Connecting the washing machine to electricity
Any household appliances must not only be correctly selected and installed, but also correctly connected to the mains. In order to connect the washing machine to electricity correctly, you need to know some important points of this process. Any slightest error in the wiring connection can lead to a serious accident that is unsafe for the health of the user and others. In this article we will tell you how to properly install the washing unit yourself without the help of masters.
to contents ↑How to connect the washing machine to electricity?
First of all, you need to decide on a suitable location for washing household appliances. For this it is necessary that the following communications are available:
- water drainage;
- network connection.
When connected to the mains, it is important to prevent possible emergency situations. For this, take full responsibility for the selection and installation:
- sockets;
- automatic machine;
- RCD
- wiring.
Socket for washing machine
Many plug in washing equipment into an existing outlet or use an extension cord. But doing this is highly discouraged in order to avoid fire hazard situations, since the old socket and wiring may not be designed for devices of such high power.
What are the requirements regarding the connection point:
- The outlet for the washing machine should be separate, 10-16 A with a ground contact.
Important! It is strictly forbidden to connect the ground wire in the socket to the neutral wire contact, water pipe or heating radiator. In the event of a malfunction in the power supply or the dashboard, the washing machine, pipe or radiator will be energized at 220 V, which is a very dangerous situation for life and is punishable by criminal liability.
- The socket must have a certain degree of protection, as evidenced by the letter marking IP and the subsequent series of numbers. They will help to understand what kind of protection the product has. The first figure indicates the degree of protection against dust, the second - the degree of protection against moisture.
Important! For household appliances of this purpose, it is necessary to choose a product with high security, for example IP 55. Such a washing machine outlet has a lid and a curtain, and in the middle of it there is an additional seal that protects against water ingress.
- There are sockets with built-in protective shutdown device. Such a device will be needed in case you could not install the machine.
- Install the power outlet so that it is not close to water and heat supply, as well as in the distance to the bathroom or other plumbing installations.
Important! Do not install outlets on cold walls of the house (facing the street or the staircase), as they may form condensation.
- You should also consider the height of the outlet. It should be no lower than 60 cm from the floor.
Important! In the operation of such equipment, literacy of connection and protection is important not only from the mains, but also from the water supply. So that you do not have problems with scale, leaks and other unpleasant situations, learn all about:
Wiring harness for a washing machine
Before proceeding to the selection of a machine, it is necessary to lay a separate electrical wiring and connect it to the electrical panel. To do this, take into account some points:
- The wiring should be suitable for all calculations and parameters to the installed device.
- The best option is a three-wire copper wire with a cross section of 2.5 mm. Such wiring can withstand a large load. Thus, you will avoid unwanted breakdowns and emergency situations.
- One core of the wire must be used as grounding by connecting to an earthed filament of an electrical panel.
Important! So that the wires in the apartment have a more aesthetic appearance and do not interfere, you can hide them under the cable channels, baseboards, in the gaps between the door frame and the platband.
What RCD to put on the washing machine?
A residual current device (RCD) will make the outlet for the washing machine safe. It stops the supply of current in the event of leakage. RCD is both combined with a residual current circuit breaker (difavtomat), and separate. Also, the device can be directly integrated into the outlet.
In any case, this part is very important when connecting the washing machine to electricity, especially if it occurs in a room with high humidity.
Important! RCD is intended for reusable use. It does not need to be changed after an electrical leak occurs, as is the case with fuses.
The device consists of the following elements:
- housing;
- transformer;
- a mechanism breaking an electric circuit;
- a mechanism that performs a self test;
- in the latest devices there is also an electromagnetic cut-off.
An RCD is installed in front of the machine.
Important! To safely connect the washing machine to electricity, it is recommended that you select a residual current device with a cut-off current of 10 mA. The operating current of the RCD must clearly be greater than the current of the input automaton.
Remember that in any case, after connecting, you must comply with all the rules of the test operating mode. Read a separate article on first start of the washing machine.
Which machine to put on the washing machine?
In addition to RCD, it is also necessary to install a separate circuit breaker for protective shutdown. This device will protect your unit and wiring from short circuits. To understand what kind of machine is needed for a washing machine, you should pay attention to such criteria:
- Be sure to consider the network load, that is, find out how many devices will be powered simultaneously from one outlet.
- The calculation must also include the cable section.
Important! For an aggregate of this purpose with a correctly selected wiring, socket and RCD, a 16 mA machine is suitable. This will ensure the safe use of all connected devices.
After the final determination of which automatic machine is best to install on the washing machine, you can proceed to the direct connection of the unit itself. If your house often experiences power surges, it’s by no means an extra measure to put surge protectors for household appliances.
to contents ↑Stock footage
Using the useful recommendations from this article, you can easily connect the washing machine to electricity. But if you have never independently worked with electrical wiring, then it will be safer to invite a master electrician to the house. Remember, in such matters, safety and the quality of the work performed play an important role, and not only the duration of the operation of household appliances, but also the life of all residents of the house depends on this.
(No ratings yet)
Loading...
