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Morning Gents,
Our approx 4-5 year old Zanussi WJD1667W (prod number 914601825/00) tripped the kitchen RCD this morning after we put in a load.
The machine filled OK as there was water in the bottom of the drum, the usual height. I’m an Electronics technician by trade so decided to hunt deeper 🙂
I opened the door (to halt the cycle) then reset the RCD. On closing the door the machine powered up and did a roll of the drum in either direction, then it settled for a bit. The ‘Jetstream’ pump started fine and the drum went into normal wash rotation.
Then the RCD tripped.
I unplugged, then I laid the M/c on it’s side and had a look around and found a fair bit of carbon dust from the brushed drum motor , ‘Aha!’, insulation breakdown to earth I thought…. can of compressed air and solvent cleaner later a gleaming motor and interconnects. Powered up, went through the same palaver again, AOK until (I think) the m/c starts to want to heat the water in the drum. I’m thinking the heating element is leaking current to earth… fair assumption?
The drum motor spins up to 1600 rpm no problems, the drain pump is fine, the ‘jetwash’ pump motor is fine as are the elements in the air heating element on top of the drum… I can test-run each spin/drain/dry cycle by advancing through the programmes manually.
Where is the water heating element?! I can’t find it. Has any of you fella’s had this happen before?
I’m all lathered up (geddit… a pun….).
Any advice?
Ta in advance.
Dave the bass.
Re: Zanussi washer dryer tripping the RCD.
Hi.
Worktop & back half of cabinet can be removed to allow access to the wash heater at the rear of the tub.
Re: Zanussi washer dryer tripping the RCD.
TheSpinDoctor wrote:Hi.
Worktop & back half of cabinet can be removed to allow access to the wash heater at the rear of the tub.
Thanks for the reply SpinDr, the worktop I’ve had off this morning to check the dryer heater elements which are all clear to ground and measure about 56 ohm across each element.
I couldn’t see how the back half of the cab came off TBH. You sure it deffo does? I’ll have a look again tonight if you’re sure it does!
Thanks for the quick reply, really appreciate the help,
Cheers,
Dave the bass.
Re: Zanussi washer dryer tripping the RCD.
Done it, thanks Mr SpinDr…
Found the heater element…
…yeucky!…
Yup, <100K ohm to earth on an insulation tester.
Now to source one, 240V 1950Watt.
DTB
Re: Zanussi washer dryer tripping the RCD.
Thanks for the linky Mr Penguin, local independent repair shop has ’em. I’ll pick up tomorrow on the way home.
A temperature sensor is in the element housing too I notice.
Thanks for all the help fella’s, really appreciate it.
DTB
Re: Zanussi washer dryer tripping the RCD.
BTW, that gunge that is all over the element, we find a lot of that in the filter too. Its a slimey grey goo, sometimes with stringy deposits.
What is it? It can’t be good for the machine and element, it looks like there’s a fair bit of it in the water heating cavity too, I’ll clean it all out (natch) before fitting the new element.
We’ve got hard water here (NW Kent) we’re told.
DTB
Re: Zanussi washer dryer tripping the RCD.
Hi.
I know what the water in NW Kent is hard as I live there. Limescale is a real problem around here. Also probably you will find some of that stuff is detergent residue. A boil wash without laundry & half a measure of a quality brand biological powder based detergent periodicall will help.
Re: Zanussi washer dryer tripping the RCD.
Ooo, thanks for that tip, we didn’t know that.
Thanks again.
Dave.
Re: Zanussi washer dryer tripping the RCD.
Update.
I’ve fitted the new element and all appears to be fine and dandy now. Many thanks for the help and advice.
…next question…
Is this part of the dryer supposed to be covered in mould and gunge!!!???
Might explain why the clothes smell ‘odd’ on the rare occasion the dryer part is used I’m guessing.Is it OK to disconnect this section and give it a good wash out on the end of a hose in the garden to try and shift some of the detritus?
Dave the bass.
Re: Zanussi washer dryer tripping the RCD.
TheSpinDoctor wrote:Hi.
Cleaning the condenser would be well advised.
Aaaahhh! A ‘condenser’, so thats what it called 🙂
Thanks again.
Zoltan Zanussi has just completed his 2nd load and appears to recovering well after the operation.
DTB
Re: Zanussi washer dryer tripping the RCD.
Victory was short lived 🙁 After its initial successful wash it’s developed another fault. Bum!
We put on another normal load, 40 degC and it stopped during a run, its paused itself in mid-cycle. I’m sure it’s over filling too, water is sitting about 1/3 up the door window. I’ve never noticed it do that before.
No fault code.
We tried another load and another temp, this time it filled to the same (possibly) too high level and turned off the row of temp LEDS. We’d selected 30 degC again. Nope, it’s not having it. It lets us drain the wash and then opens the door release OK.
meh.
Any ideas?
Dave the defeated.
Re: Zanussi washer dryer tripping the RCD.
I would check the heater wiring connections, sump hose, drain filter & air chamber if I were you.
Re: Zanussi washer dryer tripping the RCD.
TheSpinDoctor wrote:I would check the heater wiring connections, sump hose, drain filter & air chamber if I were you.
10/10 SpinDr
Partly my fault TBH. Cable dressing, one of the heater connectors was disconnected. Further fault finding showed I’d left that cable too tight and when the machine went into spin I reckoned it popped off as the drum was wobbling about.
While the back was off I took the opportunity to clean out the condenser…
Shiny clean condenser, more effective drying and less smells? We’ll see, I’ll run a maintenance wash after we’ve got a couple of regular washes out the way.
….if the blummen thing completes a cycle this time..
Fingers crossed.
As ever, thank you Sir .
DTB
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