110v water heating showerhead?

[ruffneck_12]

good thing I does test the plumbing before electrical yes

[Sheriff]

matix it was setup with a 30 amps breaker.

[matix]

Well that is the correct wire size and breaker to use. It may just be a faulty unit but check the water pressure just to make sure. Most of these should be on the warm setting. The hot setting will drastically shorten the lifespan of the unit.

[gt4tified]

make sure to use the little restrictor in it
it helps reduce the volume and pressure which blows the rubber seal.

This^^^

[Ted_v2]

wuh they said,

I installed the constrictor after the seal on mines blow, go figure.

make sure use almost 20-30 amp breakers on these with sufficient wires.

[pugboy]

the best bet might be to drill out the holes slightly larger, at least a few of the holes
not necessarily all
that way the water will not get too hot to soften andweaken seal as well as keep element cooler

[Sheriff]

Will take the unit back to have it checked as its only about two weeks old and still under warranty, as everything else checks out fine. Its always on the warm setting, the wire doesn't get warm when it set here, its only when I put the setting to hot on the unit that's when the wiring gets warm.
Restrictor is installed.

[chit8238]

These units are cheap and work well. They have a "pressure switch" in the top that senses pressure and turns off the unit when the pressure drops. So you don't need to have the water on all the time. It is a rubber diaphragm, which when the pressure increases, pushes the contacts up and the current flows. I have used these for much longer than the last fifteen years with no problems (changed about ten of them). They are simple to repair and pretty cheap to replace too.

[redmanjp]

No problems but u changed TEN of them?

[*$kїđž!™]

my shower head has a small leak.....anyone knows how to fix it?

[gt4tified]

Where is it leaking from? Sometimes silicone can work.

[gofe777]

So I have been using the small fame shower head for some years now .. So here are some hacks for it -
1. Wires getting hot with correct gauge of wires installed = wires and metal/ copper at the top part of the unit not making proper contact and due to the heat it will have some type of anti-conductive build up on the wires and metal. Also the heat will damage the spring on the lever/ switch that changes the hot or warm setting. So if the unit is new tighten the screws at the top part (screws that hold metal/ copper pieces in place with wires at top of unit) because slack screws will cause it to make less contact which = overheat and burnt out wires/ coil element.
2. Spray all parts at the top with WD40. WD40 will help maintain proper contact and reduce anti-conductive build up due to heat and time. Also spray the connections u make from the units wires to house wires. WARNING!! DO NOT OVER SPRAY AT THE TOP OF THE UNIT!! SPRAY EVERTHING IDIVIDUALLY JUSY ENOUGH TO LUBRICATE IT!. USE THE RED STRAW!.. AND MAKE SURE BREAKER SWITCH IS OFF!!..
3. If its not a new unit with overheating or burning out wires at the top then u need to tighten screws at top and take apart the switch lever an clean its places of contact with a metal file or sand paper and then reassemble and tighten properly and maybe use extra washers for the lever assembly if the spring has lost its resistance due to overheating. Then follow WD40 procedure and u should be good. (Also if lever has overheated and does not stay firm to unit u should set it to one preferable temperature setting that's best for u and the unit).
4. The rubber seal can be replaced using old rubber tubing from any vehicle wheel. It takes more pressure and lasts way longer than the original part. It will cause a little more water flow through the unit so the coil/ element won"t overheat.

Hope this helps the people like me who like to fix things themselves and make it work better.

[pugboy]

how do you make up that seal ?

any pics ?

[chit8238]

I would suggest not making up the seal but getting a new one (I once tried making it too.) I once saw this seal selling separately somewhere but that is years ago. This has to seal perfectly to "trap" the water, then push the attached contacts onto those attached to the input wires. This is the "pressure sensing" part of the apparatus.

Apart from the difficulty in sealing a made-up one properly and attaching the contacts, the price I saw the rubber part for was probably about the cost of a nichrome element for the heater. Since the cost of a new heater is about $120 - $150 it would seem a better decision to get a new showerhead since it would include everything like new rubber and contacts, element etc.

I have meddled in these heaters for some years and have some old parts around. Although my advice is to buy a new one, if you really want to repair it, give me a shout and I should be able to give you a used one from my small arsenal (no charge of course).

[Morpheus]

Large FAME going on 8 years. Just had to refit the gasket a few times

Hard water usually clogs the holes hence raising the pressure. Something's gotta give - gasket.
Just refit, clean the holes, back in business.

Once had the issue of wire heating up too, especially if we forgot the switch on fo a period of time. Rectified by using bigger wires (as ZR mentioned).

[Morpheus]

Well that is the correct wire size and breaker to use. It may just be a faulty unit but check the water pressure just to make sure. Most of these should be on the warm setting. The hot setting will drastically shorten the lifespan of the unit.

I only use hot. 8 years. No coil replacement......so far.

[chit8238]

Well that is the correct wire size and breaker to use. It may just be a faulty unit but check the water pressure just to make sure. Most of these should be on the warm setting. The hot setting will drastically shorten the lifespan of the unit.

I only use hot. 8 years. No coil replacement......so far.

