Electrical Requirements of Electric Sauna Heaters

Most of the time, customers who buy electric sauna heaters don’t consult electricians (or us) for the proper electrical specifications for installation. This usually leads to incorrect wiring, insufficient power supply, or a failure of their electrical infrastructure to support the sauna heater. 

In this article, we’ll discuss the electrical work and wiring of a sauna (heater) for US and non-US residents. At the end of this piece, you’ll learn: 

1. Voltages and phase

2. Required Amperage, Circuit breakers, Wire sizes, and kW ratings

3. Brief overview of system wiring

… for your sauna heaters. Let’s get to it!

Voltage and phase

Generally,  we have three different types of voltage and phase combinations in the US. But only two are really available:

• 240V/1PH 

• 208V/3PH

Almost all electric sauna heaters require 240V/1PH power – the commonest voltage/phase combination. However, you may find options with commercial configurations offered at 208V/3PH power to fit into the electrical infrastructure of commercial buildings.

Some 120V/1PH sauna heaters have existed but are no longer available or produced.

Why do electric sauna heaters mainly operate with 240V?

In most Western countries (like the US), the electricity is delivered to homes through 120V lines. Combining two 120V lines achieves the 240V that higher-power electrical appliances require.

You may think: So why don’t electric sauna heaters use only 1 x 120V line, which would make them 120V appliances?

All electric sauna heaters require significant power, even the smallest ones designed for one—to two-person saunas. In residential wiring, the current in circuits is capped for safety reasons. A single circuit with just one 120V line would not provide enough power for a sauna heater to heat effectively.

Can a 240V/1PH sauna heater be wired to a commercial building with a 208V system?

Generally yes. You can wire a 240V/1PH electric sauna heater for a commercial building with 208V by using just two hot wires (L1 and L2) from the 208V three-phase system. This reduces the sauna heater's power output by 25%, which you need to account for when sizing it.

Verify with your electrician first if an electric sauna heater with these specs can be installed in your current electrical network.

How do you find the electrical information on a specific sauna heater to know what power it requires?

To know the electrical power requirements of your sauna heater, check the user manual or installation guide attached to the package. Or, contact any of our technical experts to provide specific information tailored to your heater models. 

Amperages, Circuit Breakers, Wire Sizes, and kW Ratings

Each electric sauna heater has its own kW rating.

Based on that kW rating, the electric sauna heater requires a specific amperage, circuit breaker, and wire size to operate efficiently. These requirements are not based on the brand of the electric sauna heater but on the size. 

Sometimes, the electrical requirements can cause problems, as the capability of their electrical infrastructure constrains some households —not all houses have abundant power. Typically, newer homes are less likely to be constrained by their electrical network than older ones. 

Size is also a significant factor. The bigger the electric sauna heater, the more power it requires. And the bigger the sauna, the bigger the heater you’ll need. The size of your sauna heater is measured as a kW number, which can be found in the name of the heater, like this: 

So, if you’re building or designing your sauna yourself, you’ll need to:   

1. Calculate the size of your sauna

2. Calculate the sauna heater size based on the sauna size

3. Look at the Amperage and circuit breaker requirements for a sauna heater that is correctly sized for your sauna.

4. Ask your electrician if an electric sauna heater with these specs can be installed in your house. If it can, you can proceed with the sauna build.

However, if your electrical infrastructure can’t accommodate the heater, you can either make your sauna smaller or make your electrical infrastructure more capable. Another effective alternative is to get a wood-fired or gas-powered sauna heater.

Brief overview of system wiring

System wiring is entirely dependent on the specific model of your sauna heater. Sauna heaters come with wiring diagrams and instructions your electrician will use to wire your sauna. For example, this is the wiring diagram of the standard HUUM sauna system:

Learn more about system wiring, here. 

Conclusion 

Before purchasing a sauna heater, assess the home’s electrical capacity and verify that the panel can handle the load. Better yet, consult a licensed electrician to check your wiring and overall electrical system to see if it meets the sauna (heater) requirements. 

You can also consult any of our technical experts for personalized guidance on the right heater for your electrical setup and sauna needs.