There are too many factors we don't know about here to speculate.
The size of your MCB, size and length of cable, the kW capacity of the shower and of course the shower could have developed a fault. How old is the shower?
One thing is for sure and that is you can't use it as it is because that could potentially be very dangerous.
2007-08-27 00:22:23 · answer #3 · answered by nigel t 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I assume that you have an RCD which is tripping and that it also feeds the other power circuits, normal for split board. If the 32/40 MCB is not tripping then you have an earth leakage fault, possibly the element or maybe water or condensation inside the casing. this is NOT something that you should attempt yourself, call an electrician or the shower manufacturers service department
2007-08-26 06:41:50 · answer #4 · answered by jayktee96 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Possibly the main wires connect to the main breaker are loose, which is located behind the electrical panel. You need to tighten the screws on the breakers.
2007-09-02 17:41:23 · answer #5 · answered by J Y 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
heres one for you electric showers vibrate when the switch is turned to hot i had a similar problem the screws in the cable connector came loose ithink that trying to fit a 40 amp cable into the small cable connectors that come with the showers is almost impossible have it checked out it maybe loose connections Ive had two one caught fire and the other sprayed water over the electrics that was it now i have none
2007-08-31 12:09:01 · answer #6 · answered by W L 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Disconnect any new or resently moved appliances. If the problem still precists you need and eletrician. Adding a larger breaker/fuse could led to a damage of the unit or other unit's connected to that circuit or also a fire and or personel injury.
Adding larger breakers and such requires more knowledge than can be given here and have it Safe.
2007-08-26 03:16:39 · answer #7 · answered by ball 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You have a fault in the heating elements this is potentially dangerous hence the mains tripping out I'm afraid you must replace the shower if you get the same make and model then it can be an easy diy job to swap them over .
2007-08-31 21:33:52 · answer #8 · answered by barney 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hello, turn electrics off sounds like heating chamber furred up call the professionals,
2007-09-02 07:08:10 · answer #9 · answered by Beau 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As someone who has showered in the US and UK, I should point out how confused we Yanks are at the notion of electricity in the shower. I'm sure you will get some kranks on this side of the pond. Sounds like the heating element packed it in. RScott
2007-08-26 03:13:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