A steam shower that trips the electric can have several different causes, from the generator itself to how the circuit is fused. Check whether the trip is instant or takes a few minutes, since that narrows it down before you call anyone. Isolate the power and get a qualified electrician to check the heating element and connections before doing anything else.
Applies to: steam showers
If your steam shower keeps tripping the electrics or causing the RCD to switch off, the most common cause is a fault inside the steam generator. In most cases this happens when the heating element inside the generator begins to fail and develops an earth leakage fault.
This issue usually becomes noticeable when the steam function is activated. As soon as the generator starts heating water, the electrical protection system detects the fault and shuts the power off to prevent a potential hazard.
Steam shower cabins contain powerful heating elements and electrical components, so when the electrics trip it is usually the safety system doing exactly what it should do. The key is identifying which component inside the generator is causing the fault.
Compatible with many steam shower cabins including Insignia, Vidalux, Aqualusso, Lisna Waters and Aqualux models.
Compatible with many shower cabin brands including
Quick diagnosis
If your steam shower is showing these symptoms:
- The electrics cut out the moment you press the steam button
- Power trips a few minutes into a steam session rather than straight away
- The RCD won't reset, or trips again as soon as you switch back on
- Other functions like lights and radio work fine right up until steam is activated
Likely causes, most likely first
- A failing heating element inside the generator. Cracks in the element’s casing let water reach the live wiring, tripping the RCD as an earth fault. If the trip is instant, this is the most likely cause.
- Two RCDs fighting each other. If your consumer unit already has RCD protection on that circuit and the cabin still has its own plug-in RCD fitted, the two can trip one another.
- An undersized fuse or circuit for the generator’s rating. Most 2.8kW generators need a 13A supply; check your manual, since a 4.5kW or larger unit needs a dedicated 20A or 32A circuit instead.
Likely cause
In most cases the fault sits inside the steam generator rather than the shower cabin itself. A cracked heating element allows water to make contact with live wiring, and the RCD trips instantly to protect you from that earth leakage fault. Where the trip takes a few minutes rather than being instant, the element is often failing as it heats and expands during the session.
Check this first
- Note whether the trip happens the instant you press the steam button, or only after a few minutes … the timing points to which fault it is
- Check whether your consumer unit already has RCD protection on that circuit
- Check the fuse or breaker rating against the generator’s kW rating in your manual
How to identify your part
The generator’s kW rating is usually printed on a label on the tank itself, or listed in the installation manual. Match a replacement heating element to that rating rather than guessing … a 3kW element won’t behave correctly in a 4.5kW unit.
Parts that fix this problem
If your steam shower keeps tripping the electrics when the steam function is activated, the fault is usually inside the steam generator. In most cases this will be related to the heating element or the internal control components within the generator.
If you're unsure which component inside your steam generator has failed, send us a photo of the generator or internal wiring and we can help identify the correct replacement part.
How to fix it
- Turn off the electrical supply to the shower before touching anything inside it
- Note whether the trip happens the instant steam starts or a few minutes in
- A qualified electrician can disconnect the heating element’s wires inside the generator to test it in isolation
- If the circuit stays on with the element disconnected, the element has an earth fault and needs replacing
- If it still trips with the element disconnected, the fault sits in the generator’s control box rather than the element
- Check whether the cabin’s own RCD and your consumer unit both protect the same circuit, since two together can trip each other
- Confirm the circuit is fused correctly for the generator’s kW rating before putting it back into use
Also described as
- Steam shower cabin
- Steam shower enclosure
- Steam shower pod
- Steam generator shower
When to call a professional
This is mains electrical work. Isolate the power and call a qualified electrician for anything beyond visually checking connections … never bypass the RCD yourself.
