Today, the automatic washing machine has become an indispensable element for every family, saving us time for more interesting activities than soaking, rinsing and wringing dirty laundry. But with the outward simplicity and clarity of the work process, this hardworking assistant is a technically complex and very energy-intensive household appliance that guarantees high-quality and trouble-free operation only if the operating and installation rules are strictly observed.
Laundry is serious
The electrical part of the unit is responsible for heating the water, rotating the drum and the electronic filling of the device, while working in aggressive conditions of high humidity and a chemically active environment. Therefore, the requirements for the wire for the washing machine - the cross section, the presence of grounding, the thickness and number of insulation layers - are very high.
Despite its wide distribution, not everyone has this connection in compliance with the necessary requirements, and this is not just a matter of device breakdown, but alsosafety of people nearby.
Correctly connecting a washing machine is a complex, rather expensive and slow process.
Warranty obligations for almost any household appliances contain a clause that relieves the manufacturer of responsibility for the performance of the product if it is improperly installed during preparation for operation. What is typical: some sellers, however, recommend that the installation be carried out by their “specialist”, who turns out to be both a driver and a loader, without the skills and permits for this type of work.
Selecting a residual current device (RCD)
Before deciding which wire for the washing machine (see photo below) to connect, a number of issues have to be resolved. And first of all, install an automatic batch switch (most often it is C16) and an RCD, placing it in front of the socket of the connected device.
For groups of devices operating in conditions of high humidity with separate access, the setting for the RCD is set to 10 mA. With this value, according to the differential breaking current, automatic shutdown devices are produced for a working current value of not more than 16 A, which corresponds to the rating of the package switch. For single-phase wiring, we select a two-pole electromechanical RCD type A (permanent type of leakage), with a short-circuit current of 6000 A.
Basic principlessafe operation of the washing machine
It is advisable to turn off the package switch after washing is completed, completely de-energizing the outlet, since if the ground is damaged, electrical appliances with a plug connected to the mains can shock even when turned off. All disconnecting devices must be placed on the phase conductor. For greater safety, it makes sense to use two-pole package switches, by doing this you will protect yourself from the theoretical possibility of transferring the phase to another wire, for example, as a result of an erroneous connection after replacing or checking the electricity meter.
Grounding: what is good and what is bad
It is strictly forbidden to operate the washing machine without arranging electrical grounding. In old houses, wiring with a solidly grounded neutral is most often installed, therefore it is great temptation to simplify the work by simply connecting the neutral wire and the ground contact right inside the outlet. However, this option is dangerous because if the insulation of the neutral wire contact is broken, the full mains voltage will be applied to the metal case of the device. It is equally dangerous to use a system of water and heating pipes as a ground loop. In case of failure of the RCD or package switch, when shorted to the body of the machine and to the pipes, 220 V will be supplied, which is deadly for everyone living in the house.
The most correct, withif possible, run a separate three-wire wire for a washing machine with a cross section of 2.5 mm2, directly from the electrical panel. The task will be greatly simplified in a situation where an electric stove is installed in the apartment. Since the supply to the stove is carried out for high power consumption (up to 7 kW) with high-quality grounding, this wire section for the washing machine of the machine will be more than enough. Now it remains to lay the three-core cable and connect it to the stove power connector.
Choose the cable to connect the washing machine
Let's take a closer look at the need for a connecting cable. For proper wiring, it is required to calculate the wire cross-section for the washing machine and measure the path from the connection point to the socket installation site, taking into account all bends. The rated current load for a copper wire is 8 A per 1 mm2 section, and for aluminum wires it is about 6 A. The power consumed by the device is indicated in the passport and directly on the product itself. For most household units of this type, it is in the range of two to three kilowatts, which at a nominal voltage of 220 V corresponds to a load current of 10–14 A, respectively. Now you can answer the question of what section of wire to use for a washing machine. With a certain reserve, the best choice would be a copper wire with three cores, each strand section 2.5 mm2 in double insulation.
Problem neighborhood of copper with aluminum
ForMost residential buildings of old construction are characterized by the use of aluminum wire as the main wiring. Its connection with a copper cable is not allowed directly, because when interacting, these metals enter into a chemical reaction, as a result of which the contact point is oxidized, forming a dielectric film on the surface of the conductor. Such a connection quickly starts to heat up and, regardless of the thickness of the wire section for the washing machine, especially at high load, inevitably leads to burnout of the contact pair. This can lead to equipment failure and even fire. To avoid such a situation, special connecting clamps are required for mating copper and aluminum conductors.
It is also now possible to calculate what wire size is needed for a washing machine when using an aluminum three-core cable for power supply. With a declared load of 2, 2 kW, its cross section must be at least 3 mm2 for each thread.
Outlet selection
Now that we have decided what section of wire we need for the washing machine, let's ask ourselves an equally important question - the connector used to connect the household appliance to the network. Most conventional sockets are produced with a rated load of up to 6 A, while for modern washing machines with a power consumption of more than 2 kW, a socket from 10 A is required, and at 3 kW it should already guarantee the passage of current up to 16 A. This is equal to degree applies to extension cords and adapters, connect a power-hungry device through themstrongly discouraged.
Since we plan to use the socket in a room with high humidity, where there is also a possibility of water exposure to it, it is advisable to opt for a socket with a protective cover and rubber seals (it is marked IP44 and belongs to the dust-proof category). waterproof). Manufacturers offer sockets with an RCD built into it, which, if it is not possible to install it separately, can also serve as a good option when installing a power access point for a washing machine.
Wiring
The ideal option for laying electrical wiring is to place it inside the wall. Such installation involves a very laborious and dirty work. As an alternative, when installing wires for a washing machine, the cross section of which we now know, you can use an electrical box (cable channel) of the required depth. It comes in the form of a closable white plastic gutter, usually two meters long. In addition to securely fixing the wire inside with a cover with a lock, this installation method has a rather aesthetic appearance and guarantees easy and quick installation of wiring. In this case, the socket must be protected from moisture and have a cover that closes the contacts when there is no connection.
Requirements for the safe operation of electrical wiring
According to the PUE, a bathroom is defined as a room with high humidity, which imposes special requirements on electrical wiring. It is connected withincreased risk for people in the room to be exposed to electricity.
In the bathroom you can not have electrical panels, switches, switching connections. Sockets must comply with a protection level of at least IP44 with high-quality grounding, RCD or potential equalization device. The cross section of the ground wire must not be less than the wire with the largest cross section in the room. It is not allowed to lay wiring in an iron braid without insulation, as well as in metal hoses and pipes.
It is necessary to use a three-core washing machine wire with a cross section corresponding to the power consumption of the device, according to the calculation above. The priority is to use a solid copper cable, as it is more durable than aluminum and requires a smaller section size for equal load.
All actions related to electrical installation to connect the washing machine must be done with de-energized wiring.
