After purchasing an automatic washing machine, one of the most important conditions for its safe and high-quality operation is the correct connection of the unit to the mains supply. In the event of failure of the washing unit, the manufacturer does not retain the right to its warranty service and repair. This is indicated in the user manual, which must be carefully studied and strictly followed.
Compliance with safety rules and work procedures will allow any prudent owner familiar with the basics of electrical engineering to connect the washing machine to the mains with their own hands. If this issue presents a certain difficulty, then it is better to consult a specialist than to endanger your he alth.
General connection features
The washing machine is a high power electrical appliance. During the operation of the unit, the power consumption can reach from one to four kilowatts. Therefore, when choosing a suitable model, it is necessarytake into account what section the electrical wires are laid in the apartment. The safe operation of the equipment will depend on this.
Checking the load capacity of electrical wiring can be done by measuring the diameter of the core and the material from which it is made. Then, using a special table, you need to determine which equipment in the apartment will function normally.
Do not connect the washing machine to the mains in the following cases:
- electric wiring and socket do not match the capacity of the washing machine;
- use an extension cord to connect the machine to the mains;
- connect multiple devices to one outlet at the same time.
Compliance with these requirements will allow the safe operation of the home assistant.
Socket Requirements
To avoid a fire hazard, the washing machine must be connected to the mains through special connectors. Old existing outlets in the home are very often not designed to plug in high power appliances, which can lead to overheating and often leads to a breakdown of the washing machine.
From the basic requirements for the connection point of the washing unit, we can distinguish:
You must install a socket with a grounding contact, designed to pass current from 10 to 16 A
- It is advisable to use special IP65 waterproof sockets, where the first digit althe value indicates the degree of protection against dust, and the second digit indicates the protection against moisture.
- If it is not possible to install a special circuit breaker, then sockets with a residual current device (RCD) are used, which are mounted inside the device.
- Installation of the connector must be done away from plumbing equipment (bath, water supply devices).
- The socket should be placed at a distance of 60 cm from the floor to avoid cases of contact flooding.
- Do not install the socket on the outer wall of the building to avoid exposure to condensation.
Do not connect appliances to an existing outlet if it does not correspond to the class of the washing machine in terms of technical parameters. When installing the machine in a room with high humidity, the degree of protection of the sockets must be taken into account.
Laying the cable to connect the washing unit
If the home electrical network is made with wires of the wrong section and material, a separate line will have to be laid. In doing so, the following points must be taken into account:
- copper wires with three cores and a cross section of 2.5 mm can withstand a fairly high load;
- the power cable must necessarily have one core, which will be connected to ground in the electrical panel;
- connecting the washing machine to the mains is carried out only with a wire that meets all the technical parameters of the model of the purchased unit.
To make the work of laying the cable less energy-intensive, first of all,determine the location of the outlet. With a large distance from the switchboard, it will be necessary to produce a long section of gating.
In soft walls, the cable channel is easy to make with a hammer and chisel. But to work in a room where concrete reinforced partitions are installed, you will have to use a puncher and a grinder. At the first stage, a place is prepared for installing an outlet, and then a wiring channel is made.
It is also possible to use special decorative skirting boards that will preserve the aesthetic appearance of the room and simplify the cable laying process.
If it is difficult to do the preparation of the mains on your own, then it is better to call an electrician at home, the prices for such services depend on the length of the cable laying channel.
Features of residual current device
To increase the safety of work, it is necessary to install a residual current device in the circuit for connecting the washing machine to the mains. This device is designed to cut off the power supply if, for any reason, it leaks.
Structurally, the RCD can be combined with an electric circuit breaker, and also be performed as a separate element of the protection circuit. When installing a washing machine in the bathroom, the use of the device is mandatory, as this is a room with high humidity. Unlike simple fuses, the protection device is designed to be reusable. After it has been triggered, the system can be returned tooperating condition by removing the cause of the malfunction.
Structurally, the RCD consists of the following nodes:
- transformer;
- net breaking schemes;
- self-testing mechanism;
- electromagnetic cutoff;
- device case.
In the power supply circuit, the protective device is included in front of the machine. The operating current of the protection must be higher than the tripping current of the machine.
Network input automaton
Also, to connect the washing machine to the mains, it is necessary to install an automatic switch in the switchboard to protect the wiring and the operating unit from short circuit. The power of this device is calculated depending on the load of the network, as well as on the diameter of the wiring.
Home electrical network usually includes a 16A circuit breaker, which is safe for connecting many household appliances at the same time.
