Electric Sauna Heaters 220v

Let’s explore the electrical configurations of sauna heaters more in depth. Think about the following text as ‘electrical configurations explained for dummies’. In terms of performance, the difference is not noticeable so just take the configuration suitable for your household's electrical network, but sometimes it’s interesting to know more about things you consider getting, just for the fun of it.

Single-Phase (1PH) and Three-Phase (3PH) Power;

Electric power can be delivered in different configurations, and when it comes to sauna heaters, these configurations are single-phase (1PH) and three-phase (3PH). Single phase power is used at private residences and three phase power typically in industrial and commercial settings.

So what’s the difference between the two?

Three-phase sauna heaters use three live wires and sometimes a neutral wire. This setup allows for a more constant delivery of electric current. It’s ‘better’ configuration in a way that a three-phase system doesn’t fluctuate the same way as a single phase system. In other words, the delivery of electricity is more consistent, since there’s three (3) waves flowing in sequence instead of one, and one of these three is always at peak.

In single-phase sauna heaters, you use two wires - one live and one neutral. Single-phase is the most common form of power supply in homes. To imagine the single-phase power working, think of a single wave of electricity flowing with a constant rhythm. That’s how single phase configured sauna heaters get their fuel.

Why is the three-phase (3PH) sauna heater always 208V and single-phase (1PH) usually 240V?

Good question! The difference in voltage is rooted in the way electrical systems are designed and distributed in North-America. But to answer this question properly, we need to know what the voltage means. Essentially, voltage means the pressure from an electrical circuit's power source that pushes electrons (also known as current) through a conducting loop. The higher the voltage, the higher the pressure.

Pressure mentioned above is lower in three-phase systems, because 3-phase has three wires carrying current, with each wire 120 degrees out of phase with the others. Pressure is lower in three-phase systems because, in these systems, the voltage measured between any two of the three wires (each carrying current and staggered 120 degrees apart) is around 208V. This is due to the unique way these currents interact and combine their "pressures." In contrast, in a single-phase system, which is more common in homes, you typically have two wires at a higher voltage, resulting in the standard 240V. This higher voltage in single-phase systems is due to the direct line-to-line measurement, without the phase staggering seen in three-phase systems.

In your sauna heater questions, we usually recommend you call or email us so we can consult you. However, when it comes to electrical wirings, we recommend calling your local electrician who knows your local electric network, to figure out which configuration to go with.