Shorting washing machine (Ed.)

[max.P1973]

Hi everyone.

my washing machine create a short cut when turned on. I found out that if I leave the earth wire disconnected this doesn't happen.

Any idea how I can locate the problem apart from checking every single cable/device of the machine?

Thanks

 

[bernardgreen]

You might not live to use the faulty machine if you turn it on with the earth disconnected.

 

[max.P1973]

You might not live to use the faulty machine if you turn it on with the earth disconnected.

I agree, thanks, this is why I would like to find out where the problem is. Otherwise, I will need to buy a new machine (it's 10 years old, not sure it is worth repairing it).

 

[jj4091]

Possibly not worth repairing but if you have a meter check each side of the heating element for continuity to earth as that is the most common item to fail in the way you describe.

 

[Jurassicspark]

New machine needed.

 

[JohnD]

my washing machine create a short cut when turned on.

Do you mean when you switch on the socket? Or the instant you start a wash cycle? Or some time after a wash cycle has started?

 

[max.P1973]

Do you mean when you switch on the socket? Or the instant you start a wash cycle? Or some time after a wash cycle has started?

Initially it was after 10 minutes of a wash cycle (either cold or hot), but not if I run something like spin/drain.

Now, as soon as I turn on the machine. If I switch on the socket and the machine is off, nothing happens.

To be honest, now I am curious to understand what is happening even if I might end up replacing the machine. This weekend, when I have a bit of time, I will dismount it.

I checked the earth wire and for sure it does something. The current circulate on it and, as I was saying in the first post, if it is connected to the box but disconnected from the rest of the machine (i.e. heating element, motor), no problem. So, I believe the problem is either in the element or the motor.

If it was the element, I will change it, the motor is pretty expensive and not sure if it is worth considering the machine has 10 years.

 

[JohnD]

Initially it was after 10 minutes of a wash cycle (either cold or hot), but not if I run something like spin/drain.

That sounds like the heating element.

If your machine has a cold wash cycle (absolutely no heating) try that. Rinse and spin do not use the heater but they do use the motor and pump.

There might be a water leak inside that you will find when you open it. There can also be general damp and condensation, especially in an unventilated and unheated laundry room.

 

[max.P1973]

That sounds like the heating element.

If your machine has a cold wash cycle (absolutely no heating) try that. Rinse and spin do not use the heater but they do use the motor and pump.

There might be a water leak inside that you will find when you open it. There can also be general damp and condensation, especially in an unventilated and unheated laundry room.

thanks John. When the issue started, I actually did try a cold wash cycle, but it shorted after 10/12 minutes running.

As I was saying earlier, now it shorts as soon as I turned it on. Maybe this is even better as a random short cut could have been more difficult to locate. I will check for damp/leak as the machine is actually in an unventilated area, quite small.

I checked the earth with the tester and I can see 250v, so it looks like connected to a live wire.

 

[max.P1973]

In case somebody was interested or have similar problems, I have an update.

It is confirmed that when the earth wire is connected, it switches the sockets main off.

So, I opened the machine and search for the faulty part. It come out that is, as suspected, the heating element. When I disconnect the earth from there, only from there, it works fine. I am waiting for a replacement.

I will give a final update after mounting it.

 

[jj4091]

That sounds like the heating element.

If your machine has a cold wash cycle (absolutely no heating) try that. Rinse and spin do not use the heater but they do use the motor and pump.

If the neutral side of the element is shorting to earth it will still trip an rcd even if heat is not called for. As appears to have been discovered it seems to be the most common failure part ( the element ) in this case.

 

[max.P1973]

If the neutral side of the element is shorting to earth it will still trip an rcd even if heat is not called for. As appears to have been discovered it seems to be the most common failure part ( the element ) in this case.

yep, you were right thinking about it, but I have to say I was a bit surprised. I ran the machine with a cold program. Any idea why did it trip? I thought the current wouldn't have reached the heating element when running just with cold water.

Anyway, in these years I fixed my oven, my dishwasher and now the washing machine. Every time it was the same part breaking, the heating one.