Feed to Sauna

[RickH]

Looking for a suggestion.
Considering building a Sauna in garden

Sauna heater would be a 6kW, the question I have is that it would be nice to also have a shower nearby … a typical electric shower is 9kW
That is then quite a hefty load to supply - 68A

A thought might be to have a contactor arrangement, default off position is too feed to Sauna heater, but if a pull cord switch (or similar remote switch ) is operated, feed switches to the shower for the duration of the shower being used, which is only very short in relation to Sauna Heater.

That way I would only need a single 3 core 6mm2 armoured cable



Thoughts ?

 

[mikehammer69]

Sounds like priority control for the shower . It wouldn't be 68A.

 

[ericmark]

Outside electrics may require earth mats, rods, etc. It is not simple, I would say get an electrician to visit and advise.

 

[RickH]

Outside electrics may require earth mats, rods, etc. It is not simple, I would say get an electrician to visit and advise.

I’d have electrician make the connection, but there is nothing to see, so no point having them come to look … it’s at design stage.
Would not export the earth, but use local earth rod, same as I did for HotTub install.

 

[RickH]

I’d have electrician make the connection, but there is nothing to see, so no point having them come to look … it’s at design stage.

Sounds like priority control for the shower . It wouldn't be 68A.

What would be logical is default power to Sauna .. then activating contractor would switch instead to Sauna heater, reverting to Sauna heater as soon as shower finished.
So it would be 28A default load (when it’s required as on thermostat) Then a 40A for shower only if switch operated.
At no point would power go to Shower & Sauna heater at same time, which would allow smaller cable & circuit feed.

 

[ericmark]

I did not want you to lay concrete, then realise it should have an earth mat below it, since you seem to have worked out that bit, I would likely be looking at something like a star/delta contactor to swap between sauna and shower.

At my house, I may need a current transformer and some better control, as total supply to the house is 60 amps.

 

[RickH]

I have 100A supply so that side is OK ... hadn't thought of Star Delta, was thinking of just double pole double throw - but I'll take a look may be cheaper. - Thanks