Heating and fridge not working on hook up . (1 Viewer)

[PaddyM]

Currently in Spain , 2023 Burstner , suddenly neither fridge or combi boiler working on 240v hook up . Rest of mains appliances are fine . Both appliances will work on gas . Any thoughts or help much appreciated. Campsite supply is 10 amps . Cheers .

 

[pappajohn]

Breaker tripped in consumer unit.

 

[Lenny HB]

Is there a seperate MCB in the consumer unit that just feed the fridge & heater.

 

[PaddyM]

All appear to be in the on position.

 

[Just smiffy]

Low voltage at the post….

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[PaddyM]

 

[PaddyM]

Low voltage at the post….

What can I do about that ? If anything . Cheers

 

[BillyKontiki]

Maybe reverse polarity at the post good luck.

 

[PaddyM]

I’ve got a reverse polarity rectifier in place .

 

[DavidG58]

What can I do about that ? If anything . Cheers

Can you easily plug into a different post? We had a similar issue some years ago in Spain, different post no problem

Following morning my curiosity got me, I checked the incoming voltage with my multi meter, we only had 160V on original post, enough to run some things not others

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[PaddyM]

Fridge now working on hook up ( after I turned the heating down for night time temp ) does that suggest drop off at post ?

 

[PaddyM]

Will switch to another output on the post tomorrow ( it has four ) and then a different post altogether . Cheers .

 

[Just smiffy]

Fridge now working on hook up ( after I turned the heating down for night time temp ) does that suggest drop off at post ?

Bingo….

Try another post…

 

[PaddyM]

Can I just try another output on the post or a completely separate post ? Cheers , and btw people thanks so much for your help , invaluable
Can I just ask , what causes low voltage at a post ?

 

[Lenny HB]

Probably won't help unless you move to a pitch nearer to the incoming mains to the site..
Why worry about both the heating & fridge will work better on gas.

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[Shrimp]

Fridge always work best on Gas, and surely you don’t need heating on!
An extra jumper or a rug over your knees!

 

[PaddyM]

We are away for 6 weeks ( NEVER been away this long abroad) and my worry was running out of gas ( 6kg Calor and 7 Kg Safefill ) I’ve got the adapters for the Safefill but no real idea where I can refill it in Spain ( led to believe I can’t use fuel stations )
Had a slight panic that if my leccy was up the spout I’d have no heating or fridge or van oven if me gas ran out !
Just as an aside does hook up cable length affect voltage drop off ? Cheers and thanx again .

 

[Lenny HB]

Just as an aside does hook up cable length affect voltage drop off ? Cheers and thanx again .

Not for the fridge but it will if using the heating, also depends on the size or the cable in sq mm.

These are approx figurers for a 10 amp load, 25m cable of 2.5 mm sq 5v, or 1.5 mm sq 8v.

 

[RustyRuss]

We are away for 6 weeks ( NEVER been away this long abroad) and my worry was running out of gas ( 6kg Calor and 7 Kg Safefill ) I’ve got the adapters for the Safefill but no real idea where I can refill it in Spain ( led to believe I can’t use fuel stations )
Had a slight panic that if my leccy was up the spout I’d have no heating or fridge or van oven if me gas ran out !
Just as an aside does hook up cable length affect voltage drop off ? Cheers and thanx again .

Voltage drop will occur with really long cable runs, doubt a 2.5mm 3core at 25m length will cause enough voltage drop to cause you problems; unless! the post you plugged in to was already on the end of a long run of cable! Not at home at mo but will have a look in my “On Site Guide” book when I get home and give you some idea.

 

[RustyRuss]

Voltage drop calculations are quite complex, they involve lots of factors. Basically the hotter the cable gets the less current/amperage can flow and the more voltage drop can occur. So this is a guide rather than a hard and fast definitive calculation. Table 4D2B in BS7671 18th edition wiring regulations, or Table F5(ii) in The On Site Guide, same set of regs, gives voltage drop for two-core cable, single-phase ac (basically as close as possible to what you use as a lead to connect your Moho to the electric post) for 1.5mm as 29mV/A/m, 2.5mm as 18mV/A/m. So translated into English 2.5mm cable will lose 18 millivolts per Amp per metre of cable. That means that for every Amp you use you will lose 0.018volts per metre. Therefore a 10metre 2.5mm core lead will lose 0.18volts over its length, if you are using 16Amps, the maximum the post can give you, the voltage drop will be 2.88volts.
If the post is supplied by a 25mm two/three core cable buried in the ground the figure for voltage drop will be 1.75mV/A/m. Let’s guess at a 100m run from supply to post at 16Amps. (1.75/1000)x100x16=2.8volts.

Total volt drop from supply via post then through your cable to the Moho will be 5.68volts.

SPEnergy Network state “In the UK, the declared voltage and tolerance for an electricity supply is 230 volts -6%, +10%. This gives an allowed voltage range of 216.2 volts to 253.0 volts.”

Mainland Europe is SUPPOSED to be in line with the UK, so if the supply started out at 230volts you should have around 224volts at the Moho, well within tolerance.

Hope that answers your question!

Cheers!

Russ

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