Electrical Why does my fridge keep tripping the safety switch?
An appliance that keeps tripping the safety switch may have an earth leakage fault; stop using it and have it checked by a professional.
When one appliance, such as a fridge, heater or computer, keeps tripping the safety switch, it often means the appliance, its cord or the power point has an earth leakage fault. Stop using it, keep clear of it, and have a licensed electrician or the manufacturer’s technician look at it.
Why would an appliance trip a safety switch?
A safety switch trips when it senses electricity leaking to earth. Inside an appliance, that can happen when insulation wears, a heating element fails, moisture gets in or a cord is damaged. Appliances with heating elements, motors and compressors, such as heaters, kettles, washing machines and fridges, are common sources.
Is a fridge different?
A fridge matters because food can spoil, which makes it tempting to work around the problem. Please do not run a fridge from an extension lead plugged in elsewhere to avoid the trip. The safety switch is doing its job, and a fault that leaks current in a kitchen is a real shock risk. Contact the retailer, the manufacturer or a technician quickly, and a licensed electrician can check the power point and circuit.
What about power surges?
Online forums often blame surges, but the evidence is mixed. An appliance earth leakage fault is a common reason for repeated trips, and a licensed electrician can tell the difference without guessing.
Who should I call: an electrician or an appliance technician?
It depends on where the fault is. A licensed electrician checks the circuit, power point and wiring, and electrical work in Queensland must be done by a licensed person, with the Electrical Safety Office Queensland as the regulator. Repairing the appliance itself is a job for the manufacturer, the retailer or a qualified appliance technician. Please do not open the appliance to look inside.
What to do when you contact someone
Give the appliance details
Share the make, model and age, and what happens just before the trip.
Describe the circuit
Say which power points or rooms are affected and whether anything else has tripped it.
Ask about food or medication
For a fridge, ask the retailer or manufacturer about options, and talk to a pharmacist or doctor if medication is stored in it.
What if the appliance is old?
Ask the technician or retailer whether repair is realistic. Older appliances can develop leakage as parts wear, and sometimes replacement makes more sense than repair. Either way, please do not keep using an appliance that trips the safety switch, and do not dispose of it in a way that could expose anyone to damaged parts. Ask your council or retailer about proper disposal.
What if several appliances trip it?
If different appliances trip the same safety switch, or it trips when nothing obvious is running, the problem may be in the circuit, the power point or the wiring rather than in any one appliance. That is a job for a licensed electrician, and the notes you have made about timing and affected areas will help.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. As fridges age, wiring insulation and components can deteriorate, which can cause earth leakage. A technician can check it.
It could be either, and sometimes the circuit. A licensed electrician can check the power point and circuit, and a technician can check the appliance.
Probably not. The safety switch is reacting to a real leak, so the cause needs to be found rather than the switch changed.
No. Moving the appliance to another circuit does not remove the fault, and the leak could still cause a shock.
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