Electrical Help

[SLK32AMG]

We have a Samsung USA style fridge freezer which over the last few months has been tripping the main fuse in the house, its quite infrequent but annoying and with a holiday coming up soon i don't wan't tp come back to a freezer full of ruined food, however i decided to fit a isolating trip box to the plug socket and then plug fridge into that to save it tripping main switch, but it now trips that and the main fuse.

Firstly does anyone have any idea's why fridge is triping the fuse and also why its tripping both the isolator and main fuse.

Thanks

 

[whitenemesis]

I had something similar with our old fridge. Turned to be the compressor seizing up. Each time it tried to start it would pull a huge spike and trip the circuit breakers. Also saw the spikes in the house energy monitoring records.

 

[brucemillar]

+1

Your fridge is faulty if it is tripping mains.

 

[c63chris]

We have a Samsung USA style fridge freezer which over the last few months has been tripping the main fuse in the house, its quite infrequent but annoying and with a holiday coming up soon i don't wan't tp come back to a freezer full of ruined food, however i decided to fit a isolating trip box to the plug socket and then plug fridge into that to save it tripping main switch, but it now trips that and the main fuse. Firstly does anyone have any idea's why fridge is triping the fuse and also why its tripping both the isolator and main fuse. Thanks

Depends what you mean by a "trip box". If you mean an RCD unit like you can get for protecting outdoor electrical equipment like lawnmowers then that trips on earth current. Your main unit could be tripping on load or earth current depending which switch trips. There's not much to go wrong in a fridge apart from the motor or compressor.

 

[grober]

Samsungs FFs have a "history" evidently -----http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=227697&page=34

 

[Piff]

Samsungs FFs have a "history" evidently -----http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=227697&page=34

Oh dear - we have a samsung ff and off on hols tomorrow - hope this isn't an omen

 

[grumpyoldgit]

This may be a bit late if you're leaving today...

Is there anyone who can store the freezer contents for you so that you can turn it off while you're away?

 

[Meldrew2]

Ideally a freezer should be supplied on a dedicated circuit not protected by a Residual Current Device - what I think you are referring to as a "main switch".

If the MCB (modern equivalent to fuse) still trips, it can (subject to earth loop impedance) be replaced by one with a "C" or "D" type curve - these are specifically designed for supplying motors and will cope with the momentary surge current. The socket outlet supplying the fridge freezer should be clearly labelled "NOT FOR USE BY OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT"

 

[SLK32AMG]

Thanks for replys

 

[SLK32AMG]

Ideally a freezer should be supplied on a dedicated circuit not protected by a Residual Current Device - what I think you are referring to as a "main switch".

If the MCB (modern equivalent to fuse) still trips, it can (subject to earth loop impedance) be replaced by one with a "C" or "D" type curve - these are specifically designed for supplying motors and will cope with the momentary surge current. The socket outlet supplying the fridge freezer should be clearly labelled "NOT FOR USE BY OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT"

Thanks for the info, I have attached a photo and the arrowed switch is the one that keeps tripping, i have a rcd attached to the plug in which freezer is plugged just to identify what was tripping the rcd and hoping that it would just trip that and not all the house sockets, what i cannot understand is why the main switch is tripping and not the switch for just the sockets. When you say change to a c or d type will that make a difference if the main switch on thr rcd side is the one thats trippingand not the 1st switch marked house sockets.

Thanks

 

[Meldrew2]

Thats an RCD. Just because there is one one the socket, doesnot mean the one in rhe fuse box wont trip. Its called "discrimination" fwiw. You need a dedicated circuit that does not run through the RCD in your consumer unit. You COULD try a surge filter - no guarantees - but as my oldcollege tutor said " theres nowt as odd as lectroc , lad "

 

[Meldrew2]

Sorry for typos. In spain, in bar, on iPhone with sausages for fingers

 

[SLK32AMG]

Thats an RCD. Just because there is one one the socket, doesnot mean the one in rhe fuse box wont trip. Its called "discrimination" fwiw. You need a dedicated circuit that does not run through the RCD in your consumer unit. You COULD try a surge filter - no guarantees - but as my oldcollege tutor said " theres nowt as odd as lectroc , lad "

Thanks, a dedicated circuit is a no as it would mean having all the house plugs on that circuit, i will have a look for a surge filter and see if that works.

Thanks

 

[SLK32AMG]

Just a update on this problem and that is i still have it.

Over last couple of months i have been trying to isolate all apliances in house but the RCD still trips once every day or if im lucky two days. I have even disconnected all my outside lights in turn turned off each fride and freezer in turn and no avail.

The puzzling thing is its very random in its timing it can trip any time day or night.and also when the RCD trips i cannot reset it unless i turn all the MCD's in the off position first, i have tried one at a time but it will not reset unless i turn them all off reset it then turn all the mcd's back on.

Its getting very frustrating now.

I think my next option i supose is to get a sparky in but i dont see how he will track it down as there is no saying when it will trip next.

Does anyone think it could be a faulty or over sensertive RCD or if anyone has any idea's what i can do to track it down.

Thanks

 

[BAZZER1]

There was a problem with the American Style Fridge/Freezer and we found out that Samsung knew about this a while ago and offered a modification to the unit Free of Charge, we contacted Samsung Service Department and they sent out an engineer to fit the Modification and cured the problems.
Hope this helps in some way

BAZZER1

 

[SLK32AMG]

There was a problem with the American Style Fridge/Freezer and we found out that Samsung knew about this a while ago and offered a modification to the unit Free of Charge, we contacted Samsung Service Department and they sent out an engineer to fit the Modification and cured the problems.
Hope this helps in some way

BAZZER1

Thanks but my modification has been done and i have even unplugged the freezer and the rcd still trips so eliminated the Samsung fridge freezer

 

[GordonTarling]

I think you need to get a sparks in to test the circuits that could be tripping the RCD. If no fault found, then get him to replace the RCD and then see what happens.

 

[Meldrew2]

A qualified sparky can carry out two or three important tests.

Firstly, the claibration of the RCD should be tested. It should trip at the rated current (usually 30ma) but should not trip at half this current. If it does, then it is over-sensitive and should be replaced. This is the easiest test and the cheapest repair, so hopefully this is the problem. If not, read on.

Secondly the circuits should be tested for insulation resistance. This will show up any degredation of the fixed wiring that could be causing the RCD to trip. There's a bit of dismantling involved to do this properly - all non-filament lights have to be disconnected for example. If this shows up a fault, partial rewiring may be needed.

Thirdly, the appliances can be tested for insulation resistance. This will show up any static faults on the appliances……..

…… but to test the appliance while running requires very specialised equipment, not something a sparky would normally have - but if the three above tests don't show up the fault than this type of tester can be hired, although it is very expensive.

Bear in mind that the tripping RCD could be caused by an accumulation of small leakage currents - so there may be more than one fault to be found.

It may be cheapest to try replacing the RCD anyway - some are quite sensitive, even within the tolerances of correct spec.

Another solution is to install a replacement consumer unit - a split load type of unit divides the house up into two or more banks of MCBs, each bank with an RCD - this should cost between £200 - 300, or the gold plated solution (though much more expensive) is to have each circuit controlled with an RCBO which combines RCD and MCB, so no more than one circuit can trip in any event.