Contents
An automatic washing machine (SMA), if the operating rules are violated, can shock a person with an electric shock. At the slightest electric shock, the device must be turned off, and the cause of the malfunction should be identified and eliminated. We will learn what to do if the drum in the typewriter is electric, how to find and fix the problem.
Why is the drum beating?
Using household appliances, many completely forget about the danger. But circumstances may develop in such a way that a kind assistant – a washing machine, will become a source of powerful electric shock. This probability occurs during the breakdown of the current. If discomfort occurs when touching the drum, it means that a breakdown of the current to the drum has occurred.
Reasons for breakdown
Causes of electricity leakage:
- Electrical wiring damaged. Everyone knows that if you remove the insulating sheath from the cable, you can get access to live parts. If a cable is pinched somewhere, a breakdown and a severe electric shock may occur. The device must be immediately disconnected from the mains and inspected for damage.
- High humidity. Water conducts electricity well, so wet hands always increase the risk of injury. Usually, users feel a slight tingling sensation.
- TEH damaged. Damage to the heating element or breakdown of the motor can cause electric shocks.
- No grounding. This is the most common cause of a breakdown in a washing machine. Many users simply do not think or are not aware of the need for reliable grounding.
It is not necessary to wait until the machine starts to beat with electric current, if during operation the engine makes strange sounds or smells of burnt rubber, turn off the machine and call the master.
How do I troubleshoot?
Troubleshooting is best left to professionals. But if you have experience with electrical appliances and electrical networks, you can handle the task yourself. But be sure to follow all safety rules.
Grounding
If the CMA is not grounded, there will always be a risk of electric shock. Therefore, when installing the SMA, be sure to ground it. Even if the drum, body or any other part of the machine breaks through, the person will not be hurt. An ungrounded washer will accumulate a slight electrical charge. Every owner of an ungrounded machine feels it – just touch it. The charge is especially noticeable if the hands are wet.
The solution to the problem is the immediate laying of a ground cable. There are two options:
- In new houses, electrical panels usually have ground terminals – in this case, the issue is solved simply. The problem can be eliminated even at the construction stage – there is a wire in the electrical network that diverts accidentally occurring currents into the ground.
- In old houses, a ground bus is not provided, so you have to tinker with laying it. It is best to invite an electrician who will lay the ground cable.
Grounding is possible in two ways:
- First option. Grounding is done from the electrical panel:
- A 3-core copper cable is run from the shield to the socket. Cross section – 4 or 2,5 mm.
- Near the place where the washing machine will stand, a 16 A socket is mounted. If the SMA is installed in the bathroom, then a moisture-proof socket is installed.
- Second option. If the house has a ground bus, the problem is even easier to solve. The “neutral” wire of the 3-core cable is connected to the bus marked N. Phase wire – through the RCD and the machine, connected to the phase wire of the electric meter. A ground wire is connected to the bus with the designation PE.
If there is no ground bus, you will have to call an electrician to install it. All the work described above requires accuracy, knowledge and tools, and most importantly, compliance with safety regulations. If there is no self-confidence, it is better to entrust the task to a specialist.
It happens that if there is no tire, water and heating pipes are used instead. But such a solution will cause corrosion of the pipes, followed by their leakage. And if the insulation is broken, the pipes can, in turn, be electrocuted.
Damage to wiring and heater
In the absence of grounding, any failure can lead to the accumulation of charge on the drum. First of all, you need to find out what caused the breakdown – damage to the cable or breakage of the heating element.
Procedure:
- Diagnostics. Disconnect the back wall by unscrewing the bolts. After removing the cover, inspect the wiring in order to identify defects – kinks or damage. If everything is in order, proceed to the inspection of the heating element. The location of this element depends on the brand of CMA. In Samsung, Ariston, Indesit typewriters, the heating element is located in the rear, and in AEG, Bosch and Siemens, in the front.
- Testing. To check the health of the heating element, use a multimeter. Disconnect the wires from the heating element, put the tester into resistance mode. The switch is set to 200 ohms. The probes of the tester touch the contacts of the heating element. If the tester shows resistance in the range of 20-30 ohms, then the heating element is working. A value of 1 and 0 indicates a failure. “1” indicates an open circuit, and “0” indicates a short circuit.
- Sample check. Even if the heating element is in good condition, it can be broken, you need to check this moment. Between the heater tubes and its walls is a dielectric material. It is necessary to check the element itself for breakdown. The buzzer mode is set on the tester and with one probe they touch the terminal of the heating element, and with the second – its body. If there is no sound signal, the element is serviceable, the appearance of a squeak indicates a breakdown. The heater is not repairable – it just needs to be replaced with a new one.
How to prevent electric shocks?
If the SMA is serviceable and all its elements are intact, it is necessary to prevent electric shock. This requires intervention in the house electrical network. Protection methods:
- Included in the RCD network (residual current device). The rated load current of the protective range is 10–30 mA. RCD trips at the smallest leakage. In old houses, with two-wire wiring, it is more difficult to install an RCD. The machine will work too often – you will have to regularly turn on the power on the shield.
- Creation of a system that balances the potentials of electrical appliances.
- Checking the health of the grounding. It happens that even grounded SMAs are shocked. This may be due to a damaged ground wire. It is necessary to find the place of the break and eliminate it.
How can you not act?
Those who are going to independently fix the malfunctions associated with the breakdown of electric current to the drum should understand the issue. Many craftsmen in search of advice turn to forums, draw knowledge on the Internet. Among the advice, there are often fundamentally wrong recommendations.
Wrong tips and explanations for them:
- Tip – if there is no ground, turn the plug over and insert the plug into the outlet, and lay a rubber mat on the floor. In fact, this method stops only some blows, not excluding electric shock.
- Tip – turn off the network filter. False – disabling the filter does not eliminate the danger.
- Tip – connect the ground wire from the CMA to a pipe or battery. This is dangerous – such a decision can lead to a strong blow.
Electric shocks, even the smallest ones, can lead to serious consequences. If the drum began to beat with electric current, it is necessary to turn off the SMA and do not turn it on until the cause of the malfunction is eliminated.