How to choose and run a socket for a washing machine

When installing the washing machine, it is extremely important to connect it correctly. It must be connected to water, sewage and electricity. A high-quality connection will help your household appliances work for a long time and competently perform their functions. This article will discuss how to better connect our machine to the network.

In order to do this efficiently, it is necessary to use special machines that automatically turn off when faults occur. It is also important to choose high-quality wiring and use a special outlet.

Washing machine power

First we need to find out the power that our washing machine uses. If you plan to connect any other electrical appliances that will work in parallel with the washing machine to this outlet, then they must also be taken into account. We find out the power of all consumers of electricity on this outlet group, then we plus them and get the total power. Based on it, we must decide which section of wires is suitable for our group and which machine we will install.

If you have no desire to make independent calculations and to understand all these things, then you can just go to a specialized store and consult a consultant. Good shops employ highly qualified staff. And if you are lucky enough to get into such a store, then they will answer all your questions and help you choose the necessary wires, sockets, machines and more.

You can also call a specialized online store. Usually, goods from an online store are delivered directly to your home. And in this case, you don’t even have to go somewhere.

Let's get down to the calculations

An ordinary machine uses about 2-3 thousand watts. If a water heater will be connected to the same outlet group, which also needs 2-3 thousand watts. And besides, a hairdryer will be periodically used there, which needs 1.5-2 thousand watts. That total power will be over 6 kW. Such an abundance of electrical appliances can lead to increased heating of standard wires. Conventional wires that are used for wiring are copper and have a cross section of 2.5 square mm. Therefore, we need a wire with a larger cross section.

By the way, the most suitable way to secure the wiring to the washing machine as much as possible would be a separate independent line, with its own automatic machine (RCD). Also optimal would be the choice of a throne wire that has grounding. In the shield you can install a separate machine. And even better, an automatic device and a 20 amp residual current device.

Which outlet is suitable for the washing machine?

The socket for our machine should be protected from water. When you purchase it, ask to sell you the one that has the greatest degree of protection against moisture. For example, a product with the marking ip55 is suitable.

Typically, such outlets include a special protective cap and curtains. They have an additional sealing material that prevents water from entering. You can also find a socket with a built-in RCD (residual current device).

When you choose a place for a future outlet, it is better to stop at one that is located away from the sink, bathtub, faucets and water pipes. According to safety rules, these items should not be closer than 60 centimeters from the outlet. Also, do not place the outlet on walls where condensation often occurs. The height of the place you have chosen for the location of the outlet must exceed the height of the washing machine itself by at least fifteen centimeters. This option is the safest.