Fridge faulty??

[CazPaul]

Concorde Concerto 2005.

Van was tripping electrics and I have traced the fault to the fridge breaker in the van.

it goes on hook up fine but when I put the breakers back on all is fine until the fridge breaker goes on and then the house electrics trip.


So a loose lead? damp got in the vents? or EHU element faulty?? Kuhlschrank breaker the one in question in the photo.

 

[Lenny HB]

I'd put my money on the fridge element.

 

[CazPaul]

I'd put my money on the fridge element.

Is that a fridge out job Lenny? Or an easy fix that I can manage?

 

[Lenny HB]

Is that a fridge out job Lenny? Or an easy fix that I can manage?

Can normally be changed via the vents, it's inside the chimney.

 

[autorouter]

If you can get to the wires for the mains element, disconnect one of the wires (isolate the 240V mains first, of course) and measure the resistance of the element. If OK, it should be a couple of hundred ohms. If shorted it will measure less than one ohm. If the wire in the element is broken, it will measure a very high value (probably 'OVERLOAD' or 'OVLD'). That will save you taking the element out if the fault is in the wiring.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Silver-Fox]

You could try changing the breaker first.

Not unknown to get a faulty one now and again.

 

[Jaws]

If you can get to the wires for the mains element, disconnect one of the wires (isolate the 240V mains first, of course) and measure the resistance of the element. If OK, it should be a couple of hundred ohms. If shorted it will measure less than one ohm. If the wire in the element is broken, it will measure a very high value (probably 'OVERLOAD' or 'OVLD'). That will save you taking the element out if the fault is in the wiring.

The resistance across the element might be fine.. chances are ( if it is duff ) it will be a case of the isolation material breaking down and leaking to earth

 

[autorouter]

The resistance across the element might be fine.. chances are ( if it is duff ) it will be a case of the isolation material breaking down and leaking to earth

Yes that's worth checking as well. Since it's the MCB that's tripping, not the RCD, if that is what the fault is, the insulation must have broken down quite comprehensively.

To test this, you need to disconnect both element wires. The resistance between either wire and earth (any metal pipework should be earthed) should be high if OK (as in 'OVERLOAD or OVLD). If you get any actual sensible reading then there's a fault - leakage/short to earth - and the element should be replaced. It would need to be two hundred ohms or less to trip the MCB.

 

[TinaLes]

CazPaul
Heres a video link for you.
Might not be your exact model, but I think the method is the same.
Good Luck
LES

 

[Pete5996]

I had the same symptoms when the heating element went on the a/c unit

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Raul]

That is a very bad board if does not trip to protect, it takes out the hook up fuse in the house.
If is a leak to earth, the first think to trip will be your RCD in the van. Residual current device should detect the earth leakage and trip/open. Also that mcb for a fridge is over sized to, that’s why it does not trip. If rcd faulty, at least the mcb should trip.

 

[autorouter]

Two questions - when the house electrics tripped, was it the RCD, the MCB or both? Does the MH RCD trip when you press the 'Test' button?

 

[CazPaul]

Two questions - when the house electrics tripped, was it the RCD, the MCB or both? Does the MH RCD trip when you press the 'Test' button?

Thanks, both trip in the house

The MH RCD does not trip when the test button is pressed.

 

[Enword]

Our fridge tripped the breaker yesterday, it does this after it's not been used for a long time especially when it's as inclement as its been for weeks & weeks, I left it running on gas overnight & this morning it was fine on 240v, my sparky nephew told me sometime ago the powder in the element get's damp & causes the problem, running on gas dry's it out.

 

[CazPaul]

Our fridge tripped the breaker yesterday, it does this after it's not been used for a long time especially when it's as inclement as its been for weeks & weeks, I left it running on gas overnight & this morning it was fine on 240v, my sparky nephew told me sometime ago the powder in the element get's damp & causes the problem, running on gas dry's it out.

Thank you that's worth a try, cheers

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Enword]

Thank you that's worth a try, cheers

Fingers crossed, its only a bit of gas wasted, if its more serious

 

[autorouter]

That is a very bad board if does not trip to protect, it takes out the hook up fuse in the house.
If is a leak to earth, the first think to trip will be your RCD in the van. Residual current device should detect the earth leakage and trip/open. Also that mcb for a fridge is over sized to, that’s why it does not trip. If rcd faulty, at least the mcb should trip.

The MH RCD does not trip when the test button is pressed.

You need to investigate why that RCD does not work. It is there to protect you and others in case of electric shock or leakage that could cause a fire. They are cheap and easy to replace if faulty. If it's not faulty there's a wiring problem.

 

[haganap]

mate, get a new house... clearly the one you have isn't compatible with the MotorHome. fridge is fine...

 

[Richard n Ann]

will measure a very high value (probably 'OVERLOAD' or 'OVLD')

You must have very posh meters, all the ones I've ever had (and have) just read 'OL' ?