A change in voltage can easily deprive a house of a lot of useful things - a refrigerator, an electric kettle, a washing machine. You can avoid this kind of trouble by installing a reliable RCD. The article describes the operating principle of the RCD for a washing machine and the rules for its installation.
Need for installation
The circuit breaker will provide reliable protection for the electrical wiring and the device itself. The washing machine is considered one of the largest energy consumers, creating a significant load on the wires. In addition, the device operates in a "wet" environment, which classifies it as a high-risk group, and requires good protection.
Based on this, experienced specialists recommend installing an RCD for a washing machine to maintain the operability of the device, protect residents from electric shocks, and protect property from fire.
Operating principle of the machine
In the standard version, the device has a plastic case, a transformer, a relay, a tripping device, and a self-testing mechanism. New devices are additionally equipped with electromagnetic cutoffs.
A similar situation is possible due to power surges or moisture getting on exposed wires. When the protection is triggered, there is no need to change it. The main difference between an RCD for a washing machine is that it is intended for repeated use.
Making the right choice
It should be said right away that there is one peculiarity. According to the requirements for the installation of electrical installations, the RCD is installed together with automatic protection. This allows both the equipment to be preserved and the person to be protected from electric shock.
Regarding what the value of the leakage current will be, options for 10 and 30 mA are possible.
When addressing this issue, one should take into account a number of natural factors that can affect this indicator:
- length of the supply line;
- condition of electrical wiring;
- humidity level in the room.
It follows from this that when choosing the most sensitive device, designed for current leakage of the minimum value, there is a possibility of encountering a situation where it will be constantly knocked out by the machine being turned on. Simply put, it creates the possibility of a false positive due to the specified reasons.
But if such a decision has already been made, then to eliminate cases of false alarms, you should install the device near the outlet itself, if possible. There is an alternative option - the RCD is mounted instead of the socket. But devices of this type will cost you much more than conventional devices.
The most reliable protective mechanism for a washing machine is considered to be a modern automatic machine, which combines a conventional ouzo and automation. This device is capable of providing a full range of necessary protections, and it does not take up much space in the switchboard.
Today, such a device is quite expensive, so its selection and installation should be done carefully. Many craftsmen advise installing an electromechanical type at 0.03 A. You can also purchase an electrical device at 0.01 A, which will be much more reliable. But such precautions are simply unnecessary.
The type of device may also depend on the type of electrical network - single-phase or three-phase. It is also recommended to pay attention to the labeling of the device itself. In standard cases, an RCD designated “C” is selected. For sockets with a protective device, the designations C16 or C25 are suitable. The machine marked “A” is considered the most effective. For normal consumption, it will be enough to install “AC”.
Approximate cost of the device
A 0.03 A difavtomat for a washing machine costs approximately fourteen US dollars.The price is determined by the characteristics of the protection element, the manufacturer's brand, the services of intermediaries for sales and other circumstances.
Installation rules
To correctly select and install a difavtomat, you should take into account some characteristics:
- network power;
- nominal voltage value;
- rating of the automatic device and some features of the release;
- distinctive features of RCD;
- additional protection measures;
- rated current value.
We have determined what kind of RCD is needed. Now all that remains is to figure out how to install it. The process itself does not cause any difficulties. It is necessary to extend VVG wiring from the distribution board with a cross-section of 3 to 2.5. We install the RCD in a special protective housing in close proximity to the outlet.
After this, the following actions are carried out:
- the indicator device determines the position of the neutral wire and phase;
- the wiring is connected to the RCD;
- Phase and “zero” are output through the body of the device, and the connection is made to a moisture-resistant outlet.
This option for connecting a protective device is considered the easiest. But when, in addition to the washing unit, the network implies the presence of several additional consumers, it is recommended to install a device for protective de-energization. This measure will help ensure uninterrupted operation even if several consumers fail.
Purchasing an RCD will protect electrical appliances and control units from unexpected breakdowns. Voltage fluctuations can cause a fire in the control unit of the washing unit, or damage the pump or drainage system.
Reasons for the RCD to turn off
This can happen in the following cases:
- if the machine itself is faulty;
- if an error was made during installation work;
- the power cord short-circuited;
- the device you selected did not fit its parameters;
- the rotor, heating element or electric unit of the washing machine failed.
Conclusion
Modern washing machines belong to the group of household appliances that are characterized by an increased level of energy consumption. The greatest power consumption occurs when heating water, amounting to from two to three and a half kilowatts.
The electrical wiring in most houses built a long time ago is not designed for such a large number of energy consumers.
Nowadays, an automatic washing machine is an integral attribute of any apartment. In order to reliably protect your equipment from breakdowns, you should take the installation and connection rules very seriously.
