It's hard to believe, but before 1996 there was a ban on sockets in the bathroom. Now this is a necessity, because the number of electric partings that people use in it has increased. These include an electric razor and toothbrush, an epilator, a hair dryer, a hot water tank, a washing machine, and sometimes even a radio, a phone, a tablet, etc. Given such a long list of electrical appliances needed in the bathroom, it becomes clear that you can do without an outlet. can't.
The ban existed in order to protect people from fire and electric shock, because the bathroom is a humid environment, and electricity and water are incompatible. It is believed that pure water without impurities is a poor conductor of current, but the water that flows from the tap contains s alts, chlorine and various chemical compounds that make it an excellent conductor. When installing electrical appliances and sockets in the bathroom, you need to be extremely careful and be guided by the principle of safety, not the principle of convenience. If aignore certain electrical installation rules, this may result in a breakdown of the outlet, electrical appliance, or even a fire.
Special attention should be paid to the socket for such a housewife as a washing machine, which has become an indispensable attribute of a modern bathroom. How to choose, place and install a socket for a washing machine in the bathroom, protecting yourself and your loved ones, is described in this article.
Washing machine outlet features
Washing machine sockets in the bathroom are subject to special requirements due to the fact that these electrical appliances have an increased level of energy consumption due to the presence of heating elements in them. In addition, they are often installed in the bathroom, where you need to be extremely careful with electricity.
Residual current device (RCD)
For safety reasons, you should give preference to an outlet with a built-in RCD or install it separately in the electrical panel. This device can protect against electric shock - it stops its supply if there is a leakage to the case, as well as in case of a short circuit or touching current-carrying elements. With the help of RCDs, it is possible to prevent the failure of an electrical appliance and the occurrence of a fire. The highest leakage current is 30 mA.
Power
The power of the outlet depends on the power of the washing machine that is connected to it: the higher it is, the greater the load the outlet must withstand. If the power of the machinewithin 3 kW, then the socket should be chosen with a power of at least 16 A (amperes). If the power of the outlet does not match, it turns out to be less than required, then it will melt. As a result, a short circuit may occur in a humid environment.
Waterproof
The outlet in the bathroom for the washing machine must be waterproof, closed with a lid so that water does not get into it. These sockets have rubber rings on the inside to reduce the risk of sparks and short circuits.
There are 8 degrees of waterproofness of sockets, of which only 3 are suitable for a washing machine in the bathroom:
- IPX 4 - splash proof in all directions;
- IPX 5 - jet proof;
- IPX 6 - Protected against strong jets.
The choice of degree depends on the location of the outlet. If it is located away from the shower, bathtub and sink, then the first 2 types (IPX 4 or IPX5) will do, if it is close - IPX 6. A photo of the outlet for the washing machine in the bathroom, which has a high level of moisture resistance, is presented below.
Presence of grounding
In addition to the residual current device, sockets for the washing machine must have a protective earth. The residual current device will work without it, but the level of protection will be much lower. In addition, the washing machine can shock if it is not grounded.
To connect it, one of the strands of a three-core copper wire is used foroutlets.
All conductive elements in the bathroom (e.g. metal bath, steel wire) must be grounded.
Cable section
When buying a cable for an outlet, you should pay attention not only to its length, but also to its cross section. The durability of the washing machine and the outlet depends on this. In addition, if it is less than it should, the wire may burn out and cause a fire.
The choice of wire depends on the power of the device that is plugged into the outlet, in this case, the power of the washing machine. It is indicated in the instructions and on the body of the device (in extreme cases, you can see the power of a machine of any model on the Internet).
Information about what section the wire should be for a machine of a certain power can be found in the rules in the Electrical Installation Rules (PUE). The table from the PUE is presented below.
| Electrical appliance power, kW | Cable section, sq. mm |
| 4, 1 | 1, 5 |
| 5, 9 | 2, 5 |
| 8, 3 | 4 |
| 10, 1 | 6 |
| 15, 4 | 10 |
| 18, 7 | 16 |
| 25, 3 | 25 |
For a machine with a power of, for example, 3 kW (the most common type), you will need a cable with a cross section of 1.5sq. mm, but you can make a margin and purchase a cable with a large cross section - 2.5 sq. mm.
You cannot use one outlet for all electrical appliances. For such powerful equipment as a washing machine, there should be a separate outlet and a separate cable. If it is not possible to make several sockets, then you should take into account the total power of all connected electrical appliances and select a cable with a large cross section.
The wire for the outlet must be enclosed in a silicone or plastic cable channel.
