Hi all, I need a bit of help with the electric side of things. My fridge works great on gas and did on 240v until now at least. When I plugged it in today to the shed (15A GPO) using my usual van cord it tripped the house RCD. Never did before but thought the electrical masters here may be able to provide some insight. No I won't do it myself but just checking to ask what to check before I call the sparky in as it may be something minor, though with my luck it will cost squillions. I did check with a little gadget that shows via lights if the GPO is wired correctly and it is (and always was)> Everything else Microwave shaver, TV etc. work ok
Pete
-- Edited by Pete49 on Thursday 2nd of January 2014 09:14:35 PM
KFT said
10:44 PM Jan 2, 2014
G'day pete
just on the face of what you have typed I would say the 230v element has failed and likely shorted to earth in the process. Replacement elements can be from around $130-$220 depending on the fridge model.
Are you certain the RCD tripped or was it an overload trip?
Other than removing some connections to test the element in isolation there is probably not much you can do with it. A sparky who knows caravan fridges will be able to work it out pretty quickly.
frank
-- Edited by KFT on Thursday 2nd of January 2014 10:45:57 PM
oldtrack123 said
10:45 PM Jan 2, 2014
Hi
I assume the RCD only trips when you switch the fridge to 240v?????
STays on if the fridge is not switced on ???
If yes to BOTH the above ,you most likely have a faulty 240V element [shorted to earth]
Do you have a multi meter [to measure Ohms] &understand how to use it???
PeterQ
Pete49 said
09:05 PM Jan 3, 2014
Hi Peter It trips out even with the GPO turned off basically as soon as I plug it in. Yes I have a multimeter and know how to use it :). I have a spare element in a fridge of the same model if it comes to that. just to allay minds I don't play with anything over 30V DC electronic locks etc. in my trade of locksmith (ret.) 240V AC is left to those that play with it professionally I just like to know the cause as if it happens again I can contact a sparky and inform him what my problem ma be so he can bring the appropriate gear. Its helped in many other facets of my life
Cheers
Pete
KFT said
09:11 PM Jan 3, 2014
Pete that is a very wise and sensible approach
I commend you for it.
frank
Aus-Kiwi said
10:58 PM Jan 3, 2014
The fridge was possibly never designed to run through an RCD..
Chances are its just moisture built up, condensation.. ??
My spa and outside fridge does this if left off for sometime...
I just plug it into air conditioning circuit
overnight and comes good..
Where there's no RCD..
oldtrack123 said
12:02 AM Jan 4, 2014
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
The fridge was possibly never designed to run through an RCD.. ..
Hi
While fridge elements could develope a small leakage
The easiest & safest way to dry them out is run on gas for a few hrs
It is a bii ridiculous to suggest they are not designed to run on a RCD protected circuit
Any such plug in CLASS 1 appliance/ device must be able to run from a RCD protected circuit IN AUS
PeterQ
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Saturday 4th of January 2014 12:11:45 AM
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Saturday 4th of January 2014 12:17:07 AM
oldtrack123 said
12:10 AM Jan 4, 2014
Pete49 wrote:
Hi Peter It trips out even with the GPO turned off basically as soon as I plug it in. Yes I have a multimeter and know how to use it :). I have a spare element in a fridge of the same model if it comes to that. just to allay minds I don't play with anything over 30V DC electronic locks etc. in my trade of locksmith (ret.) 240V AC is left to those that play with it professionally I just like to know the cause as if it happens again I can contact a sparky and inform him what my problem ma be so he can bring the appropriate gear. Its helped in many other facets of my life
Cheers
Pete
HI
I assume you are saying it trips the RCD as soon as you plug it in with the GPO SWITCHEd on ,but the FRIDGE switched OFF????
That would indicate a leakage either at the plug or within the fridge itself ,But yes As KFT suggests best get an ELECTRIcIAN to look at it ,
Without Model # anything more would be just wild guessing!!
PeterQ
Aus-Kiwi said
11:28 PM Jan 4, 2014
Old fridges, range hoods etc had this issue..Before RCD's became compulsory on all GPO's..
