Sparky help, dishwasher tripping RCD

[Easy_Rider]

Hey need a little advice. Dishwasher tripped the RCD mid cycle and it will keep doing it at any part of the cycle I move the dial too.

Dishwasher is on ringmain and the MCB does not trip.

I don't think there is an earth leak, but advice on checking this out properly would be appreciated.

I have plugged the dishwasher into the cooker socket as this is not on an RCD and it works (had to do this anyway to pump out the manky water :roll: ), although plug gets warm when heating element is on (would suggest heating elements are cracked and letting water in or something but why does it blow RCD on any cycle i.e. when elements aren't on?)

Cheers

 

[john the sparky]

it sounds if it is blowing all the time, that it is a neutral earth fault,

the dishwasher will functionally switch with single pole switches, on the live only (because it's cheaper)

but if the element has split and has a short neutral to earth then you can get a backfeed through the neutral to earth and it will trip the rcd that way

I'd say you have already found the fault and it's just a case of changing or getting the element changed....

hope that helps, any questions, just ask

John

 

[gibbleking]

i was gunna say its drawing too much current cos of a pump thats getting worn out perhaps but the previous post sounds good so im with him.that will be 60 quid please.

 

[Easy_Rider]

Thanks for the replies guys. So if there is a neutral earth leak, would this show up with a resistance test on the plug pins neutral to earth?

 

[john the sparky]

yeah I reckon it should do....

you'll probably see something is resistance between the two, pretty much anything between neutral and earth is a fault....

if you can test insulation resistance, then this really would prove it, you'd see the reading drop into hundreds of ohms or less...

or you could put a clamp meter on the earth at the plug and run it,

but to be honest, I'd either just buy a new element, or call out a domestic appliance man (in truth I would just call a repair man I cannot get the bits or the manuals)


John

 

[john the sparky]

also you have proved that the neutral- earth fault exists by finding the appliance that trips the rcd

if it was a live- earth fault it would cause an overload fault, so the mcb or fuse would trip



John

 

[Easy_Rider]

Thanks for the reply, i'll search for an element.
If I could afford a repair man I would so it's self repair for me

Meanwhile, back to hand washing, or the other half is I hope :shock:

 

[john the sparky]

or just get a dog, and put the dishes on the floor.....

I did, less to go wrong

 

[Easy_Rider]

:shock:

 

[retrojon]

Have you investigated the warm plug?

Would agree with the above though - it is often the element that goes and trips the RCD.