Freezer trips the household circuit breaker or RCD when it starts or shortly after.
Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
Possible Causes
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: This involves mains electricity. If you are not experienced with electrical testing, contact a qualified technician. Always unplug the freezer before inspection.
Visual inspection:
- Check the power cord for cuts, burns, or crushed sections. Replace if damaged.
- Inspect the rear compartment for signs of water, corrosion, or burned components.
Isolate components (for qualified persons):
- Disconnect the defrost heater, compressor, and fan motors one at a time and test insulation resistance to ground with a megohmmeter.
- Identify which component causes the breaker to trip when reconnected.
Corrective actions:
- Replace faulty component: Replace any component that shows low insulation resistance or visible damage (e.g., compressor, heater, fan, PCB).
- Ensure all wiring is properly insulated and secured away from sharp edges and hot surfaces.
Test: After repair, reconnect and monitor operation to ensure the breaker no longer trips.