Electronics > Beginners
SOLVED(4 separate problems!) Help with tripping GFCI and washing machine
<< < (4/6) > >>
Gregg:

--- Quote from: sambonator on March 21, 2019, 10:30:32 pm ---
--- 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

--- End quote ---

I doubt men have more resistance; hard headedness maybe.  Big Clive, for example: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/big-clive-video-10ma-hand-to-hand-electric-shocks/  |O
Electro Detective:

You do not just swap out a GFCI (RCD Downunder) without FIRST externally testing that circuit with a decent GFCI tester, 
because the TEST button on the suspect GFCI won't tell the real story. Been there...  |O

You might have loose terminals and or moisture in the machine or an insect remains parked across the teminals, or in the power point

Everything from the machine to the power outlet and switch, may need some TLC before laying blame on the GFCI and mains board

Sometimes a GFCI (RCD) just plays up due to age, weather battering,
or you scored bad luck with an annoying intermittent oversensitive POS that needs tossing in the bin,
but only after pulling it apart for inspection if you can be bothered

Any decent electrical contractor should be able to track down the cause/s using generic AC-DC low and high current leakage testers and the usual methods.

Sparky 'mates' are to be avoided in a situation like this, unlikely they'll truly suss it out
and a waste of beer money  :palm:

Gregg:
A lot of general contractors are licensed to install residential electrical but many do not have any real understanding of possible problems or newer technology.  Also some will use the apprentice that can’t use a measuring tape to install the wiring and not properly check on their work.  General contractors in the US seem to have a reputation of not quite finishing jobs.  Was the electrical upgrade permitted and inspected by whatever authority issued the permit?

If OP can find evidence of improper wiring, it would be reason enough to call the contractor back and demand a “proper” electrician certify any new work with the threat to report the incidents to the contractor licensing authorities or hiring an independent electrician to certify it at the general contractor’s expense. 

Many neutral to ground bonds are difficult to detect because a lot of cheaper breaker panels use a #10 machine screw that looks like it is supposed to be there as a bonding connection.  A picture or two of the sub panel would help.  Also if both neutral and ground wires are landed on the same bus in a sub panel is a good indication that whoever installed it didn’t know what they were doing.
Electro Detective:
There are lots of electrical license wielding wankers out there, in a hurry to 'finish the job' to hurry on to the next halfassed 'install'

Many I've seen perform their sloppy work as if it's a paling fence knockup or grass n weed cut  (I would doubt their skill at that too  :palm: )

Their apprentices can be hit and miss at best, especially when their wanker boss is pushing them to 'hurry up' pulling/forcing through cables and teminating quickly without pausing to check   :scared:

They waste more time correcting their blunders and doing comebacks, rather than getting it right the first time, and save on stress and agro.

Some blokes do it proper in all respects, via current AS Rules/Standards, good materials and install expertise
and don't try and rip off the customer with 'electricians prices',

or if they have work on already, they over-quote... just in in case they get lucky and score an unsuspecting cashed up wood duck.  >:D 

MyEEVBlogAccount:
Well, I had an essay written here, but then I accidentally hit the back button.  So this version should be shorter.

I plan to replace the GFCI with one of those from the link above as that seems the simplest thing to do at this point, although I'm not sure about brands but I think they should be about the same.  I also plan to recheck all the exposed connections that the GC touched when he disconnected the 5 outlets. 

I also wanted to make clear that the washing machine trips at the same 2 points in every cycle, and it doesn't matter what cycle is used or if the heater is on.  It also doesn't trip when water is added to the cycle at other points, like the permanent press spray during spin.  And once you reset it, it works just fine until the next fill is over, and always right at the end.

Additionally, the only thing downstream of the bad GFCI is the washing machine and an unused plain outlet on the "load" connection, as my GFCI three-light tester trips that outlet when I press the button in that outlet.

As to who did what, the GC disconnected the 5 outlets, everything else "old" was not touched by anyone since renovations started.  The licensed electrician did everything else electrical, including adding the subpanel, adding the new work breaker, and moving the old work one.  My spouse was here during the inspection, without the electrician, and the inspector made the GC tell the electrician to change the breaker for the "new" work to an "AB" breaker (as in the initialism, it is also marked with an "AB" and a test button).  All the other breakers are regular ones, as far as I can tell.  FWIW, the inspector did not take the cover off the panel, according to my spouse, so whatever that implies about the inspector / contractor / electrician.  Maybe that means it wasn't a "final" inspection, if there is such a thing?

Finally, I think we're getting close to the point where if a new GFCI doesn't fix this problem, then we will talk to the city inspection office.  We may not be able to force the issue, but the inspector might.  But that might also be a long shot, so I've debated getting the washing machine out and seeing if there is anything obviously wrong with it, like a leak or loose wire or corrosion.
Navigation
Message Index
Next page
Previous page
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...

Go to full version
Powered by SMFPacks Advanced Attachments Uploader Mod