Fridge tripping the electrics

[Pezza]

Morning all
Went out for first trip last weekend and when preparing the food supplies the wife told me the electric to the van on the drive was not on. What had happened was she put the fridge on and it tripped the power. I didnt have time to check it so we just used it on gas for the weekend. It worked fine on 12v whilst driving too. Before I start investigating I wondered if anyone new a common fault or issue to start with? The unit is a Thetford N100A or N145A fridge freezer with the electric switches not rotary dials.
Any help greatly appreciated thsnk you.

 

[DP+JAY]

Sounds like a wiring fault or the 240 element is burnt out.

 

[Tea Bag]

Hi.
This is of no help at all, but,we had the fridge fuse tripping in a unit,some one had piggy backed power off of the fridge supply to an appliance,THAT was the cause,so,try checking what else is powered on that circuit.
I am NOT an electrician and a very bad speller,but i have got this far
Best of luck.
Tea Bag

 

[WillH]

We had the same last year in France, it was the 240v element. Got one off eBay but it was a real pain changing it, had to take the fridge out to get access.

Rgds
Bill

 

[laurieash]

Fridge

common fault had it on my old caravan element gets moister in and goes to earth,
change and it will be ok. but i have also heard that run on gas for a few days some times drys it out then ok.

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[pappajohn]

could even be a mouse attack.

Entry via the fridge vent and some tasty pvc wiring in there.

Remove the vent and have a look around.

 

[Pezza]

Thanks all for the advise. All clear of mice so I'm looking at the element. I've got the fridge out ok but does anyone know where the element is!!?? It is a Thetford N145 unit.

 

[WillH]

The two elements, 12v and 240v, are in tubes above the gas flue. There should be some galvanized sheet clipped round them, full of glass insulation. You need to disconnect the element from the powerboard before removal. There is a resistance reading on the Thetford website somewhere to tell you if the element is duff or not. The insulation sleeves on mine are blue, yours should be as well, just follow them.

Rgds
Bill

 

[Pezza]

The two elements, 12v and 240v, are in tubes above the gas flue. There should be some galvanized sheet clipped round them, full of glass insulation. You need to disconnect the element from the powerboard before removal. There is a resistance reading on the Thetford website somewhere to tell you if the element is duff or not. The insulation sleeves on mine are blue, yours should be as well, just follow them.

Rgds
Bill

Thanks Bill , very helpful
I have found the two blue sleeves, took off the galvanised sheet and see where the elements seems to just rest in the holders. I'm just going to check the website as you suggest to measure the resistance. If it is found I need to replace the 240v element does this come as a complete unit including the wiring back to the terminals and the blue sleeving?

 

[Ed Excel]

Ours had to be replaced last year. The element came complete with a sheathed cable and terminations for connection to the control panel.

You could work out what the resistance should be. The wattage for yours should be on a label inside the fridge. You can calculate the element resistance from:
I=W/V then R = V/I

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[Pezza]

Ours had to be replaced last year. The element came complete with a sheathed cable and terminations for connection to the control panel.

You could work out what the resistance should be. The wattage for yours should be on a label inside the fridge. You can calculate the element resistance from:
I=W/V then R = V/I

Thanks, I've worked out the current to be roughly 1amp (233W/240V)
Therefore resistance 240/1 = 240 Ohm
I get 236 with meter so if the voltage ( I didn't measure it) is slightly less than 240, as it probably is then the element measures ok? So I presume that theory is wrong and the fault is elsewhere? I did plug it back in and retest and it tripped again.

 

[Larby]

Just a thought, as you have it all to bits, is it worth trying to power up with element disconnected? If it still trips then fault elsewhere?

 

[Pezza]

Just a thought, as you have it all to bits, is it worth trying to power up with element disconnected? If it still trips then fault elsewhere?

Thanks - I've just tried that (can't believe I never did it anyhow) the electric does not trip now, so it does look like the element. The fridge tried to start but goes off after 20 secs or so - presumably due to no element in circuit?

 

[WillH]

Just checked the service manual, the resistance for your fridge element should be between 216 ohms and 266 ohms so sounds as if your element is okay. Next are the fuses on the power board, or the power board itself.

Rgds
Bill

 

[Gizmouk]

Just checked the service manual, the resistance for your fridge element should be between 216 ohms and 266 ohms so sounds as if your element is okay. Next are the fuses on the power board, or the power board itself.

Rgds
Bill

Element resistance can be in tolerance (and not open circuit), but it could be leaking down to earth - resulting in RCD tripping.
If that is the case, then the element will still need replacement

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[Pezza]

Element resistance can be in tolerance (and not open circuit), but it could be leaking down to earth - resulting in RCD tripping.
If that is the case, then the element will still need replacement

I think that is the case as when I disconnected the element and switched the unit back on it didn't trip the mains

 

[Pezza]

Thanks all for your help with this. I got a new element in the week, fitted it yesterday and all is now as it should be.
Much appreciated
Thanks
Pezza

 

[Pezza]

Morning all
Went out for first trip last weekend and when preparing the food supplies the wife told me the electric to the van on the drive was not on. What had happened was she put the fridge on and it tripped the power. I didnt have time to check it so we just used it on gas for the weekend. It worked fine on 12v whilst driving too. Before I start investigating I wondered if anyone new a common fault or issue to start with? The unit is a Thetford N100A or N145A fridge freezer with the electric switches not rotary dials.
Any help greatly appreciated thsnk you.

Hi All, thanks for all your help last year with this issue. Went out in the van this weekend and the fridge wouldn't work on the mains hook up - fine on gas and battery - it wasn't tripping this time, just not working at all. Would this be a faulty element again. Power to the socket where the fridge connects is fine. It has been working fine since I changed the element in Feb 2012
Help as always greatly appreciated