Whirlpool SxS (ART 731)

[buzzz]

Hello form the UK - hope someone here can help.
I have a Whirlpool sxs fridge freezer (in UK the model is ART 731 - 856473101000)
I know the mains voltage is different (240 vs 115) but working should be the same - Im not a repair man but have experience in electrics.
Basically the FF keeps tripping the RCD every day or so.
I traced the fault to the defrost circuit - in cool mode all is OK but when you manually advance the timer to defrost mode it trips the RCD breaker.
I disconnected the heater element and now it doesn't trip the RCD. Immediately I assume the element is the fault but I tested it with a meter and its resistance is 93 ohms which seems feasable. Does anyone know what the resistance is meant to be this is the heater
http://shop.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=481902188176&x=9&y=10
Tested the timer OK but when the heater is disconnected it wont run - is this normal - is the timer motor somehow linked to the heater element?
93 ohms seem probably a little high bt not excessively so?
Perhaps its breaking down under load but I don't have a megger to test that.

Thanks in advance for your advice.
Buzz

[tgoods]

I had to google RCD to find out what it is.  Us Yanks call it a GFCI or GFI.  You have a bleed to ground in the heater.  I recommend fridges to be plugged into a regular outlet, GFCI's are too sensitive.  If that's not possible, a new heater should fix it.

[buzzz]

Thanks alot - now that you mention it I did plug it into a regular outlet and it didn't trip. BUT its been in the RCD socket for the last 11 years with no problem!
Sounds like a new heater element then - £55  ($85 - we do get ripped off here)
Thanks for your help.

Buzz