Electric shower advice

G_M

My mum's shower's playing up. Triton. Seems to be an electric, fed by cold water only.
It comes out cold. Turn the stat up and just as it reaches 'max' it clicks on then comes out boiling. Turn it down and you have to turn down a long way before it clicks, then freezing again.

I'm guessing a faulty thermostat? If so, can they be replaced or is it a new shower unit?

If not, could it be that the cold supply is just too cold for the stat to handle? If so, recommendation for a better unit?

I've also seen references online to elctric showers which have a 'summer/winter' switch. What are these and how do they work?

Mankysteve

They don't have thermostats in them to fail.

How do you mean it clicks?

The main dial controls the water flow though the unit which is how it controls the temp shouldnt be any need to turn it all the way up to max to heat. Try leaveing in the middle setting for two minutes to see if it heats up.

WestonDave

Slightly out of left field - if you are in a hard water area try sticking the shower head in some descaler (vinegar will do if you've nothing else) for a few hours and then try it. Ours went a bit wierd - cutting in and out, and being either red hot or cold until someone suggested a descale to me.

G_M

Mankysteve wrote: »

They don't have thermostats in them to fail. Then how do they regulate the flow/temperature??
How do you mean it clicks? Just like the stat on your hot water cylinder, if you turn it up to the point where actual temp is lower than required temp, the stat 'clicks' on and the heater starts. When actual temp reaches required temp, the stat 'clicks' off and heating ceases.

The main dial controls the water flow though the unit which is how it controls the temp If this is the case, presumably the 'click' is reducing/increasing water flow as opposed to a heater. Still a thermostat though, just doing a different job. shouldnt be any need to turn it all the way up to max to heat. True. But it does. Try leaveing in the middle setting for two minutes to see if it heats up. First thing I tried. Doesn't work.

Notes added above.

frank.hopper

They do have stats! Is it a T80?

Mankysteve

Electric shower work by having a heating cylinder in side. When you turn the main dial you adjust the flow rate though said heating cylinder the more water flows though the lower the temp. Electric shower have there heating elements constantly on unless they overheat/not enough pressure.


Clearly something isn't right with the shower.

frank.hopper

The outlet is monitored by a thermal cut-out, this device controls one of the elements in the can, it will remove that supply if the water becomes scalding.

G_M

WestonDave wrote: »

Slightly out of left field - if you are in a hard water area try sticking the shower head in some descaler

Thanks. But I replaced the hose and head for her a month ago so it's not that.

Clearly something isn't right with the shower.

Errr..... if that was not the case I would not be here asking the question!!

The outlet is monitored by a thermal cut-out, this device controls one of the elements in the can, it will remove that supply if the water becomes scalding.

I guess that could be bust as turning the dial up certainly results in scalding water

They do have stats! Is it a T80?

I'll have to call her and check tonight.

edit: the shower has 2 dials. One is a 3 point dial that appears to adjust power or flow (1-weak,2= medium, 3=strong). The other adjusts temperature on a sliding scale. This is the one that 'clicks'

G_M

frank.hopper wrote: »

They do have stats! Is it a T80?

It's a Triton T70si (8KW)

frank.hopper

Nine times out of ten it's the secondary thermal cut out 85000160 they usually burn up and fry the wiring, that part no: includes new wiring. Easy enough to replace if you swop over one wire at a time, most are spade connections. The connections to the terminal block must be screwed tight given the current.

googler

Discuss the symptoms, and the possible cure, at a specialist shower forum;

www.showerdoctor.co.uk