[Paul Simpson]

Decided to give my Rhino (back up machine) an airing a few days ago as I find it provides better heat than my Ninja and the carpets I was doing were fairly grotty, but found it kept tripping the circuit breaker whenever I tried to switch the heater on?........Was an empty property so was not such a big issue and the pump and vacs worked fine, but had to do the job with no heat.

Tried it when I got home and the same thing happened so had a look inside but could see no problems with mositure, loose/damaged wiring, etc.
After giving it more thought, both my house and the one where the job was are very similar in design and both modern style houses and reading back on older posts others have suggested that these normally contain sensitive electrics.

Is this the case, and probably the cause?
As I don't fancy trying it at an occupied property and have it trip theres.
Or could there be something more serious?

N.B. My Ninja works perfectly fine including heater without tripping out, but that has an element and the Rhino an inline heater. (I think!)

Cheers
Paul

[Straker Cleaning]

Get it checked out but get RCB plug or extension so you do not embarrass yourself in occupied house 

[Ken Wainwright]

A heater on it's own typically uses no more than an electric kettle. It never used to trip switches had it? There appears to be a leakage. Check through from plug, cable, switches etc. to heater.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[kinder clean]

Hi Paul

I had a situation some weeks ago where my powerflite did the same thing, turned out to be a nightmare of a job. This was also a fairly new build property, I posted the topic back then and from the replies posted I got the impression newer type proerties are prone to this, I have an older property and can use the heater without any problems here.

If it happens again I will just unplug the heater and fill with custys hot water.

Paul

[clinton]

Same answer as the above i would go and get it checked as there is a leakage somewere and it will only do it again

[Paul Simpson]

Thanks for the swift replies.
Can't see any signs of a leak and the heater unit was only changed for a new one approx. 1 year ago after the previous one developed a fault under warranty.
Only used approx. a dozen times since then and I seem to recall it tripped out at least once previously but don't remember where or when.  :
Think I will try it with an RCD at an older style property, (this time I'll take the Ninja as well) if still the same will obviously have to get it checked out.

[M.Acorn]

Had this with my heat and run ! took off the cover and the live wire was shorting out.Was not happy as it was not very old,and i had never had cover off to tinker with it either 

[Ken Wainwright]

Paul

A leakage is an electrical leakage to earth, not a water leak.

I gather that as a rule of thumb, the RCD in a consumer unit is twice as sensitive as a plug in RCD. The numbers 30 and 60 jig-a-wattsits spring to mind. Whether you are using your plug in or not, the main trip will still go.

A leak is a leak and may cause the equipment to fail it's PAT test, so you are just trying to put off the inevitable. Get it sorted.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[stu_thomson]

Sounds like it needs P.A.T testing to me, which we are all supposed to do, it will almost certainly fail and will need replacing.
Ive just had all my bits and bobs tested and a cfr machine has failed on the vaccuum motor even though it works ok so will have to be replaced, ive a victor sprite which works but has failed so needs a new bottom socket, and a inline heater which works but has failed and needs chucking

Expensive and annoying specially when things work but fail, but at least Im within the law now

regards
stu

[M.Acorn]

Was not aware that it was the law to have P.A.T testa on my gear ! 

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

Certainly is, and Ken's answer is spot on as well.

But also plug heater in kitchen which is often on a separate ring.

[Jim_77]

Does the heater run off a separate cable?  If so it might be worth nipping 6 inches off the cable and re-fitting the plug.

[Len Gribble]

http://www.pat-testing.info/legal.htm and or http://www.londonpattesting.co.uk/faq-is-portable-appliance-testing-a-legal-requirement.html

It may not be the plug end

Glad I use a tm MOST of THE TIME, it’s not just the machines it also applies to extension cables for the tm porties.

Len

[Straker Cleaning]

When vac on my back up was shorting last week, my RCB popped but it NEVER fused house i was in 

[Tony Gill Carpet Smart]

p.a.t. testing is not LAW granted you need it to work on sites and some other places but not law as far as i can find BUT i would stand corrected if someone can show me.  IT IS SENSIBLE TO HAVE IT DONE THOUGH

[Ken Wainwright]

That sounds about right Chris.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken