Problem - Fridge Freezer Causing Nuisance Rcd Tripping. How Do I Rectify?

[KDT Projects]

I have traced the nuisance tripping down to the fridge freezer and im wondering how best to go about rectifying the problem and staying within the 17th edition regs.

Any ideas would be greatly recieved.

 

[white armour]

Hi KDT, if the fridge/freezer is still under warranty get it replaced, have had this before with brand spankers tripping RCD at strange times.

If not you may have to run it on a dedicated circuit to reduce leakage, if it still trips you may have to go surface mounted cabling/outlet (if possible).

Regards WA

 

[KDT Projects]

Hi KDT, if the fridge/freezer is still under warranty get it replaced, have had this before with brand spankers tripping RCD at strange times.

If not you may have to run it on a dedicated circuit to reduce leakage, if it still trips you may have to go surface mounted cabling/outlet (if possible).

Regards WA

Thanks for that WA, i'll be checking the warranty with the client as i believe its fairly new. Otherwise i think i'll have to go with a dedicated circuit, hopefully that might work.
I'm intruiged at your other option of surface mounted cabling/outlet, can you clarify for me.

 

[telectrix]

he means, you can run a separate cct. for the freezer. 16A 2.5mm radial . no RCD, but to comply with 17th you have to not bury in wall, run nsurface ( trunking) and label socket as non RCD protected. i.e.dedicated to the freezer

 

[white armour]

Apologies about the surface mount option, think that went out with 16th, unless its FCU only. Was never my preferred option.

Had a customer who had purchased an American type bells & whistles number that tripped RCD in early hours for no apparent reason, was able to get it on it's own non-RCD circuit for a couple of days & hey presto bit of excess leakage from unit was causing problems. Was a top end brand & to their credit replaced it no questions asked.

Regards WA

 

[John Bunning]

or run the cable in steel earthed conduit in the wall

 

[KDT Projects]

he means, you can run a separate cct. for the freezer. 16A 2.5mm radial . no RCD, but to comply with 17th you have to not bury in wall, run nsurface ( trunking) and label socket as non RCD protected. i.e.dedicated to the freezer

Does the trunking have to be metal and so earthed or will plastic trunking suitable?

 

[KDT Projects]

or run the cable in steel earthed conduit in the wall

Thanks John, i think we posted at the same time. So just to clarify, if the cable is surface mounted it can be any material trunking and suitably labelled and if its buried in the wall it must be steel conduit and suitably labelled?

 

[Paul.M]

Surface mounted cable (the full run) does not need to be rcd protected. But for mechanical protection you can use pvc conduit and as above label the socket accordingly.

 

[telectrix]

as aboive. paul beat me to it. as long as surface, pvc mini trunkiing is fine.

 

[Paul.M]

as aboive. paul beat me to it. as long as surface, pvc mini trunkiing is fine.

That makes a change, me beating you to it

 

[telectrix]

yes, but i don't waste time knocking balls round green belt, wherre we could have loads of detached dog kennels built give us all work fitting installations in cardboard houses

 

[FLUFF]

Tell him to move to a colder country where he can keep his food fresh by placing outside in the snow,then take freezer to scrap man and have a few pints with the money or if he thinks your mad then he will not be calling you again ....either way the problem is solved.

 

[Des 56]

I have traced the nuisance tripping down to the fridge freezer and im wondering how best to go about rectifying the problem

Is the nuisance tripping an appliance fault or an accumalation of circuit leakage ?

If it is a fault on the appliance. It may be a better option to clear that fault, rather than altering the fixed installation to permit the fault or leakage to go undetected

 

[Marvo]

I have never come across a domestic fridge or freezer where I am which isn't on a standard 3-pin plug and therefore on earth leakage protection.

From what I've read it seems quite common in the UK to run a dedicated circuit specifically for the fridge and use a hard-wired isolator instead of a plug and socket thereby negating the need for earth leakage protection. Why is this necessary? It seems like an expensive option which leaves the user in a far less safe position. If the fridge has a low insulation fault wouldn't it just be better to fix it?? Maybe I'm missing something obvious, if I am please forgive me and go easy