Steam iron keeps tripping mains

Jimmy_Neutron

My Philips iron has green algae in the water tank. I tried to clean it out using the suggestion here cleaning iron

Because the vinegar spilled out of the nozzle on to the plate etc I cleaned around the iron with a very wet rag. Once dried I plugged it in to the wall socket which then trips.

How can I get the iron to work, it is a very good iron, without resorting to buying a new one?

Thanks

Avoriaz

Don't mess with electricity, especially when using a hand held device.

My guess is that water or vinegar has got into the electrical area and is shorting sufficiently between live and earth to trip your RCD or similar device.

But that is just a guess. There could be other faults.

You could try opening up the area where the wires enter (unplug the iron first of course), use a tissue to dry up any obvious wetness and leave it to dry in a warm place for a day or two and then see if it works without tripping the RCD. Check that the wiring is all secure and correct too.

Or you could buy a new iron. They are not particularly expensive.

Unless you know what you are doing and are competent to check the wiring etc, or can get someone to do that for you, I would buy a new iron.

spacey2012

It is tripping the RCD as opposed to electrocuting you.
How many warnings will it take ?
Throw it, buy new.

macman

Are you sure it's the iron and not the socket? Restest it in another socket. If still tripping then buy a new iron.

anniebeetham

This is really odd . . . two weeks ago I tripped over the flex of my plugged in but not switched on iron giving myself a black eye & bruised knee. Today I discovered that the plug on the iron was broken and the socket casing is cracked as well.
I replaced the plug & tried switching on the iron connected to that socket - a quick show of red then iron off together with washing machine, lights & TV downstairs. Tried 2 other sockets - same happened.
New iron??

Ich_2

and the socket casing is cracked as well

Get the socket replaced before doing anything else. You do not know what damage there is internally if the casing is cracked

brutus1983

This reminds me of when I replaced my mothers consumer unit her iron kept tripping the rcbo she wasn't to pleased

Jimmy_Neutron

Avoriaz wrote: »

Don't mess with electricity, especially when using a hand held device.

My guess is that water or vinegar has got into the electrical area and is shorting sufficiently between live and earth to trip your RCD or similar device.

But that is just a guess. There could be other faults.

You could try opening up the area where the wires enter (unplug the iron first of course), use a tissue to dry up any obvious wetness and leave it to dry in a warm place for a day or two and then see if it works without tripping the RCD. Check that the wiring is all secure and correct too.

Or you could buy a new iron. They are not particularly expensive.

Unless you know what you are doing and are competent to check the wiring etc, or can get someone to do that for you, I would buy a new iron.

The iron works fine now:) There must have been water shorting out something so I left the iron on a radiator for a couple of days with the water inlet stopper open. The water must have evaporated because the iron no longer trips.

And some people were telling me to buy a new iron....

Ben84

Jimmy_Neutron wrote: »

The iron works fine now:) There must have been water shorting out something so I left the iron on a radiator for a couple of days with the water inlet stopper open. The water must have evaporated because the iron no longer trips.

And some people were telling me to buy a new iron....

I'm not convinced this is good. Electric irons are intended to be filled with water and attached to the mains, so they should be reasonably water proof. I mean, I wouldn't expect one to survive a diving trip, but the odd splash shouldn't be able get in to live parts.

keystone

Jimmy_Neutron wrote: »

The iron works fine now:) There must have been water shorting out something so I left the iron on a radiator for a couple of days with the water inlet stopper open. The water must have evaporated because the iron no longer trips.

And some people were telling me to buy a new iron....

10/10 for optimism. Zero for everything else.

Cheers

Justicia

Jimmy_Neutron wrote: »

And some people were telling me to buy a new iron....

Indeed they were. For your own (and possibly others) long-term safety...