Electronics > Beginners
SOLVED(4 separate problems!) Help with tripping GFCI and washing machine
Seekonk:
I got a free LG washer with the common stripped motor rotor. Still an easy machine to fix. When I opened it up I was surprised to also see the water valve assembly was leaking. This is extremely rare. Could be some actual leakage due to water spraying on the solenoid connector since you mention filling.
johnkenyon:
Get a sensitive clamp ammeter. Clamp all wires feeding the appliance EXCEPT the earth wire, turn on the appliance. (For US 220v appliances that means the three 110-0-110 wires, otherwise it just means the two hot/live and neutral wires)
The ammeter will show any current which is flowing into the appliance, and out down the earth wire - it is this current flow that triggers the GFCI/RCD.
As it's been previously noted, you can get nuisance tripping if there's more than one appliance/outlet being fed by the GFCI and the sum of the current leaks to earth is greater than the trip.
Personally my money is on the heating element - washing machine fills with water, shuts off solenoid, turns on heat - trip...
Gregg:
VERY important: is the neutral and ground only connected in one place? --- That should be at the main breaker panel. If a sub panel has a bond between ground and neutral, it could be your whole problem.
Since you stated that the GFCI doesn’t trip on all of the cycles (like permanent press); assuming it uses a mechanical timer, I would start by taking the timer out and cleaning all of the contacts. I would also clean off the fill solenoid valves where the wiring connects. It is likely that lint dust has gathered on various surfaces and attracted moisture and old pitted contacts are not breaking quickly.
Are the hot and cold water pipes connected at the water heater [and to the gas line if it is a gas heater]? It could be that you are getting some ground leakage via the water from alternate sources that are adding to the problem. As previously stated, these leakages are additive.
Most US washing machines have a separate ground connection, usually a sheetmetal screw on the back panel, for attaching a separate ground wire. It wouldn’t cost much to try adding a wire.
HackedFridgeMagnet:
If you want to sleep at night, just get someone in who actually knows what they are doing and has the tools to diagnose then fix the problem.
They might find a fault in your house wiring that your washing machine problems are just a symptom of. Such as a second Earth Neutral bond like Gregg suggested.
Look under E for electrician in your local directory.
sambonator:
--- Quote from: soldar on March 19, 2019, 07:55:22 am ---...even though it does not meet the Code I consider it acceptable as there are no women, children or animals here...
--- End quote ---
Are you saying men are more resistant to electricity than women? :-DD
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