Triton shower intermittent low pressure

[midibob]

Here's a good one.

My electric shower has been playing up for quite a long time and getting worse. The low pressure warning light would come on for no reason and switch off the heat. In this cold weather that's not funny!

After searching the web I found some info concerning a possible bad cap so I thought I'd investigate. Picture 1 shows the PCB and the suspect capacitor which is C3. This is the blue polystyrene cap just below D6. It should be 0.1uF 250VAC but when measured was only approx 0.06uF. This is an X2 type mains cap as it's used as a dropper for the DC rails.

Next thing I noticed was the microswitch which had been pushed backwards as the solder joints had failed. Quick flick with the iron and all was good as new.

This is well documented on the web and could save you a lot of money as an engineer call out plus a new motherboard would be more than a new shower!!

Do not attempt to do this unless you are qualified as there are lethal voltages present (obvious really) and it should only be attempted by a professional.

Midibob

[selldoor]

Re: Triton shower intermittent low pressure

Good info - I love a spot of soldering in the shower.

[kc8adu]

Re: Triton shower intermittent low pressure

the relay pin behind that tact switch is cracked too.just resolder everything.

[midibob]

Re: Triton shower intermittent low pressure

My eyesight is definitely getting worse. I didn't spot that.

Still it's working fine at present so I'll leave it until the warmer weather. Lets hope it doesn't throw a wobbly till then!

As for soldering in the shower, isn't that how you prevent dry joints.

(sorry)

Midibob

[CuriousJohn]

Its a resurrection!

Our Triton T100E thermostatic shower (About 14 years old now apparently going by its date labels) has been playing up since we moved in a year ago, same as described in op at start it would low pressure fault but if quick you could press cold button and then warm button and it would run luke warm, ok in warmer months but this winter it started refusing to switch the heater element on both economy and full power very much like the Burco boiler that had the same problem. Upon investigation a polypropylene X2 capacitor was found failing, should have been 0.68uf but measured around 0.22uf see photos.


Triton T100E Thermostatic. Those relays have 24v coils, the dropper capacitor was down 66% in value meaning no longer enough voltage to switch them. Also loving the old skool cluster of latch transistors in here lol.









BAD CAP!





GOOD CAP!