Extension lead tripping RCD switch

lukin

Sorry about this now, I know it has been asked loads of times before on this forum. I did search for it but I didn't get the answer I need.

I had to move my fridge to a different location in my kitchen so it is using a different plug socket. The lead from the fridge is a bit short so I used a short extension cable to reach it. However an RCD switch keeps tripping when it is plugged in using the lead (the power goes off).

When I use it without the extension lead (straight from the fridge to the socket), it is grand. I don't want to plug it directly into the socket because I have to move the fridge out from the wall to reach it because the cable is too short. It gets in the way a bit if you are walking past it. There must be a solution to this. I'd ask an electrician but maybe someone here has the solution.

Thanks

blackbox

Try a different extension lead.

greasepalm

Do they not say to overload an extension lead with a heavy consumer item?

Extension cords are generally not designed to handle the high-power demands of refrigerators and can pose fire hazards or cause appliance malfunctions

. Whenever possible, connect your refrigerator directly to a properly grounded outlet or consider having an electrician install a new outlet closer to the appliance.

drury..

Shop bought leads don't usually give that trouble

A diy extension lead wired wrong would explain an instant trip

Presumably it doesn't trip until u plug fridge into extension

greasepalm

What is the extension lead rated at?

phormium

As above, check rating of extension lead but also look into plug and socket bit of it to see if anything loose or just buy another one if not comfortable doing that. It's obviously something wrong with the lead.

drury..

The rating isn't likely to have any significance

greasepalm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122970762#Comment_122970762

And if it starts a fire is that not an important thing , Christmas is the time of overloading power strips.

drury..

In terms of the rcd trip it's not likely to be a factor

drury..

Any shop bought extension lead should be rated 13A

Not saying they all are but that should be standard

Any sort of labelling "5A only" or similar is worthless and the lead is immediately a potential hazard

Either way I wouldn't expect an extension lead to be a fire hazard with a fridge plugged in

greasepalm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122970928#Comment_122970928

Check with Google?

drury..

Maybe link to a extension u believe is a fire hazard with a fridge plugged in

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122968189#Comment_122968189

That's the old approach of defining refrigerator as a high-power device - it's not in reality as most of them consume around 200 to 500w at the peak point of the cycle.

lukin

I will try a different lead but not until the weekend because if the switch trips again it will power off a load of appliances that are in use during the week. The extension leads I used are ones I made myself, they worked everywhere else I used them.

I will try one I bought in a store instead.

drury..

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122973649#Comment_122973649

Ah well that's your problem

You've the wiring crossed on the lead u made up causing the trip

drury..

Hmm I see u said u used it elsewhere 😁

Ill have to discount that for now and assume it's the lead wiring

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122973719#Comment_122973719

I'd say the strands weakened over time and pulled out of the terminals. L to E probably now shorting.

lukin

I opened up both ends of the leads and they are wired properly. They worked OK on a different socket so if they were wired incorrectly why would they work OK on one socket but trip the switch on a different one?

Eldudeson

Does it only trip when the fridge is plugged into it or does it trip with everything. Rule out the cable plugged into that socket for lower rated appliances.

If it trips with a kettle plugged into it, try that combination in another socket.

If that works in another socket, then it's an electrician to advise on what is wrong with that socket/extension combination.

drury..

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122973728#Comment_122973728

An instant trip on a homemade lead when something plugged in should be a lead wiring mixup

L-E or N-E short will be instant trip with nothing plugged in

Could be if the kitchen wiring was new and had a working rcbo and no rcd or faulty rcd elsewhere in the house

Above would explain the mystery but unlikely

Either way very simple tests to prove lead

If it ain't lead maybe time for a REC

PixelCrafter

It's not ideal to have a fridge plugged into an extension lead, but they're not particularly high powered appliances. A fairly large modern fridge/freezer is likely to be drawing about 100W-200W max, less than 1 amp

Irish extension leads, unlike their US and EU counterparts have fused plugs and are rather hard to overload unless they're some kind of DIY-bodge job or have had the fuse replaced with the wrong rating. Some extension leads are 10amp max rather than 13amp and you can have some issues with reels overheating and melting if at maximum load while coiled.

The issue is the extension lead is faulty - if the RCD's tripping there's a fault between live and earth, which means either there's a loose wire inside the plug or socket, the socket assembly damaged, or most likely there's water in the trailing socket due to a having had something spilled on it or it was sitting in a puddle of water when someone mopped the floor something like that.

A very common problem with modern fridges btw is a trip out of the RCD triggered due to a fault in the defrosting system. When the fridge starts to defrost, water gets into the electrics and RCD will flip. I've come across that several times.

lukin

I used an old extension lead that I bought a few years ago and the RCD switch has stopped tripping now. All good.