Hostess Trolley tripping RCD - any fix for this?

[Dazzathedrummer]

Hi,
We have a Phillips hostess trolley which was working fine. Earlier this year we had a new dist board with RCD's fitted and now the trolley trips the RCD's.

I've searched the internet and can find a few people with the same problem but no solution.

I'm quite handy with electrics, I'm pretty good with a soldering iron and a multimeter so I'm wondering if there's a way to adapt the the trolley's electrics so that it draws less current??

 

[EFLImpudence]

It's nothing to do with the amount of current.

RCDs detect leakage to earth.

The most likely reason would be a heating element wearing out.

 

[bernardgreen]

trolley trips the RCD's.

f there's a way to adapt the the trolley's electrics so that it draws less current??

The RCD trips when current is leaking to the Earth,

If it was over current than an MCB would be tripping.

There is leakage of currrent from the electric wiring in the trolley to the Earth, most common reason is a faulty element.

With the trolley unplugged measure the resistance between Live and Neutral pins on the plug.

 

[JohnW2]

... The most likely reason would be a heating element wearing out.

Very much so - in fact, I any other possible causes would be relatively unlikely.

For the OP ... three or four years ago I did successfully replace the element in an ancient Hostess trolley - it's far from impossible, but was an awful fiddle.

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

With the trolley unplugged measure the resistance between Live and Neutral pins on the plug.

Assuming the trolley still heated before the RCDs were installed, the resistance between L and Earth (& N and Earth) would be more informative.

 

[bernardgreen]

With the trolley unplugged measure the resistance between Live and Neutral pins on the plug.

I need to wake up With the trolley unplugged measure the resistance between Live and EARTH pins on the plug.

Thanks EFLImpudance for the correction,

 

[JohnW2]

Assuming the trolley still heated before the RCDs were installed, the resistance between L and Earth (& N and Earth) would be more informative.

It would - but presumably measurements 'at the plug pins' would only really be of academic interest. If the trolley is tripping an RCD but such measurements failed to show an explanatory low resistance (between L&E or N&E), then there would presumably have to be something wrong with the measuring process/equipment.

More useful would be to disconnect the element from everything else and then seek confirmation of a low L-E or N-E resistance ('E' being the casing of the element) within the element - which, if present, would confirm that the finger was correctly being pointed at the element.

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

Well, of course - anything might be happening -

but if the measurements are sufficiently low, then that would be pretty conclusive.

It could after all be a frayed flex in the plug.

 

[JohnW2]

Well, of course - anything might be happening - but if the measurements are sufficiently low, then that would be pretty conclusive.

As I said, if it's tripping an RCDS and the measurements 'at the plug' (as suggested by bernard) were not low, then there would surely be something wrong with the measurements, wouldn't there?

It could after all be a frayed flex in the plug.

Quite so - which is why I said it would be more useful to measure the resistance of the element alone.

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes, but you have already said how difficult that is.

Surely you would not take it all to pieces with no prior inspection or testing - even trying it on a non RCD plug.

I realise the OP might not have one nor know how but there are ways.

 

[JohnW2]

Yes, but you have already said how difficult that is.

No, I said that removing and replacing the element was pretty fiddly - at least on mine, electrically disconnecting the element (for measurement) would be easy.

Kind Regards, John

 

[crystal ball]

Hostess trolley always makes me think of this

RIP Victoria

 

[Dazzathedrummer]

Thanks for all the responses!!

So it sounds like I need a new element.

Any recommendations for a supplier? ...I've seen a few online but they all look like they've been ripped from an old trolley - which could obviously give me the exact same problem.

 

[SimonH2]

Before looking for another element, some basic measurements are in order - it might not be the element.

 

[JohnW2]

Before looking for another element, some basic measurements are in order - it might not be the element.

Indeed - as I wrote ...

.... More useful would be to disconnect the element from everything else and then seek confirmation of a low L-E or N-E resistance ('E' being the casing of the element) within the element - which, if present, would confirm that the finger was correctly being pointed at the element.

Kind Regards, John