tanisla2 Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 Came to use the outside 240 plug socket on are 2011 Valencia Mk1 no power! the RCD that feeds the sockets and other 240 outlets keeps tripping. Study the wiring diagram, not a lot of help, so for after isolating the 240 volt supply remove the 6 wires out of the now isolated RCD, replace them one at a time to find what’s causing the trip, eventually find the wire that’s causing the problem. it turns out it the mains supply to the fridge but the fridges turned off so why? Eventually I remove the lead that feeds the fridge and it’s the lead with the moulded plug on that’s causing the problem, into the garage find replacement lead, all now back together problem solved. No damage to the plug and lead so it must be a Earth leakage inside the moulded plug causing the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAN2880 Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 Wow That's the first I've heard of a moulded plug being 'leaky' , did you check for any water droplets or other contamination near the pins of the plug which may have been the cause? I may be teaching my granny to suck eggs but it could be several slightly leaky devices rather than just one culprit that tripped the 30mA RCD , did you try reconnecting all except the fridge? to check they didn't trip the RCD. Most Installation testers i.e Meggar. fluke Metrel e.t.c only test the RCDs by inducing a a known leakage , but you can buy or rent an earth leakage clamp meter for about £45, a bit dear for someone who isn't using it all the time. You can also measure the leakage current directly with a multimeter but its not recommended as it involves removing the earth connection which is potentially lethal if done incorrectly and the earth is not replaced correctly and then the earth bond re-tested with an approved tester. hopefully you have found the fault and cured it . strange fault though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanisla2 Posted January 11 Author Share Posted January 11 I trie the lead later on in a stand alone RCD and it tripped, I made sure there was no moisture on either the socket or around the plug. Im going to Mega the faulty lead today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-Gasman Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 The only time I have seen anything like this is due to a bad connection causing the plug to heat up and carbonise this then reduces the insulation factor in the plug, without a RCD protection that can go on to be very dangerous and even start a fire. You may have been very lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanisla2 Posted January 11 Author Share Posted January 11 The fridge on mains only draws about 160watts, so a 5 amp fused plug shouldn’t get warm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanisla2 Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 I’ve had a meger on the plug lead now, there’s a short between live on the plug and earth, now is it the plug ( internally) or the lead? More investigation reqd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DACS Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 Any damage to the lead is likely to be fairly obvious. It is most likely to be a loose connection or stray strands of wire in one of the connectors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAN2880 Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Tanisla2 thanks for the feedback on the plug and lead fault , that's a really strange fault , first I've heard of in forty years of being in the electrical/electronics industry. Glad you have tracked the problem down. New plug and lead and you should be sorted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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