We have a Tower Ceraglide cordless iron. This week it's been tripping the socket RCD when used. I've borrowed a friend's iron, same make and model and it's fine. When base unit plugged in with no iron it's fine but when my iron is connected to base it trips, but the other iron didn't trip it, so I'm assuming it's the iron at fault. I've taken it apart, no components in it at all just wiring to the temperature rotary control and an led. There is no continuity between earth and live and earth and neutral as far as I can tell. With there being no obvious components to go wrong and all wiring seems fine, any ideas what it could be. It trips immediately the unit is connected to the base unit and RCD will not reset until the appliance removed from the circuit.
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Iron tripping RCD
- Thread starter chumley0312
- Start date
Sounds like the heating element in the iron is breaking down. Time to buy a new iron?
The low insulation value, may not show up, on a normal, very low voltage meter - it needs to be tested with a proper insulation tester. If it's a steam iron, likely moisture has got somewhere it didn't ought to be. Putting it somewhere warm, and dry for a while, might fix.
I just tested it with my standard multimeter on continuity.
i tried other iron in my base and ok. I assumed from this my base ok and it's the iron.
That is what I would generally expect - is it a steam iron, which contains water? The water will have got to where it shouldn't be, in the iron.
Yes it is. When I took it apart there didn't seem to be any water staining, but it was thick with fluff. I didn't get right to the element though, not sure if I can I think it was sealed. I'll have another go, nothing to lose
All the metalwork for the connections above the element looked omk.
All the metalwork for the connections above the element looked omk.
Ok. Took it apart again. From live to thermal switch continuity OK. From live to the other side of the switch continuity comes and goes depending on where thermal switch is set. Thermal fuse intact. Measured resistance across the heating element and around 24ohms. Oddly enough there is constant continuity from the side of the thermal switch that enters the element and neutral no matter how switch is set. I'm assuming thats not right and indicates a short somewhere?? There is a connection for the led here, wire goes from there to led and back to the other side of the element where the neutral connection is
You are completely misunderstanding, what an RCD is, and does.
An RCD measures and compares, the current flowing through the L, versus the N. If there is a difference of more than 30mA, then the RCD trips. The assumption being that >30mA is either flowing from L to E, or from N to E, perhaps via your body, and so it trips.
Thanks. I wasn't thinking about the rcd to be honest. Does what I have found sound correct though, and if so the iron scrap then. The RCD trips immediately the iron is switched on.
Thanks for the help
Thanks for the help
No, it doesn't sound 'right', but it is the L to E, and N to E, insulation value, which needs to be investigated. It might show up with your meter, but might not, in which case a proper insulation tester instrument is needed.
Ok thanks mate. It does sound unrepairable anyway, I was just interested in what might have gone wrong with it.
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The mineral insulation in the element is hygroscopic, if the seal at either end fails it will draw in water, and the only fix is a new element, as to if you can get new elements I don't know.
Nah, it looks sealed.
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