After equipping the electrical switchboard with all the necessary protection systems, you can begin to consider how to properly connect the washing machine to the mains.
Grounding the washing machine
Grounding is also one of the types of protection of the washing machine and a person from electric shock. In old apartment buildings, sockets did not have a ground contact. Therefore, the installation of modern washing machines issome complexity. For high-quality and safe operation of the unit, you will have to pull an additional wire to the electrical distribution panel, which must have a ground bus.
Residents of a private house can arrange grounding with their own hands. For these purposes you need:
- The ground wire from the socket must be brought to the base of the foundation of the building.
- Then, to a depth of two meters, you need to drive a piece of reinforcement into the ground, a piece of 30 cm should stick out.
- Perform a high-quality stripping of the fittings and securely wind a piece of wire (can be welded by welding).
- The ground wire attachment point is well insulated.
After the grounding device, the wire can be connected to the outlet.
You can not make grounding by connecting the wire to the water and gas pipes, especially if the washing machine is in the bathroom. Such a connection is dangerous both for the owner himself and for housemates.
Connecting the machine through a residual current device
To carry out work in the electrical panel, you need to call an electrician at home. The price of the service depends on the availability of special protective equipment. Independent electrical work in the control room is prohibited, as you may have to turn off the general power supply.
There are two options for connecting a machine through an RCD:
- Connection through a common apartment security device. With this method, damage to the unit will cause a complete power outage in the entire room.
- Inclusion of a separate protective shutdown device in the washing machine circuit. In this case, if a current leakage occurs, the power supply will be turned off only in the circuit of the unit.
When connecting a washing machine through an RCD, the main factor is the compliance of the electrical parameters of the protection with the power consumption of the unit.
Surge protection
In the user manual, manufacturers indicate the power supply voltage of the unit, taking into account the deviation from the nominal value (220 V +/-10%). The deviation of the voltage value from this indicator poses a threat to the used household appliances.
Some models of modern units are equipped with a built-in surge protection system, since when the power drops to 180 V, the equipment stops working.
In order to ensure that the unit is protected from voltage drops, it is necessary to install an additional voltage stabilizer.
When the voltage is low, the motor of the unit has little starting power, and it works in the starting current mode. This causes the motor to be unable to overcome the starting torque, resulting in damage.
Also detrimental to the engine high voltage. Therefore, in homes where there is instability in the electrical network, care must be taken to install a voltage stabilizer.
Features of connecting a washing machine in the kitchen
Modern designers offer to equip the kitchen area of the apartment with various built-in appliances. Therefore, along withdishwashers, refrigerators and various ovens, the built-in washing machine in the kitchen looks very modern and beautiful.
In apartment buildings, a special socket is installed in the kitchen to supply power to the electric stove. But often gas stoves are used in homes, so connecting built-in washing machines to the mains can be done to the stove socket.
The process of connecting the washing machine will involve some alteration of the power line for the washing unit.
Built-in sockets in the kitchen can handle the extra load of the washing machine. It is necessary to connect a three-wire cable to the installation site of the unit. Cable laying work can be done by chasing the wall, but you can also use special boxes that will not spoil the appearance of the room and will serve as reliable cable protection.
After laying the cable, it is imperative to install a residual current device, as well as an automatic shutdown. Connect two sockets, and the power of the built-in washing machine in the kitchen must be placed at a distance convenient for connecting the unit. Protective devices can be hidden in special junction boxes.
Connecting a washing machine in the bathroom
The bathroom is classified as a wet room, so there are special requirements for electrical wiring in it. The likelihood of electric shock in such a roomincreases very significantly, especially since people are often naked in the bathroom.
It is better to take out the socket in a dangerous room into the corridor. But if this arrangement does not work, then it is necessary to install a waterproof socket with a cover with a degree of protection of at least IP44.
Electrical wires must not be laid in metal sleeves or pipes. All switchboards and switches must be moved outside the premises.
Protection against electric shock in the bathroom must be provided by grounding and a residual current device. When performing grounding, water pipes cannot be used, since the ingress of mains voltage to these elements poses a threat to the life of the owner of the premises, as well as housemates. For the grounding device, a separate wire must be run to the electrical switchboard. The diameter of the grounding conductor must be no less than the cross section of the electrical wire in the apartment.
The residual current device must be installed in the switchboard.
Remember that the issue of connecting the washing machine to the electrical network must be taken with full responsibility and attention. The installation of all measures to protect against electric shock will save the lives of family members and neighbors, as well as extend the period of trouble-free operation of the washing machine.
