Issue with sockets/appliances help needed please

[DIYfan]

Hi, first post here, I've got an issue with my home electrics and need a bit of advice as to what may be causing it please. Bear with me as I know very little about electrics, anything more than wiring a plug or changing light fittings and sockets is beyond me.

So the issue is with appliances in the garage starting to blow fuses, the appliances being washer, tumbler and fridge freezer

They have all happily been plugged into a 4 gang extension cable in the internal garage for a few years, often all being switched on at the same time (fridge freezer constantly on, the others plugged in all the time and switched on when in use.
A few months ago the downstairs sockets went off and the fusebox switch had tripped and needed the switch flipping back on. I realised the garage appliances didn't come back on and I swapped the extension cable for a similar one (as I didn't have a fuse handy) The new extension worked fine, I assumed it was a blown fuse

Everything was fine until the other day when the same thing happened, extension cable fuse blown again.

I plugged in an extension I use for gardening(4 gang 25 m reel extension with safety cut out button) and plugged all 3 appliances into that and that tripped after 10 mins or so.

I reset and tried it in different sockets and it kept tripping so I ruled out the sockets and thought it must be a dodgy appliance.

I unplugged the tumbler and it seemed to sort it out, The tumbler was old anyway so I decided to replace it and the washer and freezer have been running fine for 2 days, I actually bought another 4 gang 10m reel cable with safetey cut out and plugged them into that.

Today the new tumbler arrived which I plugged into the extension where the washer and freezer are plugged in and it's started to cut out again, I've now tried the new tumbler in the new extension by itself and it's cutting out.

Any idea what's going on? Thanks

 

[Strima]

You have two large appliance running off an extension lead, you're overloading the lead causing the fuse to blow as they are not intended for this type of use. Please stop using this set up before you set fire to something.

You need to have these appliance running off separate socket outlets, what sort of power set up do you have in your garage? Separate fuse board or just a socket powered from your house socket circuit?

 

[Pete999]

Hi, first post here, I've got an issue with my home electrics and need a bit of advice as to what may be causing it please. Bear with me as I know very little about electrics, anything more than wiring a plug or changing light fittings and sockets is beyond me.

So the issue is with appliances in the garage starting to blow fuses, the appliances being washer, tumbler and fridge freezer

They have all happily been plugged into a 4 gang extension cable in the internal garage for a few years, often all being switched on at the same time (fridge freezer constantly on, the others plugged in all the time and switched on when in use.
A few months ago the downstairs sockets went off and the fusebox switch had tripped and needed the switch flipping back on. I realised the garage appliances didn't come back on and I swapped the extension cable for a similar one (as I didn't have a fuse handy) The new extension worked fine, I assumed it was a blown fuse

Everything was fine until the other day when the same thing happened, extension cable fuse blown again.

I plugged in an extension I use for gardening(4 gang 25 m reel extension with safety cut out button) and plugged all 3 appliances into that and that tripped after 10 mins or so.

I reset and tried it in different sockets and it kept tripping so I ruled out the sockets and thought it must be a dodgy appliance.

I unplugged the tumbler and it seemed to sort it out, The tumbler was old anyway so I decided to replace it and the washer and freezer have been running fine for 2 days, I actually bought another 4 gang 10m reel cable with safetey cut out and plugged them into that.

Today the new tumbler arrived which I plugged into the extension where the washer and freezer are plugged in and it's started to cut out again, I've now tried the new tumbler in the new extension by itself and it's cutting out.

Any idea what's going on? Thanks

Do theses extension leads come on a reel, if yes are you using them still coiled up? no recommended. Where, in the UK are you based? Also using an extension for multiple appliances is also no recommended. A visit from an Electrician may help, buying and replacing stuff, is a false economy. Posting your location may illicit an offer of help from a Forum member.

 

[DIYfan]

Thanks, I've just done a bit of reading around the internet and it does seem I've been a bit naive here in running 3 big power items on the same extension. How the heck I've got away with it for years is amazing.
It's a normal double socket in the internal garage
I only have this one double socket in the garage and those 3 appliances, could/should I run a short 2 gang extension to run 2 appliances at the same time and have the other plugged in the wall?

 

[DIYfan]

Do theses extension leads come on a reel, if yes are you using them still coiled up? no recommended. Where, in the UK are you based? Also using an extension for multiple appliances is also no recommended. A visit from an Electrician may help, buying and replacing stuff, is a false economy. Posting your location may illicit an offer of help from a Forum member.

Yes the extensions I've started using are coiled up, I used to use the normal flat white extensions but they blew so only had the coiled garden extension 25m, I thought the safety cut off would be a good safety feature so bought a 10 m one too. I'm based in NE England

 

[Pete999]

Thanks, I've just done a bit of reading around the internet and it does seem I've been a bit naive here in running 3 big power items on the same extension. How the heck I've got away with it for years is amazing.
It's a normal double socket in the internal garage
I only have this one double socket in the garage and those 3 appliances, could/should I run a short 2 gang extension to run 2 appliances at the same time and have the other plugged in the wall?

Would be a abetter option to have some extra socket outlets added, to avoid using extension leads.

 

[DIYfan]

Would be a abetter option to have some extra socket outlets added, to avoid using extension leads.

I'll certainly look into this however in the short term I'm going to try and get the fridge freezer turned so the cable plugs straight into the wall.
The washer and tumbler won't reach so would it be ok to get a short extension and run them one at a time so as not to overload things?

 

[telectrix]

as the other old git says ^^^^^^. get an electrician to add 1 or 2 more sockets. (assuming the supply to the garage will handle the load.). the reason you've got away with it before is that maybe the appliances were coincidentally not all on heat cycle at the same time. bear in mind that washers and dryers each pull around 10A when heating.

 

[Strima]

If these appliances are also quite old they may well be drawing more current than they did originally as things start to wear out.

 

[telectrix]

If these appliances are also quite old they may well be drawing more current than they did originally as things start to wear out.

so that's why my leccy bills have gone up. i must be drawing more current as i wear out. .