In any case get it checked out..
The connections could be reversed or major earth fault..
Pete49 said
11:30 PM Jan 4, 2014
Thanks for the info supplied. I will now contact a man about a fridge and give him the basic info I have and let him earn his keep.
Thanks guys
As for not working with RCD it did last time I plugged it in and with normal summer temps of 35C-45C+ here and no rain for 6 weeks moisture is not likely the cause.
Pete
-- Edited by Pete49 on Saturday 4th of January 2014 11:33:32 PM
Aus-Kiwi said
11:44 PM Jan 4, 2014
Most of our callouts with no power supply these days is from RCD's..
Good devices in many ways !!! Aha..
Hi all, I need a bit of help with the electric side of things. My fridge works great on gas and did on 240v until now at least. When I plugged it in today to the shed (15A GPO) using my usual van cord it tripped the house RCD. Never did before but thought the electrical masters here may be able to provide some insight. No I won't do it myself but just checking to ask what to check before I call the sparky in as it may be something minor, though with my luck it will cost squillions. I did check with a little gadget that shows via lights if the GPO is wired correctly and it is (and always was)> Everything else Microwave shaver, TV etc. work ok
Pete
-- Edited by Pete49 on Thursday 2nd of January 2014 09:14:35 PM
G'day pete
just on the face of what you have typed I would say the 230v element has failed and likely shorted to earth in the process. Replacement elements can be from around $130-$220 depending on the fridge model.
Are you certain the RCD tripped or was it an overload trip?
Other than removing some connections to test the element in isolation there is probably not much you can do with it. A sparky who knows caravan fridges will be able to work it out pretty quickly.
frank
-- Edited by KFT on Thursday 2nd of January 2014 10:45:57 PM
Hi
I assume the RCD only trips when you switch the fridge to 240v?????
STays on if the fridge is not switced on ???
If yes to BOTH the above ,you most likely have a faulty 240V element [shorted to earth]
Do you have a multi meter [to measure Ohms] &understand how to use it???
PeterQ
Hi Peter It trips out even with the GPO turned off basically as soon as I plug it in. Yes I have a multimeter and know how to use it :). I have a spare element in a fridge of the same model if it comes to that. just to allay minds I don't play with anything over 30V DC electronic locks etc. in my trade of locksmith (ret.) 240V AC is left to those that play with it professionally I just like to know the cause as if it happens again I can contact a sparky and inform him what my problem ma be so he can bring the appropriate gear. Its helped in many other facets of my life
Cheers
Pete
I commend you for it.
frank
Chances are its just moisture built up, condensation.. ??
My spa and outside fridge does this if left off for sometime...
I just plug it into air conditioning circuit
overnight and comes good..
Where there's no RCD..
Hi
While fridge elements could develope a small leakage
The easiest & safest way to dry them out is run on gas for a few hrs
It is a bii ridiculous to suggest they are not designed to run on a RCD protected circuit
Any such plug in CLASS 1 appliance/ device must be able to run from a RCD protected circuit IN AUS
PeterQ
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Saturday 4th of January 2014 12:11:45 AM
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Saturday 4th of January 2014 12:17:07 AM
HI
I assume you are saying it trips the RCD as soon as you plug it in with the GPO SWITCHEd on ,but the FRIDGE switched OFF????
That would indicate a leakage either at the plug or within the fridge itself ,But yes As KFT suggests best get an ELECTRIcIAN to look at it ,
Without Model # anything more would be just wild guessing!!
PeterQ
In any case get it checked out..
The connections could be reversed or major earth fault..
Thanks for the info supplied. I will now contact a man about a fridge and give him the basic info I have and let him earn his keep.
Thanks guys
As for not working with RCD it did last time I plugged it in and with normal summer temps of 35C-45C+ here and no rain for 6 weeks moisture is not likely the cause.
Pete
-- Edited by Pete49 on Saturday 4th of January 2014 11:33:32 PM
Good devices in many ways !!! Aha..