My electric shower just went bang!

[ADRIANPBIRD]

Hi guys, just stumbled across your website, and it looks great! Hope you can help me!

I turned on my electric shower at the weekend, and whilst getting undressed to step into it, there was a loud bang! from the shower unit and it cut-out. It was installed brand new around 15-18 months ago (it's a straightforward electric shower), albeit with existing fuses/cabling/switches from the previous shower.
I appreciate it could be any number of causes, but how/where do you recommend i start to look?
p.s. the rcd fuse had tripped, so later in the day i reset it, ran the shower on the cold setting for a few minutes, but as i slowly increased the temperature it went bang again.

 

[rpm]

On no account use it again until it`s been looked at !

Looked inside one for a neighbour last year after making certain the power supply was off and found burnt wiring inside.

 

[jtsplumbing]

What make of shower ? Who fitted it ? is it larger Kw than old shower ? (e.g. 7.5 Kw to a 10.5 Kw)

 

[rpm]

What make of shower ? Who fitted it ? is it larger Kw than old shower ? (e.g. 7.5 Kw to a 10.5 Kw)

Was also thinking along those lines jts, guess a 7.5 to 8.5Kw with old wiring might last 15 - 18 months. ?

 

[ADRIANPBIRD]

Thanks for your comments guys. I did remove the cover and there no signs of burnt out wiring, which surprised me! The shower is a Galaxy Obsession 9.5kw. The cabling is 10mm. The rcd is 40amp. The cabling runs through my loft, approx 5 metres in total from the fuse box to the shower unit. I fitted it myself, and although i'm not an electrician, i'm a competent diy'er. However, i'm out of my depth here, hence posting on here, and what i'd like to know is should i call in an electrician or can i do some tests myself? I don't want to just rush out and purchase a new shower unit, as it's possible the problem lies elsewhere?

 

[joni os]

A new shower will be cheaper than paying electrician plus parts to mend existing. If you want to mend yourself confirm fault in heating element by checking resistance. Isolate until fixed/replaced.

 

[rocketmanbkk]

Have you tried fault finding in the make/model of shower? Or even called the tech dept to ask their advice?

There's something not quite right as we all know.

I'd recommend looking at the fault finding or making a call.

 

[rocketmanbkk]

Looking on google there are a few of the same issues.

 

[jtsplumbing]

It has a 2 year warranty, call them , it could be on a recall.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

probably be out of warranty now, you can try calling them but if no good then just swap out for a similar one. Mira and Triton make the best electric showers IMO.

 

[rpm]

Thanks for your comments guys. I did remove the cover and there no signs of burnt out wiring, which surprised me! The shower is a Galaxy Obsession 9.5kw. The cabling is 10mm. The rcd is 40amp. The cabling runs through my loft, approx 5 metres in total from the fuse box to the shower unit. I fitted it myself, and although i'm not an electrician, i'm a competent diy'er.

Not an electrician so just highlighting 10mm cable over 5m for others to comment on. Thought it was more to do with diameter of core cables rather than overall diameter.

 

[jtsplumbing]

Just had a chat with a pal of mine who is an electrician, recons 10mm cable 5 to 6 mts is borderline for that size shower

 

[rocketmanbkk]

Strange it's taken 15 - 18mths to start to trip out.

Makes me think it's a shower issue.

I'd be replacing it, cheap as chips these days.

 

[zzzjim]

Make sure casing not obstructed / built in , lots of modern stuff wants to breathe
( as it loudly pops .. rather than losing cover ! )
We cannot be your eyes , so an experienced 2nd pair is still a good option .

 

[rocketmanbkk]

On a Mira site is states 9.5kw shower with 10mm twin & earth should be 45a with a cable max run of 4m.