I agree. The element does not necessarily get hotter on the hot setting. The length of resistance wire that heats up on the lukewarm setting is shorter. On the hot setting, it is longer, so more contact is made with the water flowing over it thereby heating it more. You can trace the wires from the riveted points attached to the contacts and see the current paths and corresponding wire lengths.

[gofe777]

how do you make up that seal ?

any pics ?

Making the seal is simple. Just remove the old one and disassemble it. Then use it as a template to mark out a new one and cut it out with a shard pair of scissors and reassemble. Remember when cutting the holes in the new one that u don't have to cut it the exact size as the old one because its rubber tubing, so it will stretch nicely and seal really good.

[gofe777]

Well that is the correct wire size and breaker to use. It may just be a faulty unit but check the water pressure just to make sure. Most of these should be on the warm setting. The hot setting will drastically shorten the lifespan of the unit.

I only use hot. 8 years. No coil replacement......so far.

I agree. The element does not necessarily get hotter on the hot setting. The length of resistance wire that heats up on the lukewarm setting is shorter. On the hot setting, it is longer, so more contact is made with the water flowing over it thereby heating it more. You can trace the wires from the riveted points attached to the contacts and see the current paths and corresponding wire lengths.

Actually your wrong there bro. The longer coil gives more resistance to electricity therefore giving u the warm water whilst the shorter coil has less resistance causing it to get hotter than the longer which equals to the hot water.

And for the guys who are wondering about the breaker - Use a 30 amp breaker and the correct size of wire which u can ask for at the electrical store since I cant remember it right now.

[simplejack]

Fame appears to be the preferred brand so I opted to buying the smaller Fame showerhead since the larger Fame showerhead is out of stock at most hardwares I checked. However, the rep was recommending another brand that had a larger showerhead 'Lorenzetti'. Anyone ever used this brand?

In the end I still bought the smaller Fame Showerhead and will get it installed this week.

[chit8238]

Well that is the correct wire size and breaker to use. It may just be a faulty unit but check the water pressure just to make sure. Most of these should be on the warm setting. The hot setting will drastically shorten the lifespan of the unit.

I only use hot. 8 years. No coil replacement......so far.

I agree. The element does not necessarily get hotter on the hot setting. The length of resistance wire that heats up on the lukewarm setting is shorter. On the hot setting, it is longer, so more contact is made with the water flowing over it thereby heating it more. You can trace the wires from the riveted points attached to the contacts and see the current paths and corresponding wire lengths.

Actually your wrong there bro. The longer coil gives more resistance to electricity therefore giving u the warm water whilst the shorter coil has less resistance causing it to get hotter than the longer which equals to the hot water.

And for the guys who are wondering about the breaker - Use a 30 amp breaker and the correct size of wire which u cant ask for at the electrical store since I cant remember it right now.

The shorter wire might possibly have a different resistance per unit length, due to the constituent elements that make it up, causing them both to heat to the same temperature. The cross sectional area appears the same. Conversely, the resistance per unit length could be the same and it could be getting hotter than the longer wire-which is what you are saying and you may very well be right. If i get time (which might be never!), I will check it with my DMM. Thanks.

[adnj]

Increasing the resistance lowers the current in the heating coil for less power dissipated. Use 4.0 mm2 wire for a 30 amp breaker.

[ruffneck_12]

Things get scary when you mix water and electricity

On our old showerhead, when you put your hand close to the water while it on, you used to get a slight tingle from electricity.

So make sure the ground and neutral connections extra wholesome so the current can flow to that instead of your body.

Good thing the water stream not continuous yes.

[NR8]

On our old showerhead, when you put your hand close to the water while it on, you used to get a slight tingle from electricity.

Same thing happening to mine right now when I put my hand on top of the showerhead where the temperature switch is.

[simplejack]

Hooked it up and pleased with the results (Unfortunately I got the smaller of the two Fame Showerheads but it is getting the job done)

Quick question though, if I leave the power switch on and the shower isn't running would it burn the element or damage the showerhead? Like a kettle on but without water in it? For the odd day if I run out and leave the switch on or even if you're shampooing and you lock of the water. Would that few minutes where there isn't a flow of water affect it as well?

[chit8238]

These units have a pressure sensing switch. When the water flow is reduced, the switch disconnects the power. You can actually hear the difference if you turn the water higher and lower slowly. So you are safe.

[STORM1234]

These units have a pressure sensing switch. When the water flow is reduced, the switch disconnects the power. You can actually hear the difference if you turn the water higher and lower slowly. So you are safe.

you sure about that? so you're saying that the element doesn't burn any power at all when there there is no water flowing through it? because my family does forget and leave the heater on sometimes whole day.

[hindian]

I replaced the coil in mine this morning after 4 years of use. The water pressure by me is pretty high so i have to use the restrictor, it doesn't help much tho. 4.0 ECC wire on a single pole 30 amp breaker and the wire never gets hot.My setup doesn't have an on/off switch wired into the circuit because i use the pressure switch in the head. so to answer your question, as long as you turn the tap off, the power disconects, it doesn't use any power as long as the water is turned off...

[RBphoto]

FAME....

I want to live forever.....

[Morpheus]

^^[FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY][FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY]