Connecting the washing machine to electricity

Any home appliances need not only to correctly choose and install, but also correctly connect to the power grid. To connect the washing machine to electricity correctly, you need to know some important points of this process. Any slightest mistake in connecting the wiring can lead to a serious accident, 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 the masters.

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How to connect the washing machine to electricity?

First of all, you need to determine the appropriate location of washing appliances. For this, it is necessary that the following communications be available:

• tap water;
• network connection.

When connecting to mains, it is important to prevent possible emergencies. For this, with all responsibility, refer to the selection and installation:

• sockets;
• machine;
• RCD;
• wiring.

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Socket for the washing machine

Many connect the washing machine to an existing outlet or use an extension cord. But doing this is highly discouraged in order to avoid fire hazards, since the old socket and the wiring may not be designed for devices of such high power.

What are the requirements for the connection point:

• The socket for the washing machine-machine must be separate, 10-16 A with a grounding contact.

Important! The grounding conductor must not be connected in the wall outlet to a neutral wire contact, a water pipe or a radiator. In the event of a power failure or a shield, the washing machine, pipe or radiator will be 220V, which is a very dangerous situation for life and is punishable by criminal liability.

• The socket must have a certain degree of protection, as indicated by the alphabetic IP marking and the subsequent number of digits. They will help to understand what kind of protection the product has. The first figure indicates the degree of protection from dust, the second - the degree of protection from moisture.

Important! For home appliances of this purpose, you need to choose a product with high security, for example IP 55. This outlet of the washing machine has a lid and a curtain, and in the middle of it an additional seal is installed, protecting against water ingress.

• There are sockets with built-in protective shutdown device. Such a device will be needed in case the machine could not be installed.
• Mount the electrical outlet so that it is not located close to the water and heat supply, as well as away from the bathroom or other sanitary facilities.

Important! Do not install the sockets on the cold walls of the house( leaving the street or the entrance), as they are likely to form condensation.

• The height of the socket must also be taken into account. It should not be less than 60 cm from the floor.

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Wiring for the washing machine

Before proceeding to the selection of the machine, a separate wiring must be laid and connected to the electrical board. For this, it is necessary to take into account some points:

• The wiring should be suitable for all calculations and parameters to the device to be installed.
• The best option is a copper three-core wire with a cross section of 2.5 mm. Such a wiring can withstand a heavy load. Thus, you will avoid undesirable breakdowns and emergencies.
• One core of the wire must be used as a ground connection by connecting the electrical panel to the ground wire.

Important! To make the wires around the apartment have a more aesthetic appearance and do not interfere, you can hide them under the cable channels, skirting, in the gaps between the door frame and the casing.

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What kind of RCD to put on the washing machine?

The residual current device( RCD) will make the outlet for the washing machine safe. It stops the supply of current in the event of a leak. The RCD can be combined with a circuit breaker( Difa Auto) or 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 designed for reusable use. It does not need to be changed after a leakage of electricity, as in the case of fuses.

The device consists of the following components:

• housing;
• transformer;
• mechanism, breaking the electrical circuit;
• mechanism that performs self-test;
• in the newest devices there is also electromagnetic cutoff.

Installed RCD 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 uniquely be greater than the current of the input automaton.

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What machine should I put on the washing machine?

In addition to the RCD, it is also necessary to install a separate circuit breaker. This device will protect your unit and the wiring from short circuit. To understand what kind of machine is needed for a washing machine, you should pay attention to such criteria:

• It is necessary to take into account the network load, that is, to find out how many appliances will be fed from one outlet at a time.
• The cross section of the cable must also be included in the calculation.

Important! For an assembly of this purpose with a correctly selected wiring, a socket and a RCD, a 16 mA automaton will work. This will ensure the safety of all connected devices.

After final determination of which automatic machine to install the washing machine is best, you can go directly to the unit itself.

Using the helpful recommendations from this article, you can easily connect the washing machine to electricity. But if you have never worked independently with electrical wiring, it will be more reliable to invite an electrician to the house. Remember, in such matters, the safety and quality of the work performed play an important role, and on this depends not only the duration of the operation of household appliances, but also the life of all the tenants of the house.