Since most of the Shower Cabins and Steam Showers sold in
the UK are produced in China; often the Eastern parts of China in an area dense
with Sanitary ware companies, there is often a good chance that the parts we have
available will in some way be compatible, either off the shelf or with a small
amount of adjustment.
Most connections such as those where hoses and pipes are concerned use a
standard 15mm threaded nut fixing, or may even be push fit, so a hose or a part
a hose connects to will be suitable. Steam pods are a good example of a
threaded 15mm nut connection. These are available in a variety of different
shapes and sizes but all feature the same sized thread. Since this thread fits
the small hole cut out, they are all able to be swapped between showers. The
Thermal insulated hose that supplies the steam to the steam pod is also fitted
with this same connection, so again, further signs of standardisation.
The one area we get a lot of question here at steam shower spares is that of
control panels (electronic control pads). These items are the part you interact
with inside the shower cabin or steam shower. When you press a button on the
control pad it passes the request to an electronic control unit, which in turn
activates he correct item within the shower enclosure. For example, press the
light button and the lights come on. Between the control panel and the
electronic control unit are typically one or two cables. These provide
electrical power from the electronic shower control unit and the data communication
to tell the electronic control unit what button you pressed and thus what to
do. Since the two parts (control unit and control panel) have to communicate
and understand the request, the data passed between the two part must be the
same. Therefore a control pad with say a TR code which is different to a panel
with an MK code simply do not communicate - consider pointing your DVD remote
at the TV and expecting it to work - it does not. We have the same problem here
- the language used is not the same, so you cannot but a new pad and hope it
words. This is further compounded by the cable connections, which are often hugely
different, with the size of the cut out designed to house the control pad and
additionally but the functions that may or may not be controlled by the unit.
Some older steam showers use Solenoid valves. These are electronic switches
that open and close at the press of a button to allow you to start the hand
shower or body jets etc. These Solenoid valves are great in principle, but
often fail and leave you with a completely useless shower. There are many makes
and models of shower in the UK with Solenoid valves and many of the original
suppliers are no longer in business, so parts are hard or impossible to find.
Steam Shower Spares do not stock solenoid vales are able to source them. The
only 'fix' if you cannot get the correct part is to consider replacing the
valve assembly or scrapping the shower. Replacement of the shower vale has been
done by many of our customizers, but it’s not very easy and often requires
making new surrounds to fit the valve assembly and new hoses etc. The control panel
and the steam generator and electric also need replacing if you want the full
result. Most people either consider a small fit (new valve) or scrap the shower
as the overall cost of parts comes too close to the cost of a news shower cabin
or steam shower.
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