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aptdwellers · Dec 9, 2006, 09:56 PM

Hello All,

So happy I found the Ask Me Help Desk! I referred to it several times when working on my weekend DIY project. My weekend project today was installing an on-demand heated showerhead. There's a unit that screws into the shower arm and a showerhead that screws into the unit. The unit plugs into a standard wall outlet. When the shower is turned on, the unit heats the water running through it and - voilà! - you supposedly have a hot shower.

The problem we ran into is that the showerhead tripped our circuit breaker. The amperage needed to operate the shower heater is at least 24 amps. Looking at our breaker box, we have four 20 amp circuits and two 15 amp circuits.

We spent all day trying to get the showerhead off, running back and forth to the hardware store, installing the darn heating unit, and we still don't have hot water (our landlord is cheap - 2nd year in a row with an iffy hot water situation).

Maybe this question belongs in the electrical section, but I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions? I've been looking online for tankless water heaters (99% of them require way more than 20 amps to operate), or a different showerhead (same problem with the electrical requirements). I've even looked at camping showers and propane heaters. I don't think it's possible to switch out a 20 amp breaker with a 30 or 40 amp one so that the showerhead will operate properly.

I'm at my wits end! I just want to take a hot shower before I go to work!

Any products you can recommend? Any electrical advice?

Thanks! :eek:

letmetellu · Dec 9, 2006, 10:52 PM

You could run a new circuit to the bathroom to run your new heater. Use a larger wire than normal, such as a number 10 wire. Then you could use a higher amp breaker.

omzig · Dec 10, 2006, 06:53 AM

Are you sure that it draws 24A? If it does and it is 120V, then it shouldn't plug into a "standard wall outlet." The plug pattern is different for higher amperage plugs/receptacles (25A, 30A, etc.). Are you sure that there are not just other things on the same circuit in addition to the heater that are tripping the breaker?

tkrussell · Dec 10, 2006, 06:56 AM

A load of 24 amps requires a 30 amp circuit, as letmetellu mentions, with #10 wire, but only a 30 amp breaker.

I find your statement "at least 24 amps", curious. You need to know the exact MAXIMUM load, in watts or amps. The 30 amp circuit will not be large enough once the current rises above 24 amps.

No, it is not safe, or allowed, to just replace the 20 amp breaker with a higher rating, as this will allow the wiring to over heat, and you will have more problems than just a cold shower.

Sorry I have no suggestions for a heater shower head. Check over at plumbing for other suggestions, and if it is electric, come back here for help to wire it.