Hidden wiring type
All cables in the bathroom, including those for the washing machine, are laid in a hidden way, i.e. inside the walls, without access to the surface.
If this is not possible and the wires are laid openly, then they must be insulated. Do not use a metal sleeve, lay cables in steel pipes, use uncoated metal brackets for fastening.
Bathroom areas
Depending on the location of objects in the bathroom, it is divided into zones. Not all of them are favorable for socket placement.
In the "zero" zone there is a shower, a bath - those objects that create a large amount of splashes. Therefore, placing a socket for a washing machine in this bathroom area is undesirable.
In the first and second zones, sockets can be mounted, because they contain water heaters and exhaust fans.
But the most favorable area of the bathroom for the location of the outlet is the third - it is intended for this,because here you can not be afraid of water getting into them.
The photo below shows all 3 zones, the last of which is the most favorable for placing a socket for a washing machine in the bath.
Location of outlet for washing machine
For convenience, the outlet is located next to the washing machine and, as already mentioned, away from the shower, bath, so that there is less chance of water ingress. If the socket is needed near the washbasin, then it is better to place it on the side, it is forbidden to do this above or below the sink.
Also, do not place sockets on cold walls where condensation constantly forms to avoid moisture.
The outlet for the washing machine must be at least 60 cm high. The distance from the floor can be greater (some experts even recommend 180 cm). This will protect it from water in case of flooding of the bathroom. It is also not recommended to place the socket too high: it is necessary that the wires of the washing machine are enough to connect it. Often, a height of about 100 cm from the floor is chosen for the location of the outlet (with an average height of the washing machine of 85 cm). The outlet is located above the machine for ease of use.
The sixty-centimeter rule isn't just about height: a washing machine outlet in the bathroom should be no closer than 60cm from the nearest water source.
Wire route
To save material, the wire is laid in the shortest route. Wire for a socket intended forwashing machine, must not intersect with other branches of the electrical wire. It is also not recommended to make any junction boxes - this is dangerous. When laying, the wettest parts of the walls (near the sink, bathroom, shower) should be avoided. You also need to avoid strong, load-bearing walls - chasing can complicate the reinforced mesh in them.
Socket connection diagram
The socket and the washing machine must be connected via a residual current device. It can be installed in a socket or after an introductory machine that feeds this group. A three-core copper wire is run separately from the shield to the socket.
Instructions for installing an outlet
Working with electrical wiring is considered especially difficult and dangerous. Therefore, if there is no experience in this area (or at least experienced assistants), then it is worth entrusting the installation of an outlet in the bathroom to professionals who will give a 100% guarantee of electrical safety.
If you have to install the outlet yourself, then you need to do this, observing safety precautions. First of all, you need to work in protective gloves. The work area must be completely de-energized. It is important to clearly plan how to make a socket in the bathroom for a washing machine: it is better to divide all the work into steps and think through each of them, from chasing the walls and installing the socket and ending with the installation and installation of the socket itself.
The installation of an outlet begins with determining its location, according to the requirements described above. Labels are applied. After that, you need to usedrill bits to make a hole in the wall for an outlet.
Then, using a puncher or grinder, deep strobes are knocked out for wires in the cable channel. An easier option would be to punch a hole in the wall, but in this case, there will be too noticeable marks.
A residual current device is installed in the electrical panel (if it is not built into the outlet). When the wire is laid in the cable channel and connected to the RCD, you can lead it along the strobe to the outlet for the washing machine in the bathroom. Then, with the help of cement mortar, a socket box is installed in the hole, the wire cores are connected to the socket contacts and its outer part is mounted. After checking the performance of the wall socket, you need to bring it back to its previous form, and you're done.
Based on the above, we can formulate the basic requirements for sockets for a washing machine in the bathroom and other electrical equipment necessary to connect it to the network:
- The presence of a residual current device rated for leakage current not exceeding 30 m.
- Outlet power 16A or more (for 3 kW machine).
- Waterproof socket outlet (protective cover, protection degree IPX 4, IPX 5, IPX 6).
- The presence of a grounding contact.
- Cable with a cross section of 2.5 square meters. mm.
- Concealed cabling.
- Location of the socket for the washing machine in the bathroom at a height of at least 60 cm from the floor in the 3rd zone of the room - away from water sources that createlots of splashes.
Following these outlet selection and installation requirements will reduce the risk of adverse effects such as electrical failure, electric shock, or fire. When installing an outlet for a washing machine in a bathroom - a room with high humidity, safety is a prerequisite.
