Dishwashers are installed in the kitchen, near the sink. This is no accident. In this case, connecting the dishwasher is the simplest – the sewerage and water pipes are nearby, and the socket for a fixed connection still needs to be installed separately.
The peculiarity of installing the dishwasher is that it must be set perfectly evenly. The maximum allowable deviation from the horizontal is 2°. If this requirement is not met, the dishes may not be washed well enough. Therefore, the first step after unpacking is to install it in place and level it. To do this, the design provides height-adjustable legs. We take the building level, lay it on the car, make sure that it stands exactly relative to the horizontal. Then we check the verticals, if everything is done correctly, and there should be no deviations.
Power Requirements
Dishwashers, even economical ones, consume a considerable amount of electricity. For example:
- BOSCH SPS 40E12 (class A), maximum power consumption 2,4 kW;
- CANDY CDCF 6 07 (class A) consumption – 1,3 kW.
- SIEMENS SR24E205 (class A) requires a maximum of 2,4 kW;
- ELECTROLUX ESF 9420 LOW – can consume 2,1 kW.
- WHIRLPOOL ADP 7570 IX – power consumption 2,1 kW.
With high power consumption, one of the conditions for normal operation is a separate power line with an installed circuit breaker and RCD. A separate line will also reduce the effect of power surges on the electronics that control the operation of the unit. They are felt every time the refrigerator, freezer or microwave is turned on / off. The control board reacts very badly and all the jumps, and its replacement (almost no one repairs it, they only change it) costs a lot of money. If you want the equipment to work for a long time and without problems, pull a separate line from the shield.
As you understand, the average power of a dishwasher is 2,1-2,4 kW. First, select the automatic protection. It must be selected according to the current, but this value is rarely in the characteristics, therefore it is necessary to calculate the current in terms of power. For example, the power of the dishwasher is 2,4 kW. We find the maximum current strength: 2400 W / 220 V = 10,9 A.
Circuit breakers come in the following ratings – 6 A, 10 A, 16 A, 20 A (there are more powerful ones, but they are definitely not needed for this equipment). For this example, a 16 A machine is required. It is better not to take 10 A – when turned on at full power, it will be knocked out. Therefore, we take the nearest larger value, and this is 16 A.
From the input of the circuit breaker, the phase is fed to the RCD. It protects against leakage during insulation breakdown, and will also work if someone touches live parts. It is also selected by current, but it should be one step higher than the machine. For this example, this is 25 A (RCDs are 10 A, 16 A, 25 A, 32 A). The second parameter by which this type of protection is chosen is the leakage current. For lines to which only one device is connected, the leakage current is 10 mA. Both of these devices are installed in a house or apartment electrical panel.
Another parameter that needs to be determined is the cross section of the cable cores. Recently, copper wires have been used for wiring, as they are easier to work with. For devices with a power of up to 4,1 kW, a cross section of 1,5 square meters is sufficient. mm (more is possible, less is not).
Now about what sheath the cable should be in. It depends on the material of the walls along which the power line will be laid:
- for wooden and frame insulation should be double (VVG) or triple (NYM);
- in all others, any will do, without cracks, sagging and other visible damage.
Example of connecting a dishwasher to the mains
Another point: dishwasher outlets must be grounded. This is a mandatory requirement to maintain the warranty. Also, when choosing, pay attention to the voltage for which it is designed. For branded copies, this parameter is written on the back. If there is no such inscription, you have cheap Chinese consumer goods in front of you, and it’s better not to risk it.
Where and how to withdraw stock
The next step is to connect the dishwasher to the sewer. The drain hose is located on the rear wall of the case, it has a length of about 1,5-2 meters. If necessary, it can be grown with a similar one of the same diameter, but the total length cannot be more than 5 meters (for details, see the instruction manual). Such a distance can be pumped by pumps that operate when water is removed.
The best option is to have a separate sewer outlet. Then everything is simple, a rubber sleeve is inserted into the pipe, which ensures hermetic fixation of the corrugation, the end of the drain hose is filled into it. If it is closed with a plug, remove it. But this option is rather an exception. More often, a dishwasher is connected through a sink siphon or through an outlet to the sink.
If the sewer outlet is cast iron, there are special rubber couplings for a hermetic transition to plastic. You will need to know the diameters of your outlet and plastic tee. Accordingly, the adapter is installed in a cast-iron pipe. You just need to fill it up there without any additional funds. Insert a plastic fork into the coupling. A sink is usually connected to a vertically directed outlet, a dishwasher is connected to the one at an angle.
For special siphons for connecting a dishwasher, the outlet is made so that the drain hose can be pulled over it. For reliability, it can be tightened with a clamp.
The connection of the dishwasher to the sewer must be such as to avoid the formation of loops and creases, and even when everything is pushed into place. At the same time, the corrugation should not be allowed to fit from the side – there should be a slight upward bend. This eliminates the possibility of drains from the siphon or tee getting into the machine.
To fix the corrugated hose in a given position, there are special plastic couplings. They are put on the corrugation from below and hold it securely.
Water connection
The dishwasher is connected to the water supply using a standard hose, which is also located on the back of the case. It is easy to recognize by its rather large nozzle. It’s a spill blocker. It is needed for correct operation and it is not recommended to remove it.
Now about what water to connect the dishwasher to. You can connect to a hot one in only one case – if your unit supports such a function (indicated in the description) and you do not have a meter on the DHW. In all others, it is better to fill the machine with cold water. The main motive for connecting to hot water supply is to save electricity. If the water is hot, it does not need to be heated. This is true, but this solution has disadvantages:
- Hot water carries more contaminants than cold water and your machine will fail faster.
- The DHW temperature often exceeds the limits allowed for the equipment. This again shortens the life of the equipment.
- If there is a DHW meter, the savings are quite small. The cons clearly outweigh.
Example of connection to the water supply
You can connect to the water supply at any point where there is a detachable connection. For example, in the place where the flexible hose is connected to the sink. They unscrew it, put a tee, then a ball valve (or a tee with a ball valve right away). A dishwasher is connected to the part that is connected with a tap, and a flexible hose to the sink mixer is connected to the second outlet.
Check before start
Before pushing the machine into place, check the tightness of the connections. To do this, open the water supply (turn the tap to which the dishwasher inlet hose is connected). If there are no leaks anywhere, you can push it.