Deawoo ERF-311M trips RCD

[bruce1234]

Hi,
I have one of the above that triped out the RCD in the main fuse box last night. It's a frost free fridge freezer. Service manual here
http://www.semboutique.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_details&gid=7573&Itemid=57
Each time I switched it on it did the same. Didn't trip the circuit breakers. I dismantled it and disconnected the defrost heater and managed to get it going again (after quite a bit of fiddleing) long enough to cool the food in it. I then reconected the heater. About 8 hours later it tripped out again (I guess when the next defrost cycle was due) I've disconnected the heater again and it doesn't trip out but it's not immediately started doing anything (either the noise it makes when I think it's defrosting or the sound of the compressor kicking in).
First question - Is this bodge going save my food until I can repair or replace ? Or is there another bodge that might ?
If repair - is it likely to be the heating element ? part no 3012803600. I googled it but did'nt get any useful results.
Help greatly appreciated.
Bruce.

 

[Leccy758]

If its tripping the RCD it means there is an earth fault,
Test the heating element and see if you have a short to earth on it with an insulation resistance tester, most of the time I see this with a frost free it is just the heater that has failed.

Depends whether it is on a mechanical timer or thermostatically controlled heater as to how it will affect your food, no matter what though the heater will need testing and replacing if it has failed sharpest as the freezer will rapidly freeze up and the fridge will start having problems and it could finish off the freezer as the ice builds up and can crack the insulation.

 

[bruce1234]

Thanks for the reply. I've only got a standard multi-meter - this gives high resistance whe connected to the heater body and one of the terminals (Megaohms). Is this meaningful ? I can't find a replacement heater that looks like the one in the fridge - I got the model number wrong - it a erf-411m. When I look this up, I get a glass tube type heater but that's not whats in there at the moment.