tumble dryer switches on and lights up but when program starts trips the circuit breaker

john, December 2008

I did all the above as per j ludbrook, then found a trap box on the back of the machine and carefully removed and dried and emptied it, after all that the machine still tripped the electric so I dried it all out inside the bottom filter area with a hairdryer for half an hour, it is now working, I would never recommend this appliance, I have had trouble since day one and the above "fluff removal" is apparently part of the general maintanance, Hotpoint are not interested once you have bought it, if I were eldery or disabled I would not be able to do that!

mel, February 2012

Hi John. I think I can help you here.
What has probably happened is that the small hole at the back of the condenser drawer (like at the back of older fridges) has become blocked. Do the following and then i'll tell you why your power is tripping.

Unplug your machine.

Take out the condenser drawer (the bit that you should rinse through every month) (check it is properly clean while you are there).

You'll need to get down on the floor for the next bit!

Put your hand right to the back inside the place the condenser drawer fits and feel for a gully..... it's probably full of wet sludge, hair and fluff!

Remove as much as you can with your fingers to the left but especially to the right.

After that, it should be clear enough for you to feel for the small hole down on the back right.

Get a thin plastic straw or plastic wire tie (don't loose it!) and poke it in and give it a wiggle.
This will allow the water to drain properly.

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Water that could not escape the proper way to the condenser is going to the fan by the heater and being splashed around and hence Tripping Your Electric!!

If you take off the back of your ctd40 (remove screws to the Fan shaped grille too) and carefully look at the heater in the bit you are removing (careful of the wires), you'll probably find some wet/damp fluff just below the element.

Remove the muck carefully and put the back back on.

There you go....piece of cake!!

Let me know how you get on cinders2001@googlemail.com

J Ludbrook, January 2009