One of the most common concerns before purchasing a garden sauna is about electricity – do you need to install an expensive, three-phase connection to your garden? For small saunas, the answer is no. Using the example of the R-SONIA 130, we show that a compact garden sauna can be connected to a regular single-phase 230V socket – without the need for a three-phase installation.
R-SONIA 130 – A Small Garden Sauna for 1–2 People
R-SONIA 130 is a compact garden sauna made of Thermo Pine wood, designed for 1–2 people, priced from PLN 15,900. Its small size is perfect where there isn't enough space for a traditional, large sauna – on a small plot, terrace, or in a corner of the garden. It is our most frequently chosen model for customers who want their first private sauna corner without a large investment.
230V Sauna Heater – No Three-Phase Connection Needed
For the R-SONIA 130, we typically recommend the Harvia KIP 4.5 kW electric heater. This heater operates on a standard single-phase 230V power supply – exactly what you have in your home sockets. You don't need a 5-core cable or a three-phase connection from a distribution board, as you would for larger, more powerful heaters.
This makes a real difference in the cost and time of preparing your garden: instead of calling an electrician to run a new, three-phase line, all you need is one appropriately protected 230V socket close to where the sauna will be placed.
A small note from us – for clarity: a 4.5 kW heater draws about 20 A, so even though it's "ordinary" 230V, we recommend a dedicated electrical line with its own protection, installed by an electrician – rather than connecting it via a regular extension cord from a garage socket. This is still a much simpler, faster, and cheaper task than a three-phase connection, but it's still worth doing it properly.
When is 230V enough, and when do you need 3 phases?
In practice, it works like this:
- Small 1–2 person saunas with a heater up to approx. 4.5 kW (like R-SONIA 130) – a standard single-phase 230V supply is sufficient.
- Larger 4–6 person saunas with a 6–9 kW heater – here, a three-phase 400V supply is needed, as only a more powerful heater will evenly heat a larger volume.
If you're considering a larger sauna with a shower and a 9 kW heater, we've described in detail how to make a three-phase connection step-by-step in a separate guide: Wood-burning or 9 kW electric sauna heater? A guide using the R-APPO sauna as an example.
Wood-Burning Heater – Option for Plots Without Electricity
The R-SONIA 130 is also available with a Harvia Legend 240 wood-burning heater (complete with chimney). This is a solution for recreational plots or gardens without electricity – the heater does not need power to heat the stones, and the ritual of lighting a fire is, for many, part of the pleasure of using a sauna.
Sauna and Health – What Science Says
The benefits of regular sauna use are an increasingly researched topic. A review by Finnish scientists Laukkanen and Kunutsor, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings (2018), summarizes evidence linking regular sauna use to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a range of other health benefits. This is a review of many observational studies – it shows a statistical association, not a simple cause-and-effect relationship, but it is one of the most frequently cited summaries on this topic. Full article: mayoclinicproceedings.org.
Summary
The R-SONIA 130 offers the lowest entry point into the world of garden saunas – a compact design, a price starting from PLN 15,900, and a Harvia KIP 4.5 kW heater that you can connect to a regular 230V socket, without a three-phase installation. For plots without electricity, a version with a wood-burning heater is also available.
View the full offer in the SAUNADO garden sauna collection or write to us at sales@saunado.eu – we will help you choose the right model for your garden.