GFCI tripping when installing steam shower

12coco12coco · 06-27-2008, 09:43 AM

I have a steam-shower Ariel-608 and all electrical connections were made following the electrical diagram by a professional electrician.
Every time I plug the power of the unit the GFCI keeps on popping out. The system works fine on a regular system circuit breaker. The breaker is 30 Amp and the steam shower uses 110V.
The feed line is good and it was checked by electrician.
Cold someone please help me solve this problem?

DonaldG · 07-01-2008, 11:53 AM

It sounds like the steam shower is faulty. If you have had all the other items checked out and they are OK it must be the shower

I am not sure about the 'GFCI' but if it is the same as the UK Earth Leakage trip switch, then it is tripping out because it can detect a leakage of voltage/current in from the feed line to ground. This would not Trip out a regular circuit breaker...

Take note of what the safety device it telling you - there is an electrical fault.

My advice is NOT to use the shower under any circumstances - either have it checked out by an expert with that class of equipment or dump it and get a new one.

teemo1 · 07-01-2008, 01:53 PM

Ditto the above-it is possible the leakage is in a place where it won't hurt you, but why take a chance when the consequences are so grave? You don't mention what if anything else is on that circuit. GFCIs are designed to protect a single load. Putting several items on one circuit (lights, receptacles, etc.) increases the chance of a leak to ground. One common problem is that the white neutral wire is connected as a case ground somewhere. AND be sure that there is no tripping device (overload or reset button, circuit breaker ,etc.) wired downstream of the GFCI.

dappa · 06-16-2009, 08:47 AM

Best to check the rest of the circuit to see what’s happening to the rest of the line if anything else is affected

"GFCI devices intended to protect people to interrupt the circuit if the leakage current exceeds a range of 4-6 mA of current (the trip setting is typically 5 mA) within 25 milliseconds. GFCI devices which protect equipment (not people) are allowed to trip as high as 30 mA of current."
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mybath · 06-29-2009, 07:12 AM

You sohuld try contacting the company you purchased the unit from. They should be able to assist you with troubleshooting. You can reach the main importer of these units here, http://www.steamshowersinc.com.

You might also consider trying some Walk In Bathtubs in your bathroom as well from the same company.

06-27-2008, 09:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
12coco12coco Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1 OS: xp	GFCI tripping when installing steam shower I have a steam-shower Ariel-608 and all electrical connections were made following the electrical diagram by a professional electrician. Every time I plug the power of the unit the GFCI keeps on popping out. The system works fine on a regular system circuit breaker. The breaker is 30 Amp and the steam shower uses 110V. The feed line is good and it was checked by electrician. Cold someone please help me solve this problem?

07-01-2008, 11:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
DonaldG Asst Manager Articles Team Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Somerset, UK Posts: 9,232 OS: XPsp2 Laptop & Vista Ultimate Desktop My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: GFCI tripping when installing steam shower It sounds like the steam shower is faulty. If you have had all the other items checked out and they are OK it must be the shower I am not sure about the 'GFCI' but if it is the same as the UK Earth Leakage trip switch, then it is tripping out because it can detect a leakage of voltage/current in from the feed line to ground. This would not Trip out a regular circuit breaker... Take note of what the safety device it telling you - there is an electrical fault. My advice is NOT to use the shower under any circumstances - either have it checked out by an expert with that class of equipment or dump it and get a new one. __________________ . Lest we forget... "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them." Submit New Articles Here TSF's Photographer's Corner .

07-01-2008, 01:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
teemo1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1 OS: winxp	Re: GFCI tripping when installing steam shower Ditto the above-it is possible the leakage is in a place where it won't hurt you, but why take a chance when the consequences are so grave? You don't mention what if anything else is on that circuit. GFCIs are designed to protect a single load. Putting several items on one circuit (lights, receptacles, etc.) increases the chance of a leak to ground. One common problem is that the white neutral wire is connected as a case ground somewhere. AND be sure that there is no tripping device (overload or reset button, circuit breaker ,etc.) wired downstream of the GFCI. Last edited by teemo1; 07-01-2008 at 01:57 PM.

06-16-2009, 08:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
dappa Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1 OS: vista	Re: GFCI tripping when installing steam shower Best to check the rest of the circuit to see what’s happening to the rest of the line if anything else is affected "GFCI devices intended to protect people to interrupt the circuit if the leakage current exceeds a range of 4-6 mA of current (the trip setting is typically 5 mA) within 25 milliseconds. GFCI devices which protect equipment (not people) are allowed to trip as high as 30 mA of current." _____________________ [Unauthorised commercial link removed by Moderator] [Please read and abide by the forum rules] [Thanks] Last edited by DonaldG; 06-17-2009 at 12:43 PM. Reason: Remove unauthorised commercial link in signature

06-29-2009, 07:12 AM	#5 (permalink)
mybath Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1 OS: vista	Re: GFCI tripping when installing steam shower You sohuld try contacting the company you purchased the unit from. They should be able to assist you with troubleshooting. You can reach the main importer of these units here, http://www.steamshowersinc.com. You might also consider trying some Walk In Bathtubs in your bathroom as well from the same company. Last edited by mybath; 06-29-2009 at 07:14 AM.