DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Hi

I have just had an electrician fit a new consumer unit for me. This has a RCD and 32 amp fuse.

I have wired a 6kw sauna heater in to this and the heater unit comes on for about a couple of minutes and then the rcd trips out.

If left for a few minutes you can repeat the process but the heater will not stay on

Can anyone offer any suggestions.

Phil

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Hi, if the heater has not been used before or for a long time, the elements which are hygroscopic will have become damp so causing the earth leakage problem.
A good electrician should know ways around this, such as wiring heater temporarily via a none RCD supply and leaving on for some time to drive moisture out.
There are other ways which should only be done under strictly controlled conditions which I will not go into on public forum as they are potentially dangerous in wrong hands but which will work.
Gonna have to get your part-p leckie back to help i'm afraid,
regards SPARX

Thanks for the quick reply SPARX

I had read about the damp in the elements somewhere else on web. That is why I had persevered with turning on and leaving for a few minutes, but it doesn't appear to be generating enough heat to dry these out.

As you suggest they probably need to be dried throughly.

Really appreciate your advice.