Electronics > Beginners
SOLVED(4 separate problems!) Help with tripping GFCI and washing machine
mjkuwp:
I think there are different kinds of GFCI.
https://www.ul.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ul_GroundFaultProtectiveDevices.pdf
in my house (Wisconsin, USA) we only have GFCI outlets near kitchen sink and in the bathrooms - so any place near water. The Washing machine is not one one to my knowledge but now you have me curious to try putting one on there and see if things keep running.
Gregg:
Personally I would not buy the cheapest outlet of any kind, especially one with anything electronic. (I cringe at all of the ones available with USB power supplies built in.) I would suggest a brand name like Leviton, Hubbell or Pass&Seymore; there may be others. A number of big box stores hire semi-retired professionals for their electrical departments, if that is the case where you are, ask the old pro for a recommendation. A few pennies saved are not worth the future risk.
TheNewLab:
It may be the initial current surge in each cycle. the motor kicking on. But GFCI and breakers are supposed to allow for such brief current surges. A bad GFCI? possible has already been mentioned. OR a cheap one? ditto.
You might want to note if the GFCI trips when the cycles first start of later. If it does you have learned something..I would not hesitate to approach the city inspectors office, if you do not it get worked out. Always safe than sorry and any good city office would appreciate a concerned homeowner.
MyEEVBlogAccount:
Before giving the solutions to the 4 separate problems discovered, I want to answer mjkuwp. I was told it had to be a GFCI because it is 1) located in a basement in the floodplain, and 2) it is located a foot and a half from a utility sink.
So, ready for the story. Over the weekend, my spouse did an unbalanced load of laundry. It tripped at the start like usual, but despite making a hell of a banging racket made it through the rest of the cycle without the second trip. Instantly piqued my curiosity. So we are down there and I am looking at it while the second load is started and she says that the machine sounds funny, so we look carefully and the basket has moved inside due to the shaking. She notes that the water is spraying in from a slightly different place, and going straight into the basket instead of hitting the side and sort of splattering. Seems like just enough water is splashing to trip the GFCI, as it makes it through the next load non-stop. (Problem 1). Unless we either do a larger load or use the (NEMA 10-30) electric dryer, the washing machine continues right past the usual tripping points. But still tripped whenever the larger loads are done or the dryer is turned on. So close and yet so far.
So, the electrical inspector, who is also a licensed electrician, comes out today. Apparently, the general contractor has had problems with accurately describing the scope of work, following code, and "seems to think he's a sparky." He looks at the electrical. While inspecting one of the connections the GC did, which he had assumed was good since the electrician used was on their "good" list and wasn't on the "new work" list anyway, the neutral conductor comes out of the wire nut while is is maneuvering it out of the box, which means it probably wasn't even in the nut and caused a bad connection. (Problem 2). He also discovered that the water pipes in the home were not properly grounded when the city installed the new water meter, resulting in a leakage. (Problem 3). Finally, looking at the dryer, he discovered a leak "from the dryer neutral from the timer tap" to the metal shell (he explained that 3 plug dryers don't have their own ground) which was then leaking through the ground of the washing machine as the two were physically touching across the sides (Problem 4). He thinks the combined leakages were enough to trip the GFCI, and also said that repeated tripping can cause the GFCI to become more sensitive and suggested replacing it regardless.
Hopefully all this means that the problem is taken care of once and for all when I replace that given all the other things that were fixed.
Alex Eisenhut:
GFCIs can also be wired in series to protect a regular outlet somewhere else, is there anything else plugged on that circuit?
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