Beko dryer tripping RCD

kkelly77

Our Beko condenser dryer tripped the RCD last week. Prior to that it's never given any problems and filters etc are cleaned regularly. The RCD is tripping as soon as the dryer is plugged in.

I tried using an alternative socket for the dryer (no extension leads) and the same occurs. I confirmed the sockets work normally with other appliances e.g. kettle.

I bought a replacement mains filter, as I read online this is a common fault. Fitted the part today but no joy on a fix. Still doing the same; tripping RCD as soon as it's plugged in.

I disconnected both L and N terminals on the dryer On/Off switch so the only connections on the mains filter were L, N and Earth coming in and the Earth connections coming out. RCD still trips.

Can anyone offer some advice on what else I can try? Thanks.

crasy dash

Does the flex on the machine look nicked anywhere?
Any access to a megger or multimeter?

kkelly77

crasy dash wrote: »

Does the flex on the machine look nicked anywhere?
Any access to a megger or multimeter?

Only at the point it goes through the plastic mounting bracket (photos attached).

Have a multimeter.

As I disconnected the rest of the circuit from the mains filter, wouldn't this point to an issue with the flex?

meercat

disconnect the filter in case its not connected correctly

kkelly77

meercat wrote: »

disconnect the filter in case its not connected correctly

Tripping without filter connected

xband

Most likely water pooling inside the machine because something is leaking.

Remember, unlike vented dryers, condensers have water plumbing inside.

Are there any puddles ?

Unplug and tip the machine backwards slightly. If water pours out, you've a leaky condenser or the condensate pump hose has come off.

Make sure the access hatches are all properly sealed where you clean the heat exchanger.

Also, did anyone ever attempt to dry anything that was not spun dry? Dripping wet items are known to short out dryers as the drum isn't water tight and water can run into the electrical systems.

meercat

any shorts between
L-E
L-N
N-E

unplug and check the lead with nothing attached using your multimeter

DublinDilbert

I think I'd be cutting open the cable to see what's happening. The strain relief has really dug into the insulation deep. Combined with temperature and vibration anything is possible.

If you do need to shorten that flex make sure you can crimp a decent crimp terminal onto the wire as the current is pretty high.

brightspark

Have you checked the plugtop?

kkelly77

xband wrote: »

Most likely water pooling inside the machine because something is leaking.

Remember, unlike vented dryers, condensers have water plumbing inside.

Are there any puddles ?

Unplug and tip the machine backwards slightly. If water pours out, you've a leaky condenser or the condensate pump hose has come off.

Make sure the access hatches are all properly sealed where you clean the heat exchanger.

Also, did anyone ever attempt to dry anything that was not spun dry? Dripping wet items are known to short out dryers as the drum isn't water tight and water can run into the electrical systems.

No water present. As the dryer hasn't been used in over a week, everything should be dry.

meercat wrote: »

any shorts between
L-E
L-N
N-E

unplug and check the lead with nothing attached using your multimeter

Got no continuity between any of them.

DublinDilbert wrote: »

I think I'd be cutting open the cable to see what's happening. The strain relief has really dug into the insulation deep. Combined with temperature and vibration anything is possible.

If you do need to shorten that flex make sure you can crimp a decent crimp terminal onto the wire as the current is pretty high.

I think I only have ****ty spade connectors I got for replacing car speakers. I doubt they'll be suitable.

brightspark wrote: »

Have you checked the plugtop?

Do you mean the pins on the plug? I've confirmed 13A fuse is OK. The plug is the sealed type.

meercat

plug the lead into another socket(bedroom)if it trips then most likely the lead alright

crasy dash

I'd be investigating around where the indent is on the outer sheath of the flex.

Looks to me a likely area of concern as maybe two cores are now shorting .

Connect your meter across the terminals wiggle it around and see if the meter reading fluctuates.

kkelly77

Just to confirm, flex still causing RCD trip using several different sockets

brightspark

A megger is the only way to test for insulation breakdown.

If you are sure it's just the flex and not anything you may still have had connected to it, then the best thing to do is to replace the flex.

Failing that, cut off the plug and a few inches of flex, try it. If it still trips do the same at the other end. (Or do it the other way round).

Of course I'm assuming you did check for damage along the flex already.

kkelly77

brightspark wrote: »

A megger is the only way to test for insulation breakdown.

If you are sure it's just the flex and not anything you may still have had connected to it, then the best thing to do is to replace the flex.

Failing that, cut off the plug and a few inches of flex, try it. If it still trips do the same at the other end. (Or do it the other way round).

Of course I'm assuming you did check for damage along the flex already.

Definitely just the flex being plugged in (photo attached)

brightspark

Have you examined the cable carefully along it's length, looking for burn marks, cuts, holes etc.?

kkelly77

brightspark wrote: »

Have you examined the cable carefully along it's length, looking for burn marks, cuts, holes etc.?

Yes. The only "damage" visible is the section through the strain relief. Photos posted earlier in thread.

kkelly77

So I replaced the plug with a spare I had lying around. This appears to have resolved the problem.

Tried the flex cable on several sockets and RCD is not tripping. I confirmed 230V at the terminal ends of the flex, so problem appears to be sorted.

Many thanks for all the help and advice. If only I had done this first before taking the dryer apart :rolleyes:

barneycorp

kkelly77 wrote: »

So I replaced the plug with a spare I had lying around. This appears to have resolved the problem.

Tried the flex cable on several sockets and RCD is not tripping. I confirmed 230V at the terminal ends of the flex, so problem appears to be sorted.

Many thanks for all the help and advice. If only I had done this first before taking the dryer apart :rolleyes:

Just had the same problem. Thanks. It was a faulty plug. 230 K ohms across live and neutral. Sealed plug. I have never seen that before. It is a beko dryer.