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AEG L14850 washer dryer. Trips 16A MCB during heat cycle a few minutes into the heat cycle, maybe 50{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} of the time.
The circuit is shared by central heating and another 3 pin outlet, but I have isolated those and so know that the washing machine is the problem.
I have changed the heater, as the only (?) high current component.
I have replaced the MCB.
I have a plug in energy monitor and it reports around 2kw consumption during the heat cycle (heater is 1950) rising to around 2.1kw when heating and rotating the drum.
During fill it draws around 20w rising to 85w when agitating during fill.
So all the power readings seem OK, but then it just trips, with no outside influence or apparent change in behaviour.
As the heater is the high power component, and has been replaced, I must suspect its wiring next. Maybe a short somewhere?
Any suggestions to help me troubleshoot this or any other ideas would be very much appreciated.Mike
Re: AEG Washer Dryer Trips MCB
I assume you refer to the water heater element? But as a rule the dryer heater element is often the cause so have you checked that?
Re: AEG Washer Dryer Trips MCB
Thanks Martin. I have not changed that assuming that it is inactive during the wash cycle. We seldom use the dryer function in fact.
Could the dryer element consume power during the wash cycle? Presumably only due to a ‘programmer’ fault. If so and both heaters are active at the same time, that would exceed the 16a I am sure.
I will run a test today, with the dryer element disconnected as post the results.Cheers,
Mike
Re: AEG Washer Dryer Trips MCB
Dryer elements suffer dampness issues that ultimately corrode the outer metal sheath, worse so when not in use. This means they then short to earth even when not in use. The MCB trips as a result. I’m certain that’s your problem
Re: AEG Washer Dryer Trips MCB
Just completed a 20 minute quick wash cycle with no trips. If it does that a few more times I’ll declare you truly are a genius!
If so I guess the fix will be to replace the heater in the dryer.Cheers,
Re: AEG Washer Dryer Trips MCB
…and it was going so well….
We did a few shorter test washes and all seemed well.
Today we put on a proper load and true to form, about 10 minutes in, the MCB tripped. I reset it a number of times and it tripped a minute or two later each time. The dryer element is still unplugged so it cannot be that.
As I explained before, this seems to happen during the water heat part of the programme and I already replaced the element.Any other ideas….. anyone??
Thanks,
Re: AEG Washer Dryer Trips MCB
Tripping under maximum load could well mean that the motor is at fault. Earth leak across the commutator terminals very likely. Time to take a close look at that motor methinks.
Re: AEG Washer Dryer Trips MCB
Martin, thanks again for your time. I understand it is a brushless motor, and so I can’t change the brushes which is my normal approach. Any suggestions for how I look closely at the motor? Are there some electrical tests I can do, or do I have to replace it?
I suppose I could run multiple tests with and without load, maybe even disconnecting the drive belt so the motor runs free. Would that damage it? Maybe just with an empty drum would be better.Re: AEG Washer Dryer Trips MCB
Oh I didn’t realise your machine has a brushless motor, sorry, scrub that theory then. When faced with such problems we in the trade immediately get to the fault using an insulation tester (aka Megger). That tool is vital for rapid testing and locating potential earth leaks which is what your machine is suffering. So without a Megger and only a multimeter to test they are pretty useless by comparison and therefore you have to rely on a more ‘hands on’ approach.
So, with that in mind and bearing in mind it’s just 10mins into the cycle. That’s when the motor, heater and wash pump are hard at work churning away the washing. It’s a new heater so that may well be OK. But we don’t yet know the state of the motor or its inverter module and of course the wash pump…?? Hmm?
No sign of water leaks anywhere is there? Worth double checking also. 😉
Re: AEG Washer Dryer Trips MCB
Why do you say scrub it, as it is a brushless motor? Can’t it fail that way?
I think you are onto something with the motor. I had left the machine off mid cycle, and recently removed about half the load and it runs just fine.
Later I will test more with light and heavy loads and see if I can draw a conclusion.
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