If the panel shows nothing at all, no lights, no display, no response whatsoever, the fault is almost always in the power reaching the unit rather than a broken panel. A tripped RCD or a blown fuse in the wall spur explains most of these. If your panel lights up but the buttons or functions don't respond, that's a different fault, our separate page on a control panel that's lit but not working covers that.
Applies to: steam showers
If your steam shower or shower cabin isn’t turning on at all, the issue is almost always related to power supply or a safety system preventing the unit from operating.
In most cases, this is not a complex fault. It’s usually something simple like a tripped RCD, a blown fuse, or the unit not receiving power properly. The key is working through the checks in the right order.
Compatible with many shower cabin brands including
Quick diagnosis
If your steam shower is showing these symptoms:
- No lights or display anywhere on the panel
- The RCD plug shows no green light at all
- The unit gives no response whatsoever, as if it has no power
- It was working normally before and hasn't been touched since
- Other bathroom electrics are unaffected
Likely causes, most likely first
- A tripped RCD. If the green light is off on the in-line RCD plug, the unit has no power at all until it’s reset. If it won’t stay on, that points to a genuine electrical fault rather than a nuisance trip.
- A blown fuse in the fused spur. The wall switch feeding the shower has its own fuse, separate from the RCD, and a blown one leaves the unit completely dead even with the RCD fine.
- A failed transformer or panel. Only once power is confirmed reaching the unit and the panel is still blank does the fault sit inside the unit itself, typically the low-voltage transformer that feeds the panel.
Likely cause
Total power loss almost always sits between the wall and the unit rather than inside it. Start with the RCD plug and the fused spur, since either one being off leaves the panel completely dead with no indication of why. Only once you've confirmed power is actually reaching the shower and the panel is still blank does the fault move to something inside the unit, typically the transformer that steps mains power down for the panel's low-voltage electronics.
Check this first
- Check the RCD plug on the power cable shows a green light, and press reset if it doesn’t.
- Check the fuse in the fused spur, the wall switch, hasn’t blown.
- On Vidalux cabins, the installation manual allows the plug-in RCD to be removed where the property’s own consumer unit already has RCD protection, if that’s your setup, check that circuit’s breaker instead of looking for a plug.
- If the RCD trips again as soon as you reset it, leave it off and call a qualified electrician rather than resetting it repeatedly.
- If the panel lights up but shows a padlock symbol or doesn’t respond to buttons, that’s a different fault, see “Why Is My Steam Shower Control Panel Not Working.”
- If the unit powers up fine and only trips when you activate steam, that’s a different fault, see our separate page on a steam shower that keeps tripping the electric.
Which part fits your cabin
| Brand | Model / range | Part | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vidalux | Essence 800, Essence 900, Essence 1000 | MK117 Slimline Electronics Box | Checked against Vidalux’s own product records |
This is a floor, not the full list. Other setups use an all-in-one generator and electronics unit instead of a separate box, so check which you have before ordering.
How to identify your part
On Vidalux cabins, the low-voltage transformer that feeds the panel sits on the roof, ahead of the panel itself in the wiring. If power is confirmed reaching the panel and it still won’t light, the electronics need checking rather than the transformer. Two different parts cover this depending on your setup: the MK117 Slimline Electronics Box replaces a separate control box feeding an MK117, MK117B or MK117BQ pad, while the MK117BQ all-in-one steam generator and electronics unit is only for cabins fitted with an MK117BQ pad and no separate box. Check which you have before ordering.
Parts that fix this problem
Most “not turning on” issues are caused by power supply or setup problems rather than failed parts.
If components such as the transformer or control panel have failed, these may need replacing once the fault has been confirmed.
Not sure why your steam shower isn’t turning on? Send us a photo or describe what’s happening and we’ll help you diagnose it quickly.
How to fix it
- Check the RCD plug shows a green light and press reset if it doesn’t
- Switch the spur off before removing the fuse carrier, then check the fuse hasn’t blown and replace it if needed
- Turn the power off at the isolator for five minutes to reset the unit, then switch back on
- If the RCD trips again as soon as you reset it, leave it off and call a qualified electrician rather than resetting it again
- If the panel is still blank with power confirmed reaching the unit, isolate the power and call a qualified electrician to check the transformer or panel
Also described as
- Steam shower not powering on
- Steam shower no power
- Steam shower not switching on
- Steam cabin not turning on
When to call a professional
Call a qualified electrician if the RCD trips again as soon as you reset it, if you're not confident opening the fused spur or checking wiring yourself, or if power is confirmed reaching the unit and the panel is still blank.
