Shower Tripping!

[ROXYSMUSIC]

MY FUSES TRIP OUT WHEN TURNING ON THE ELECTRIC SHOWER. HAS JUST STARTED DOING THIS FOR NO REASON. ANY IDEAS ON HOW TO OVERCOME THIS WOULD BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED. THANKS..........STEVE

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

Info like how long the shower has been fitted, kw power, cable sizes, rcd/mcb rating will help. Then St. breezer of everywhere will show you the light.....and the errors of your ways.
May the force (of the shower) be with you.

 

[ROXYSMUSIC]

I haven't got much info at all i'm afraid a. The shower was fitted beore i moved in. I would say its about five years old. The make is a GAINSBOROUGH STYLE 200. It has a lever on the pipe to turn on the water. When this is moved it trips the fusebox. HELP!!!

 

[breezer]

you said " It has a lever on the pipe to turn on the water. When this is moved it trips the fusebox. HELP!!! "

i take it this "lever" you leave off and everything is ok?

is it the RCD that trips?

I should say its time for a new shower. it sounds like your shower element has broken down and by introducing water you are allowing a short to take place, and when you turn off the water you are removing the short.

You have to bear in mind that an electric shower is just a very small but VERY powerfull kettle element, and like kettles they get "furred up" but unlike a kettle you can not defur a shower.

i should also say the "average" life of an electric shower is 5 years MAX

(depending on water quality, use etc.)

If its any consolation, my old electric shower blew up (boy what a bang that was) 2 weeks before i moved to where i am now, So i had to replace it. i was not very happy. it was only about 3 years old, but i do live in a hard water area.

To make your life easier, i would recomend you get the same make / model of shower to replace the one you have now, since it will be a strait swop you know it will be ok. any bigger and the shower cable you have may be too small.

 

[ROXYSMUSIC]

Thanks for all that info! I would think you are probably right about the element as the symptoms are exactly as you describe. It is the RCD that trips. I appreciate you taking the time to reply and would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2004! Keep up the good work! ...Steve

 

[breezer]

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

When I lived in Scotland (God Bless It, Brilliant Time) I used to take me Ma's shopwer up and swap it with mine(soft water cleared it out). The crap that came out was unbelievable, just shows what hard water and flouride can do to any hot water systems

 

[Juno 60]

On the subject of electric showers becoming furred up with limescale in hard water areas, I was told that running cold water through the unit after each shower can reduce scale accumulation in the element and shower head, since limescale forms more readily in hot conditions. I've only had my 9.5kW shower in operation for a few months so it's too early to tell if this practice is effective - any one have any opinions on this?

 

[masona]

I was told that running cold water through the unit after each shower can reduce scale accumulation in the element and shower head

Not sure but it would be best to stop it altogether.See this.

 

[Juno 60]

Hmmm, this device looks interesting and appears to work, assuming the testimonials are genuine. Thanks for making me aware of it, masona - might buy one early next year if funds allow. Anybody have any experience of the Scalewatcher?

 

[DavidH]

If its any consolation, my old electric shower blew up (boy what a bang that was) 2 weeks before i moved to where i am now, So i had to replace it. i was not very happy. it was only about 3 years old, but i do live in a hard water area.

How come it blew up and didn't simply trip the RCD

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

How come it blew up and didn't simply trip the RCD

Methinks breezer got fed up of it tripping out so sellotaped the switch up !!!
only joking folks, don't anybody try that one !!

 

[breezer]

If its any consolation, my old electric shower blew up (boy what a bang that was) 2 weeks before i moved to where i am now, So i had to replace it. i was not very happy. it was only about 3 years old, but i do live in a hard water area.

How come it blew up and didn't simply trip the RCD

it would have been very clever if it had tripped the RCD, we never had one.

____________________________________________________________

with reference to the electric scale inhibitor, people also use them for ponds to stop blanket weed, so in short other brands of electric scale "inhibitor" are available (available form aquatic stores)

 

[flashbang]

I've got an electric scale reducer..... cost me £100, and has made no noticeable difference whatsoever.. In fact, now I think about it, since Ive fitted this unit, I'm about to replace my first ever washing machine pump (and thats three machines in 20 years) I've had to clear out the pressure switch pipe on this machine, (a job I have never had to do before) and if you take the head off the shower and run cold water through it, it looks like gravel coming out of it!!!
Further more, if you live in a poor radio reception area, it plays havoc with the tranny!!
Without a doubt, the biggest waste of money I have ever spent.......
(Just my opinion though)
Needless to say, mine is now disconnect after 18-24 months trial.
BTW, 90% of the plumbing in the house was brand new at the time of fitting.
Flashbang.

 

[breezer]

just out of interest, you say I've had to clear out the pressure switch pipe on this machine do you mean the pressure switch pipe or the pressure chamber? (pressure pipe from chamber to pressure switch should onlny ever have air in it) as pressure chambers often get "blocked" by the make of washing powder used