American fridge and MCBs

[heddy]

I'd be grateful for some advice

After the installation of a new fusebox replacing a melt-wire type, I find that my American Fridge is immediately tripping the MCB on its circuit, apparently with a grounding problem. I have been advised to buy a new fridge (by my local fridge seller), as such problems are too hard to diagnose.

The fridge amp rating says "3.50 r1234A 0.14Kg" and the MCB is rated at 32A, part of a Square D board RCCB 80A - 30 milliamp.

Discussions I have seen elsewhere have suggested that fridges have a tendency to ground and therefore are considered by some to be not suitable to be connected to e.g. GFCIs.

My questions are:
does the above entail that the fridge is defective, or is it possible that the MCB is too sensitive?
If so what MCB would be appropriate?
Otherwise, is there any maintenance or cleaning that could be done to reduce or eliminate the grounding?

Before I replace a fridge that appeared to work perfectly well when it was connected through the old fusebox I want to be sure that it is necessary.

 

[securespark]

The info you've given re amp rating is gobbledegook.

Is it tripping the mcb or the rcd?

Why talk of GFCI's - they're US/Canadian....

Get it checked out by an appliance engineer and if poss get it PAT tested.

Portable Appliance Testing.....

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Heddy - you need professional help on this. You clearly don't know a great deal about electrics, and my guess is that what you do know is based on North American systems, not ours.

Think about what this is likely to cost, and decide whether to just buy a new fridge.....

 

[heddy]

Securespark, thanks for the advice. Sorry about the gobbledegook, I have since found an explanation of the format of the fridge label. Max amps is 3.5. It is the MCB which is tripping.

 

[securespark]

You say that you have just changed your fusebox for a CU. Is everything else functioning as it should?

Could it be a problem that has occurred since the change-over?

When you remove the fridge from the circuit, does it still trip? If you plug the fridge into a different circuit does it still trip?

If the fridge persists in tripping the mcb, then I would ask a US fridge specialist to look at it, or as I said before, get it PAT tested, then you will find out where the problem lies.

 

[heddy]

Securespark, the problem occurred as soon as the CU was installed.

The fridge causes trips when connected to other circuits with similarly rated MCBs. When the fridge is removed the circuits work. The fridge only works now when connected to a circuit upstairs controlled by a different, oldfashioned, fusebox (the house was previously divided into two dwellings).

It is clearly a problem with the fridge, but I have heard suggestions that modern fuse boxes are "too sensitive".

I will follow your advice and get the fridge PAT tested by a fridge expert.

Continuing thanks for your help.

 

[plugwash]

it could be a large motor that draws a large surge at switch on

a C32 breaker may be the soloution but you absoloutely must get a pro to check such a breaker is safe in your install