Electric Shower Keeps throwing the trip in the consumer unit

[Placeboman]

Hi everybody a "newbie" here.

This afternoon the electric shower in our main bathroom threw the trip switch in the consumer unit. I have tried a couple of times to re start it but with the sane result.

It is a relatively new (2 years) Aqualisa? fairly low power builder provided cheapy.

I have taken the front off to check for damp but all seems dry.

Any suggestions as to the cause / cure.

Also being pessimistic is it relativiley straightforwadr to relace the unit with a similar one...assuming all power etc is the same?

Mamy thanks in advance

Dave "smelly" Glad

 

[bster]

theres obviously a fault. - dont use it and get a sparky in!

 

[Agile]

The RCCD or RCD operates when the current taken by the appliance is flowing to earth or is not exactly balanced between L & N.

The assumption is that there is some leakage occuring.

The normal way to test would be to measure the resistance to earth from the heating element. Sometimes a low voltage test with a meter does not show any leakage and a 500v test has to be done with a dedicated insulation test with a "Megger".

Pretty easy to change like with like!

Tony

 

[sm1thson]

Yes sparky job might not be the shower could be the cable they will test it properly.

 

[Placeboman]

Going to have to consider putting a new unit in..............my wife has just announced that she had just washed the tiles above the unit and then tried to use the shower to rinse off. Could be damp!

 

[sm1thson]

Should be able to dry it out / let it dry out. But leave it off dont keep trying it

 

[Steve]

Going to have to consider putting a new unit in..............my wife has just announced that she had just washed the tiles above the unit and then tried to use the shower to rinse off. Could be damp!

So in other words she threw water all over an electrical appliance? What did she think would happen? Showers are splash resistant, but not flood resistant!!!

 

[JohnD]

Be fair... a shower is intended for use in a shower cubicle!

It shouldn't be expected to go wrong if there is water in there! I suspect it may have been badly fitted. Or possibly (Horror!! ) there is a junction box or taped-up joint in the wall

Dave... the thing that trips... What is written or engraved on it? Letters and numbers please. Does it have a "Test" button?

 

[Placeboman]

Let the unit dry out overnite....and hey presto it works.

Thanks for everyone help and input even the slightly tonge in cheek answers.

Second problem my son had £1200's worth of guitars nicked last night....might need at the very least a plumbing wrentch to batter the scrote into a pulp when I find out who did it.

LoL

DG

 

[JohnD]

I remain unhappy that an electric shower seems unable to withstand water. It is not good to accept faults and rely on the RCD to save your life; RCDs can and do fail.

If the inside of the shower seemed dry, I am worried about some other part getting wet. e.g. a switch that can be splashed, or a damaged cable.

Presumably the cable enters the shower heater casing from the bottom, and there are no holes in the top? so that water running down the cable can't get to electrical parts? If you blow a little talcum powder inside the casing it will show watermarks if water is getting inside.

 

[Steve]

I remain unhappy that an electric shower seems unable to withstand water. It is not good to accept faults and rely on the RCD to save your life; RCDs can and do fail.

As far as I know, and it seems reasonable to assume this, showers are not totally water resistant. Take the front cover off, and there are 2 gaps in the seal between the front and back where they have been clumsily fitted.

Most showers have 2 knockouts in the case, top and bottom, which simply slide into place - no seals, unless the installer is feeling liberal with his silicone.

And what about the knobs and buttons? And where the pipe leaves for the shower head? and the "overflow" pipe?

And if the pipework is run on the surface, there will be a gap where the pipe leaves the enclosure (usually at the top), again, unless the installer has been generous with silicone. AFAIK, the instructions dont say to seal these gaps, and if they do, it is a step easily missed.

 

[Softus]

Be fair... a shower is intended for use in a shower cubicle!

Quite so, but they're supposed to be mounted away from the water stream. Pointing the shower head AT the unit is something only a moron (or a woman) would do.