Choose a machine (RCD) for the washing machine

A modern house crammed with electronics and electrical household appliances cannot do without protection. Electrical substations in old residential districts were not designed for the heavy load from so many consumers, which leads to periodic accidents, power surges and other troubles. One power surge can easily deprive you of all electrical appliances: a refrigerator, a TV, a split system, including a washing machine, but if you install the correct RCD, you can avoid problems.

Why put an RCD?

An RCD must be installed - this is understandable, you can’t do without it in the house, but why put a separate machine on the washing machine, what's the point? First, let's deal with concepts. For electricians, every working electrical appliance is called a consumer, and so the washing machine is a fairly large consumer, creating a fair load on the wiring. Therefore, it is advisable for her to lay separate electrical communications, not forgetting to protect the circuit by putting an automatic machine.

Such consumers as a computer and TV do not require a separate RCD, since they work in a normal environment and create less load on the network. The washing machine operates in a humid environment, that is, such a technique is, by definition, in a risk group, which means that it is necessary to approach its energy supply with all responsibility. And if we are talking about a modern expensive washing machine with a drying function, then in this case not a single machine should protect such a technique.

Note! A washing machine with a dryer when the program “Wash - Rinse - Spin - Dry" is activated creates approximately one and a half times greater load on the wiring than a regular automatic machine.

What kind of magic RCD machine is it, what does it consist of and how does it work? To begin with, we determine the components of the RCD, it consists of:

• transformer;
• housing;
• chain breaking mechanism;
• self-testing mechanism;
• electromagnetic cutoff (for the latest appliances).

The RCD is triggered if an excessive load occurs on the wiring. In this case, the machine forcibly breaks and de-energizes the circuit. A similar situation may arise due to the fact that a person touches the bare wiring or water gets on the wire, the machine will work and prevent the tragedy. RCD is intended for repeated use, therefore it is not necessary to change it in case of a difference (in contrast to fuses). Automatic machine absolutely necessary protection for the washing machine.

What RCD to set and what does it depend on?

We answer this question unexpectedly and non-standardly - none. In fact, progress does not stand still and conventional RCD devices are already a thing of the past, because they do not protect the electrical circuit from all risks. For our part, we recommend that you install not a RCD, but a difavtomat, as protection. Difavtomat is a unique device that combines an RCD and a fire switch.

Previously, these two devices had to be installed one after another, thus creating complete network protection, now there is a difavtomat, which combines these two devices in one compact case. Difavtomat at present - the device is still quite expensive, so you need to choose and put it wisely. Most experts recommend setting the electromechanical difavtomat at 0.03 Amps. You can certainly buy an electronic device at 0.01 Amperes, it is of course nominally more reliable and more expensive, but in fact, such reliability is already too much.

Important! Electronic difavtomats cost twice as much, moreover, they often fail, and devices with 0.01 Amperes are installed in fire-hazardous rooms, of which an apartment or a house is naturally not.

How much is the 0.03 Amp Difavtomat per washing machine? The estimated price of the device is about 14 cu The price will depend on the characteristics of the device, manufacturer, seller and other factors. But in general, if the question arises of how much a difavtomat costs, it is quite possible to call this price, it is average.

How to install a difavtomat or RCD do it yourself?

RCD and difavtomat are installed approximately the same. If you previously laid a separate electrical circuit from the electrical panel to the washing machine, this greatly simplifies the installation circuit of the RCD, since we will talk about a simple network with one consumer. If you need detailed information about connecting the washing machine to electricityYou will have to study additional information.

We lay the VVG 3x2.5 wire from the switchboard, if possible, you can mount the 30 mA difavtomat directly into the shield, if there is free space there. If not, then the device can be installed right next to the moisture-proof outlet of the washing machine, only for this it will have to be placed in a moisture-proof casing. We carry out the following procedure.

1. We take a screwdriver indicator, we find the phase and zero wires.
2. We connect them to the difavtomat (it has the corresponding signed outputs from above).
3. We output the phase and neutral wire from the device to a moisture-proof outlet.

That's the whole simple scheme. If, in addition to the washing machine, you want to connect a dishwasher to this circuit, it is recommended to put an additional RCD, as shown in the figure. In case of disconnection of this RCD, due to a malfunction of the dishwasher, the diffatomat will remain “in operation”, which means that the washing machine will continue to work without interruption.

In conclusion, we note that the installation of RCDs and diflavtomats will protect your washing machine from power surges that can burn its control unit, engine, drain pump and other units, sending your home assistant to the trash. Installing an RCD is not difficult, but even if you are afraid to mess with an electrician, you can always consult a specialist. Do not save on protection, otherwise you will then have to pay for a new washing machine.