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Subject Topic: Thetford n80 fridge tripping electric
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PersonTeddy 777
via mobile 28/5/2023 at 6:29pm
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On our first trip after winter storage Our thetford n80 fridge keeps tripping the electric. I replaced the heating element but it is still tripping out. Could this be the control thermostat.
Thanks in advance.


Personnavver
28/5/2023 at 8:38pm
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When you say 'tripping out' what device is actually tripping. Is it one of the MCBs (small trip switches in the caravan consumer unit) or the RCD (main switch in the consumer unit) or something in the house.


PersonTeddy 777
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Hi its actually both in the caravan and the main RCD on the site


Persontango55
28/5/2023 at 10:12pm
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If it's tripping both the domestic electric as well as the caravan MCB's then it's likely to be a defective mains cable. Since it's the first use after winter storage the contacts are probably damp if the cable has been left uncovered in a garage for example. Try connecting a different cable to see if it cures the problem.


Personsaxo1
28/5/2023 at 10:25pm
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If the fault were in the hookup cable it wouldn't trip the caravan RCD but a fault in the van could trip both RCDs.
saxo1


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PersonTeddy 777
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Yes everything works fine in the van until I switch the fridge to mains


Personnavver
29/5/2023 at 7:08pm
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So sounds like an earth fault in the fridge. Either the live or neutral 230 volt wires are touching earthed metal.


PersonTeddy 777
via mobile 29/5/2023 at 8:14pm
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I have been running on gas this weekend trying the electric again this time only tripping in the van very puzzling.


Personsaxo1
29/5/2023 at 9:42pm
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When you have RCDs in series there is no guarantee which one will trip or both will trip, they both see the same fault current.
saxo1


PersonTeddy 777
via mobile 30/5/2023 at 9:52am
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Oh that's interesting so back to the beginning not sure weather to remove the new element and exchange it or change the temp thermostat not sure if that would trip the RCD Thou.


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Personsaxo1
30/5/2023 at 11:41am
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If you can borrow or buy a multimeter you can test the new element before you exchange it, I suspect the fault is possibly not the element but the wiring.
saxo1


Personnavver
30/5/2023 at 7:39pm
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The RCDs trip with 30mA within 30ms. That's 30 thousandths of an amp for 30 thousandths of a second or less.

It can be a neutral to earth fault or live to earth fault. Most equipment has a small earth leakage, especially computer kit. It can be several items combining to cause the trip. It can be surges in the atmosphere such as in thundery weather even though you cannot see lighting or hear thunder.

It can be due to damp near the wiring or equipment.

Try unplugging everything (not just switching off) and switch on the fridge and see if it still trips. If it does it's likely to be something in the fridge wiring. If not it may be a wider problem.


PersonTeddy 777
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Have tested with a multi meter 39 ohms which think is right. Just confused now. Thanks all for your advice appreciated


Personsaxo1
30/5/2023 at 8:08pm
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If you can unplug the fridge so that the fridge is isolated try the RCD to confirm that there is no neutral/earth fault in the circuit wiring.
If the fridge has a three pin 13A plug check that there are no loose strands shorting out neutral/live contacts in the plug top.
saxo1


PersonTeddy 777
via mobile 31/5/2023 at 3:47pm
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Hello again thank you have checked can't find a short in the wire circuit, I have just double checked the ohms reading on the new and old element both read. 32 is this correct or are they both faulty.


Personsaxo1
31/5/2023 at 4:21pm
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At 230V the resistance for a 140W element would be app 370 Ohms, have you got the meter on the right scale?
saxo1



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