Tumble Dryer Tripping or Blowing the Electrics
If your tumble dryer has tripped the electrics during the drying cycle, it could be very frustrating - your clothes will stay as wet as they went in. Your electrics blowing or tripping is a safety feature. The fuse could blow or trip during your drying cycle, we have identified for you; the most common causes which may lead to your appliance suddenly shutting off.
Heating Element
A common fault which can lead to a defective tumble dryer is the heating element - this can cause a dryer to blow a fuse or cause it to trip the RCD (Residual Current Device). To identify the fault is caused by the element, the heating element will engage - if faulty or damaged the electrics will trip, or blow the fuse switching off the appliance to prevent any further damage.
Safety First! Please make sure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before beginning any repair.
Check the element using a multimeter (See here for instruction on how to use a multimeter). The average reading is between 20 and 100 ohms - If there is zero reading or it tests excessively high then the element will be faulty and require replacing.
- Even without a multimeter, you can still check for visual signs of damage, if the element is damaged then you will clearly notice the damage.
If you require a replacement element for your tumble dryer, browse our extensive range of spares to restore your appliance.
To replace a faulty or damaged element see our easy to follow guide.
Mains Filter
Another very common fault which may lead to your dryer tripping the electrics could be down to a faulty mains filter, when this blows as the machine starts. This is a safety device fitted in most tumble dryers and is designed to stop interference from getting into the dryer circuit.
To check the mains filter for faults follow the procedure below:
Safety First! Please make sure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before beginning any repair.
- Look for bulges, burn marks or liquid at the bottom of the mains filter (also known as the interference suppressor).
- Test the mains filter for faults by using a multimeter - see our guide testing about using a multimeter here.
If you require a replacement mains filter, you can browse our online catalogue for a spare here.
For a guide on how to replace a faulty mains filter click here for further details.