Urgent - problem with lawnmower and extension lead

Lorian

Are you absolutely sure there are no nicks in the extension cable?

When it tripped the consumer unit did it trip the green RCD or one of the regular MCBs?

dharm999

Lorian wrote: »

Are you absolutely sure there are no nicks in the extension cable?

When it tripped the consumer unit did it trip the green RCD or one of the regular MCBs?

The consumer unit is a Hager one, and the switch that tripped was one of the main ones, dark grey in colour, and not one of the individual ones, if that makes sense. Someone has put a label below it saying 'RCD controlled circuits'

I have checked the lawnmower lead, and it is frayed at one no, the orange outer cable has been exposed at one end and I can see the two cables inside, live and neutral I assume.

The extension lead may have a nick in it, but is it likely the second one I used, which hasn't got RCD protection, is also faulty?

I am baffled as I could understand if the mower worked when plugged in to the extension lead without RCD protection but didn't when plugged in to the extension lead with RCD protection, but it doesn't work in either case.

Lorian

the fraying needs fixing.

I'm starting to loose the plot a little on what works and what doesn't. If you plug the extension in to a socket inside, and plug the mower in to that, does it work?

The outside socket is definitely working if you plug a lamp or something in to it?

cajef

Sounds as though you have either a loose connection in the extension lead plug or the socket you are plugging it into.

dharm999

Lorian wrote: »

the fraying needs fixing.

I'm starting to loose the plot a little on what works and what doesn't. If you plug the extension in to a socket inside, and plug the mower in to that, does it work?

The outside socket is definitely working if you plug a lamp or something in to it?

I'm glad I'm not the only one!

The mower doesn't work when plugged in to either extension lead, and both leads are plugged in to an inside socket. I am not using the outside socket at all, as anything plugged in to it, extension lead or mower, trips the circuit board. I assume there is a problem with it.

However when the mower is plugged directly in to an internal socket it works.

One extension lead has RCD protection and one doesn't.

Lawnmower lead is frayed at one end, but there is no exposed copper.

dharm999

cajef wrote: »

Sounds as though you have either a loose connection in the extension lead plug or the socket you are plugging it into.

I have tried two extension leads, I have the same problem with both, so it seems unlikely both have the same problem, causing my issue

pinklady21

Crikey - when you plugged the mower into a socket indoors, please tell us you did not mow a beautiful swathe through your carpet???

coffeehound

So this mower has previously worked okay using an extension cable?

If so, it seems that something has worn or aged on the mower that means it can't quite cope with the reduced voltage available through an extension lead. Perhaps the start capacitor is weak (though then the motor should still work sometimes) or there is resistance to the motor turning due to lack of lubrication or a build-up of detritus in the moving parts. Has the mower been cleaned and serviced since new?

dharm999

pinklady21 wrote: »

Crikey - when you plugged the mower into a socket indoors, please tell us you did not mow a beautiful swathe through your carpet???

Thankfully not, but if I had it wouldn't have been a great loss!

dharm999

coffeehound wrote: »

So this mower has previously worked okay using an extension cable?

If so, it seems that something has worn or aged on the mower that means it can't quite cope with the reduced voltage available through an extension lead. Perhaps the start capacitor is weak (though then the motor should still work sometimes) or there is resistance to the motor turning due to lack of lubrication or a build-up of detritus in the moving parts. Has the mower been cleaned and serviced since new?

Yes, worked ok, in fact it had been working for an hour before deciding not to.

It hasn't been serviced, but has been kept relatively clean. Have ordered a new power cord for it, and will try that, hopefully that might solve the problem.