Electric shower keeps tripping RCD (duplicate threads merged)

chrismullin1 · 28 Sep 2018

Hi there
I have had my electric shower for about 3 years now and had no problems with it up until now. Basically after about 3 minutes use, it keeps tripping the RCD in the fuse box. I did have a plumber come out last weekend and wire in a new 3 port valve in the airing cupboard - could it be that a wire has not gone in correctly and that is interfering with the shower, or is there no link here whatsoever?

My second theory is that I have turned up the temperature dial a notch this weekend for the first time since the summer as the mornings are a bit colder and therefore the shower is using more power - could it just be that the shower needs replacing?

Many thanks

chrismullin1 · 28 Sep 2018

Hi there
I have had my electric shower for about 3 years now and had no problems with it up until now. Basically after about 3 minutes use, it keeps tripping the RCD in the fuse box. I did have a plumber come out last weekend and wire in a new 3 port valve in the airing cupboard - could it be that a wire has not gone in correctly and that is interfering with the shower, or is there no link here whatsoever?

My second theory is that I have turned up the temperature dial a notch this weekend for the first time since the summer as the mornings are a bit colder and therefore the shower is using more power - could it just be that the shower needs replacing?

Many thanks

endecotp · 28 Sep 2018

Definitely RCD, not MCB or RCBO?

Neither of your theories sounds plausible to me.
I’d stop using it until fixed. Get an electrician.

muggles · 28 Sep 2018

I'd say new shower needed

flameport · 28 Sep 2018

Shower is broken.
Valve is unrelated.

chivers67 · 28 Sep 2018

Is it definitely an RCD tripping or MCB?

seco services · 28 Sep 2018

more likely your heating element is starting to break down.
you can check the ohms reading on each element.

dilalio · 29 Sep 2018

Of course it's the shower... The built-in redundacy timer just kicked in as the warranty is up

chrismullin1 · 29 Sep 2018

It is definitely the rcd. It tripped in the middle of the night last night so might not be the electric shower after all. I don't have anything on timer.

chrismullin1 · 29 Sep 2018

It is definitely the rcd. It tripped in the middle of the night last night so might not be the electric shower after all. I don't have anything on timer. The rcd won't go back up now.

dilalio · 29 Sep 2018

Disconnect the shower supply at the shower terminals (take precautions) make the bare ends safe (in a connector block for example) and then switch RCD back on. If it holds its the shower.

chrismullin1 · 29 Sep 2018

dilalio said:
Disconnect the shower supply at the shower terminals (take precautions) make the bare ends safe (in a connector block for example) and then switch RCD back on. If it holds its the shower.

Thanks I'll try this. So even if shower is not in use it can still cause rcd to trip?

lemon_1 · 29 Sep 2018

First question:
Does it trip when you turn the power on or when you turn the shower on?

Second question
Dou you have a multimeter?

Third question
Depends on the answer to the first question

chrismullin1 · 29 Sep 2018

lemon_1 said:
First question:
Does it trip when you turn the power on or when you turn the shower on?

Second question
Dou you have a multimeter?

Thus question
Depends on the answer to the first question

The power to the shower is stuck on as the pull cord is broken. It was tripping after shower was running for abut 3 minutes or so.

No multimeter.

lemon_1 · 29 Sep 2018

chrismullin1 said:
The power to the shower is stuck on as the pull cord is broken. It was tripping after shower was running for abut 3 minutes or so.

No multimeter.

The problem is with your shower then and probably not the wiring. Without a multimeter difficult to pinpoint. If it is a triton maybe just replace the whole unit as they are quite cheap

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Electric shower keeps tripping RCD (duplicate threads merged)

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