6KW Sauna tripping main breaker in house! - HELP?

[Selena Francis]

OK guys, I will give you as much info as poss so that you can offer advice:

I brought a second hand sauna, re-assembled it at home and wired the heater into 13a just to test it worked, which it did.

Ran a 6mm cable into a seperate RCD in our consumer unit - the heater kept tripping the GFI as soon as the unit was turned on. Upon the advice of an electrician we scrapped the heater and brought a new one.

Wired the new heater in (still 6kw) - same problem, the seller said this is an inherent problem with Sauna heaters and to replace the breaker with a 40a non GFI type, which we did.

A brief "Hallelujah" moment as everything seems fine, but sadly whenever the sauna starts to get warm, the main house RCD now trips.

Is this actually an inherrant fault with Sauna heaters? i did not expect a brand new heater to present the same fault, thus logic (of an electrical dumb----) dictates that maybe the fault present is in the wiring / earth itself. However this has been checked by an electrician and they say everything seems ok.

Hope you can all understand why i am baffled, annoyed and frustrated! lol

Any help or advice would be VERY much appreciated - i didn't buy the sauna to loo at it! ha ha :mickey:

 

[Silly Sausage]

Sounds like your sauna has an earth fault on it, it's not fit for use.

I'd be taking it back to the seller and getting a refund!!!

 

[telectrix]

needs a thorough testing. maybe the new element is breaking down when it gets warm. maybe you have some earth leakage on the installation and the sauna is just adding enough to cause tripping. a spark with thorough knowledge of fault finding is required. if you post your location, one of us may be close to you.

 

[onions1066]

Be very careful using electrical equipment outside with no rcd protection. As above sounds like an earth fault get yourself an electrician who specialises in saunas and such like.

 

[Selena Francis]

well this is the second heater, the first was old, so i didn't mind replacing it but it seems off for a brand new replacement to arrive and present the same problems?
any ideas?
for reference there is a junction box on the side of the sauna - heater wires into that and then the 6mm wire comes from that too the consumer unit.
Obviously i will send the unit back for a refund if you guys are sure its the unit?

- - - Updated - - -

needs a thorough testing. maybe the new element is breaking down when it gets warm. maybe you have some earth leakage on the installation and the sauna is just adding enough to cause tripping. a spark with thorough knowledge of fault finding is required. if you post your location, one of us may be close to you.

I am in Pembroke, West Wales - i don't fancy my chances of anyone being close but will live (post) in hope lol

 

[Selena Francis]

ah yes, i should have noted that the sauna is located inside, not outside.
I am having trouble finding a specialist in yokalville (thats stupid for West Wales)

 

[onions1066]

I'm sure someone will be close by

 

[telectrix]

if you can prise des56 away form his beloved sheep, you are in with a chance.

 

[Silly Sausage]

if you can prise des56 away form his beloved sheep, you are in with a chance.

They could probably do with a wash by now.

 

[Selena Francis]

if you can prise des56 away form his beloved sheep, you are in with a chance.

do you have contact details for des56 as i can't seem to send a message as the error says "unknown user...blah"

 

[Silly Sausage]

Try 'Des 56'

 

[Selena Francis]

Try Des56

ok, sussed it - theres a space inbetween the name & number! DOH!

Have sent a PM - will now sit back and cross everything!!

Cheers guys!

 

[telectrix]

or try smoke signals. SOS = sheep, oh sheep.

 

[Selena Francis]

Hmmmmm, sauna won't get hot enough to smoke.....maybe ill just try and lure him with a goat!

they say variety is the spice of life you know!!

 

[telectrix]

a goat? now you're spoiling him