Electric shower termo stat tripping

harry999

I have an electric shower 3 years old & about 1 year ago the element burned out and the element had to be replaced. 3 months ago the element overheated and tripped - so untripped it. But now this has happened again. The water pressure is fine downstairs & the previous shower was installed 5years + and no problems.. Should I put in a new shower or how best resolve Thks

Sleeper12

harry999 wrote: »

I have an electric shower 3 years old & about 1 year ago the element burned out and the element had to be replaced. 3 months ago the element overheated and tripped - so untripped it. But now this has happened again. The water pressure is fine downstairs & the previous shower was installed 5years + and no problems.. Should I put in a new shower or how best resolve Thks

You might be jumping the gun by replacing the shower. It's very unlikely that the shower unit itself is causing the problem. Usually when the shower unit causes the fuse to trip, it happens during every shower or almost every shower.

It's much more likely a faulty trip switch or possibly a 32amp trip instead of a 40amp.

My suggestion would be to call in a good electrician and let them test everything.

harry999

It is not a fuse which is tripping - the element is overheating causing something to trip in the shower itself. I have untripped this a few times but keeps happening. Should I just replace the element again ? Or put in a new shower fed from the tank ? Anybody got any ideas please

harry999

There is another electric shower in the house & maybe part of the problem is when both of these showers are on at the same time.

Bruthal

Lime scale could be the problem. A coating of lime scale insulates the element, and so the water doesn't keep it as cool as a clean element, although your previous shower was OK for 5 years.

How are you resetting it? What make of shower is it? Electric showers usually reset themselves when they cool down again, unless the main cutout fails, which needs to be replaced then.

Sleeper12

Bruthal wrote: »

Lime scale could be the problem. A coating of lime scale insulates the element, and so the water doesn't keep it as cool as a clean element, although your previous shower was OK for 5 years.

How are you resetting it? What make of shower is it? Electric showers usually reset themselves when they cool down again, unless the main cutout fails, which needs to be replaced then.

I agree with Bruthal. If the element is caked with limescale it'll cause the TCO to "trip". Only solution would be to replace the element & it's well worth doing if the shower is 6 years or less old.
There isn't anything to cause the TCO to trip. If TCO was faulty it would be cold water all the time.

Bruthal

Elements/heating cans can be descaled. Not simple though.

For the thermal cutout, on a t90 as example, there are 2 TCOs. The main one which disconnects the entire shower and needs replacing if it goes.

And the overheat one which only disconnects half the element, and resets when it cools again.

harry999

Thanks for relies - same problem with element about 6 months ago and the element was replaced then - so don't think lime scale could have built up in 6 mths. Shower guy is saying water pressure must be dropping and this causing element to burn out and to put in a pump shower fed from the tank and not the mains as is present. There is a good bit of work to do this..& I not sure if there is a need for this extra work. Until now I did not have a problem. Also hse next door have two electric showers and no problem with water pressure etc...

harry999

The shower make is a Agna plus - about 4 years old... Would I be better off putting in a new triton shower ? Thanks

Sleeper12

I've never heard of an Agna shower before. where would you buy a shower like that?

harry999

It is Heat Store AQUA PLUS - picture attached. Got it in local shop.

Sleeper12

harry999 wrote: »

It is Heat Store AQUA PLUS - picture attached. Got it in local shop.

Definitely get rid of it. Looks rubbish. I've never seen or heard of this brand & showers are my livelihood. Just checked with all my suppliers in Ireland & UK & none of them carry parts. Even the showerdoc.UK (the biggest UK part supplier) don't carry parts. It might explain why you are having so much trouble with it.

Triton T80Z is a great mains fed shower. €190 in Woodies:)