If at the start of any of the cycles of the washing machine has a power outage, do not ignore the problem. Simply resetting the circuit breaker is not enough. It is necessary to check the condition of the wiring and the appliances themselves.
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Reasons for tripping of RCDs, disconnecting switch and circuit breakers
Faults in which the residual current circuit breaker trips RCD or circuit breaker, RCD or circuit breaker There can be several. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate all risk factors before trying to start the washing cycle again.
Incorrect circuit breaker rating
Based on the capacity of modern washing machines 2 to 3.5 kW, the sufficient rating of the circuit breaker will be 10A. Installing a circuit breaker with a lower rating will cause the circuit breaker to trip permanently when the power-consuming cycles of the washing machine are turned on. Remember that the circuit breaker or circuit breaker rating must relate to the cross section of the cable.
How to choose the correct circuit breaker rating you can learn in our article: Choosing a circuit breaker rating by load rating.
Damage to the power cord or plug
Damage to the cord or plug causes the supply circuit to break and overload the line. The resulting short circuit can trip the automatics and damage the equipment if it does not have built-in short circuit protection.
The integrity of the cord can be checked by "testing" it with a multimeter. To do this, the machine must be disconnected from the mains and put the feelers to the outer points of the cord - before the plug and before entering the washing machine. If the device beeps - the cord is fine. You can also check the plug by "probing" the contacts one by one.
You can replace the faulty cord yourself.
IMPORTANT! Before replacing the power cord, you need to turn off the technique, drain the water from the machine. The appliance must not be tilted.
Short circuit of heating element
Poor water quality and household chemicals negatively affect the heating elements of the washing machine. Scale is formed, the heat transfer is broken, the heating element overheats and fails. This overload leads to automatic operation.
You can check the heater with a multimeter, setting the maximum resistance value to 200 ohms. Place the styli of the multimeter so that the part under test is on the line section between them. Normally the resistance should have a value in the range of 20 to 50 ohms.
To rule out a short circuit between the heater and the machine's chassis, measure the outputs and grounding bolts one by one. If multimeter rings, then there is a current leak that triggers the RCD.
Malfunction of the line filter
Problems with the filter can also cause the circuit breaker to trip. Even if there is no melting on the contacts of the filter, it is worth his ring the input and output wires with a multimeter. This is done in the same way as for the heater.
The surge protector can not be repaired. You need to replace the faulty unit. If the design of the filter provides a cord, it is replaced along with the filter. Further operation of a damaged line filter is inadmissible.
Motor malfunction
A short circuit in the motor may be due to the following causes:
- Water ingress from a damaged tank;
- Hose leaking which causes water to flood the motor;
- Worn brushes.
All of these factors can cause a short circuit and trip the circuit breakers. The brushes can be replaced. It is important to remember the direction in which the brushes were worn out before removing them and install the new brushes in the same way. Check the correctness of the installation of the brushes can be checked by manually rotating the motor pulley. If everything is set correctly, the engine will not make a lot of noise. Otherwise, the brushes will have to be reinstalled. If the problem is not in them, then alternately "test" the motor contacts with the body of the machine with a multimeter. If a short circuit is detected, the motor is repaired or replaced with a new one.
When checking the motor, there should be no water in the technique. The machine must stand strictly vertically, it can not be tilted.
Faulty contacts and control button
If the washing machine has been in use for several years, the cause of tripping RCD The control button, the contacts of which wear out and oxidize over time, can also be the cause of tripping of the RCD. You can also check this part of the circuit with a multimeter, by "probing" the contacts and wires that lead from the button to the heater, pump, motor, control panel of the machine and other units.
To replace the button, you must remove the entire control panel of the washing machine, then replace the faulty button with a new one and install the panel back. If you do not have the skills to work with the repair of appliances, then you need to call a specialist.
TIP! Experts recommend that any powerful electric appliance should be installed on a separate circuit breaker in a switchboard and have its own outlet. In this case, the washing machine socket must have protection against moisture. Do not include multiple appliances in one socket so as not to overload the network. Ideally, each appliance should have its own socket. This is especially true in the kitchen, where the maximum number of appliances of different power is concentrated, which often turn on simultaneously, causing network overloads and triggering of protection devices.
Frayed electric wires
The friction of wires on the panel during the vibration of the machine can cause damage to them and short-circuit, which in turn will trigger the RCD, as will be the short circuit on the body of the equipment.
The damage is detected visually - violation and melting of the insulation. It is necessary to solder the damaged area and re-insulate the wire, or replace it completely with a similar one. If there is no possibility to visualize the frayed area, you can "ring" the area on the input and output.
IMPORTANT! Prevention is always cheaper than elimination of the consequences. At least once every three years it is necessary to carry out preventive testing of the electrical network in the apartment to avoid problems. Wiring and fuse boxes should be sized to the appliance's capacity without a "margin". The protection must operate within a fraction of a second in the event of a short circuit, this will help avoid a fire and more serious damage to the equipment. The services of a specialized electrical laboratory for preventive testing may seem expensive, but compared to the consequences of a fire, they are negligible. There should be no bare wiring or "bugs" in the power supply circuit. Such connections can cause a fire.
When the automation is triggered after turning on one of the washing machine's cycles, you should not touch the appliances and turn the dispenser back on immediately. It is necessary to disconnect the washing machine from the mains and only then restore the power supply to the apartment. You should not use the machine until all possible damages have been diagnosed. Neglecting these simple rules can lead to tragic consequences.
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