Extension cable mystery

[GasEngineer]

Tim Cognito said:

GasEngineer said:

Did you check the lawnmower works if plugged in without the extension lead?

Does my post make me sound this stupid?

... well you didn't say if you had checked in your OP !

[Caddyshack]

I wonder if the mower is very fussy about the exact start up voltage? The specific extension lead length or resistance may be too low. My first Renault Twizy would only charge at certain locations at my house and when out as it had very set parameters for acceptable voltage. I changed the charger in the end.

[OutInTheShed]

Perhaps the socket at the end of the lead is not compatitble with the mower plug?
Some ancient ones don't work with every modern shrouded-pin plug, allegedly.

The socket could be damaged?

[Megaflow]

extraT said:

Reminds me of a joke…

Guy goes to the doc and says he has pain everywhere. Doc asks him to touch where it hurts… he touches his head, elbow, knee, leg… doc eventually says “you have a broken finger”…

I didn’t say it was a funny joke…

I see you have changed that joke to the politically correct version...

[FMOB]

OP, you do realise you have missed April 1st this year?

[Mars]

Do you use the extension cable fully uncoiled? Chap I once knew was building an extension for his washer and dryer. Before the "proper" electrics were installed, he was using an extension cable from the kitchen but it kept throwing the breaker. I uncoiled it and tried it, and it worked properly.

Coiled wiring with higher power consumption devices can induce back EMF which either causes trip-outs or reduces the amount of voltage available at the appliance end.

[jet_noise]

By "no worky" is it correct to assume the mower does not run but neither fuses blow nor breakers trip?

I am going to plump for the extn. lead socket contacts are not connecting to the mower lead plug pins.
If you can get to the socket contacts, springy bits of metal, are they clean and tight?

The contacts have relaxed a bit on some old, well used extensions I have.

[Tim Cognito]

jet_noise said:

By "no worky" is it correct to assume the mower does not run but neither fuses blow nor breakers trip?

I am going to plump for the extn. lead socket contacts are not connecting to the mower lead plug pins.
If you can get to the socket contacts, springy bits of metal, are they clean and tight?

The contacts have relaxed a bit on some old, well used extensions I have.

Correct nothing trips, I can swap out to a different extension cable and the mower works perfectly.

I will conduct some more experiments at lunch.

[richhead]

jet_noise said:

By "no worky" is it correct to assume the mower does not run but neither fuses blow nor breakers trip?

I am going to plump for the extn. lead socket contacts are not connecting to the mower lead plug pins.
If you can get to the socket contacts, springy bits of metal, are they clean and tight?

The contacts have relaxed a bit on some old, well used extensions I have.

i would see a doctor

[jimmyjimjim]

Have you tried the mower plugged into a different lead that is in turn plugged into the old lead?
I.e. two extension leads. Obviously test for continuity with another device to confirm this works, too.
If it works, then it's likely the socket of the extension lead. If it doesn't, then the Resistance/start voltage theory sounds promising.