Electric shower advice please.....

Baddegg · Dec 18, 2018

Fitted 9.5 kw aquas aquamax shower today (customer supplied) and new full rcbo consumer unit, all good except the shower is absolute s£&t! Even on the highest setting the water is only moderately hot, water pressure seems fine and no different to any other showers I’ve fitted, one thing I did notice was when I clamped the meter tails with the shower running on full heat it only ever pulls approximately 15amps,new 10mm cable run in void under the floor for approx 18mtrs to a chase in the wall upto isolation switch with pvc wall panels over that,plenty of free air around the cable,admittedly I’ve never had to clamp a shower before but does that seems low for a 9.5kw shower?
Thanks as always

littlespark · Dec 18, 2018

If it’s not the electric, and it’s not the water pressure, then it must be the shower itself.
As others have said, you didn’t supply it, so it’s not your responsibility... and dismantling it to look for faults will invalidate the warranty.

Wilko · Dec 20, 2018

Hi - reading the instructions it triggers a couple of thoughts, for what it's worth :
Check 240V at unit when under full load, as that's the way they've calculated 9.5kW heating.
Check at least 1 bar pressure is maintained at the unit when it's discharging at 9l per minute. This one may be the killer, in that if the static pressure is only 1.3 bar then when you turn it on the pressure may well drop below 1 bar ( @telectrix reminded me with the loo flushing scenario

) . It's a pricey unit and is called "Smart" which usually means too smart, ha.

What shower did they have in there before?

[ElectriciansForums.net] Electric shower advice please.....

Wilko · Dec 20, 2018

Seeing double ...

Baddegg · Dec 20, 2018

Hi Wilko,thanks for that, no shower before this,meant to update last night but got a bit involved watching solo with my youngest son.....anyway had time for further tests yesterday it turns out that the eco button micro switch wasn’t working correctly so the shower was stuck in 5.5kw mode, when then button was physically held in the water came through screaming hot and the amp reading jumped straight up to 36-38
Told customer she can either send the unit back or contact manufacturers for the part, thanks to all for replying as always

Gary Gemmell · Dec 22, 2018

Shower has two coils inside - once the second one fails the heat drops - its what the settings on the heat control switch - element 1 or element 1 + 2.

one of the coils is gone thus reducing the power consumption!

Spoon · Dec 22, 2018

Gary Gemmell said:
Shower has two coils inside - once the second one fails the heat drops - its what the settings on the heat control switch - element 1 or element 1 + 2.

one of the coils is gone thus reducing the power consumption!

Welcome to the forum mate.
@Baddegg has solved the problem in the post above yours. (Post #19)

Baddegg · Dec 22, 2018

Spoon said:
Welcome to the forum mate.
@Baddegg has solved the problem in the post above yours. (Post #19)

Thanks spoon,and thanks Gary, yes it was the switching between the coils that was the problem

TRACY HARRISON · Mar 2, 2019

Would be really interested if you got this shower working properly, we bought a AQUAS AquaMax Flex Manual X-Jet 9.5KW White Electric Shower and had all same problems you are describing only forceful water if on cold setting, diverter button doesn't work as spindle not long enough to meet external button.Pressure isn't enough if we want a heated shower. Got in touch with Victorian plumbing but looks like it will be a long process.
You spoke about eco button but can you tell us where it is located,,,, all sounds too similar shower cost £385 expensive ornament at present. thanks for you help in advance

Wilko · Mar 2, 2019

Hi Tracey and Welcome to the Forum.
You could start a new thread if you liked on your issues. A couple of quick thoughts - the divertor control is a standard part and should fit (see page 16) or is broken. Also see page 17 as there is a commissioning instruction and a plastic piece to be removed at step 3. Don't forget power off first

.

