we have now had 3 opal 3's in 8 years. they work fine at the start but then seem to burn out and stop working. we are not sure if there is to much power going to the unit or not enough. Also when we switch the shower on the lights in the house dim slightly. we do have a shower switch and this has packed up twice,
Any Ideas ?????

Phil Henley, December 2015

I have been repairing showers for 16 years and what you say is worrying,you don't mention if the failures were checked by an expert or did you do it yourself.It sounds very much like the installation is inadequate for your shower,have you upped the kilowatt rating of the shower beyond what the cable switch etc is rated at

toptrish, December 2015

You report a very strange situation - in your position I would call in a good and properly qualified electrician to inspect the house wiring.

I suspect that the original installation was by a plumber and that he made a mistake with the wiring - I can't imagine what or how.

As for too much or too little power the shower (any appliance) will draw the power it needs - if your shower is rated at 3kW (3000 Watts) it will draw that amount of power providing the voltage is in the 230V range - which it will be. Similarly if it's a 7kW shower.

Your report of the house lights dimming is very worrying - if the lights dim when you use the sower it can only be a voltage drop - and that shouldn't happen - a shower on its own circuit should not cause a voltage drop on a lighting circuit - the electricity company supply will be able to cope with all your appliance working at the same time.

You have a problem with the house wiring.

I also have some doubts about the three failing showers and the two failing switches.

Have it inspected..., December 2015