Baddegg · Mar 2, 2019

Hi Tracey
Yes as wilko says make sure you have removed the small plastic “u” piece, water pressure is not to do with the shower but what pressure is already present, there are 2 different models of the shower and yours may not have the “eco” button (a small button just above the power button) I know this as my customers after many legal threats recieved a replacement from Victorian plumbing without the eco button.
It wouldn’t surprise me if you have a faulty unit, the manufacturers told me to wedge something behind the shower to make things contact properly......I won’t repeat what I told them.
They even sent my customer, a disabled woman in her 60’s a new switch and a video clip telling her to change it herself, she rang me asking where to start! (The clip didn’t even explain how to isolate the power)
Victorian plumbing have been an absolute nightmare to deal with and still have not paid me what was agreed to replace the faulty shower nearly 2 months down the line.
I personally would never buy a thing from them!
I believe my customers have been in contact with watchdog over Victorian plumbing conduct with regards faulty goods.

TRACY HARRISON · Mar 2, 2019

Baddegg said:
Hi Tracey
Yes as wilko says make sure you have removed the small plastic “u” piece, water pressure is not to do with the shower but what pressure is already present, there are 2 different models of the shower and yours may not have the “eco” button (a small button just above the power button) I know this as my customers after many legal threats recieved a replacement from Victorian plumbing without the eco button.
It wouldn’t surprise me if you have a faulty unit, the manufacturers told me to wedge something behind the shower to make things contact properly......I won’t repeat what I told them.
They even sent my customer, a disabled woman in her 60’s a new switch and a video clip telling her to change it herself, she rang me asking where to start! (The clip didn’t even explain how to isolate the power)
Victorian plumbing have been an absolute nightmare to deal with and still have not paid me what was agreed to replace the faulty shower nearly 2 months down the line.
I personally would never buy a thing from them!
I believe my customers have been in contact with watchdog over Victorian plumbing conduct with regards faulty goods.

TRACY HARRISON · Mar 2, 2019

Thank you for responding to me, no we do not have the eco button on the unit front but our contractor did remove the plastic wedge inside the unit and followed all instruction re installation.
We are definitely thinking we have a faulty unit, Victorian Plumbing did say we can send back shower for refund pending outcome of inspection/investigation. They have asked for photos and information about installation - send awaiting response. We would be happy if the just told us to chose another one as this shower is not fit for purpose, not sure where we stand legally or if credit card company would refund us during our fight thank you again for responding.

TRACY HARRISON · Mar 2, 2019

Wilko said:
Hi Tracey and Welcome to the Forum.
You could start a new thread if you liked on your issues. A couple of quick thoughts - the divertor control is a standard part and should fit (see page 16) or is broken. Also see page 17 as there is a commissioning instruction and a plastic piece to be removed at step 3. Don't forget power off first .

TRACY HARRISON · Mar 2, 2019

Hi Wilko, diverter switch def looks broken, im convinced they has sent us a faulty or previously returned unit. Plastic wedge was removed as per instructions. Looks like a really poor design for a lot of money. Currently awaiting a response from Victorian Plumbing, not sure if I can demand a refund but would be happy with a completely different shower to resolve this, lost faith in this item.
now over 30 day of purchase. bought in October fitted in February due to renovations.

telectrix · Mar 2, 2019

TRACY HARRISON said:
Hi Wilko, diverter switch def looks broken, im convinced they has sent us a faulty or previously returned unit. Plastic wedge was removed as per instructions. Looks like a really poor design for a lot of money. Currently awaiting a response from Victorian Plumbing, not sure if I can demand a refund but would be happy with a completely different shower to resolve this, lost faith in this item.
now over 30 day of purchase. bought in October fitted in February due to renovations.

in that case you want it replacing under warranty. if you bought with credit card, then you should be able to get a 100% refund on your card. trading standards is another avenue under "goods not fit for purpose",

Electric shower advice please.....

Baddegg

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littlespark

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Wilko

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Wilko

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Baddegg

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Gary Gemmell

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Spoon

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Baddegg

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TRACY HARRISON

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Wilko

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Baddegg

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TRACY HARRISON

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TRACY HARRISON

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TRACY HARRISON

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TRACY HARRISON

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telectrix

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