Hotpoint WD440 is tripping main’s RCD

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  • September 16, 2018 at 9:12 pm #94659
    abhinom
    Participant

    I have Hotpoint WD440 washing machine, recently it started tripping the mains RCD.
    – I disconnected the pink wire which is connected to the heater.
    – I have tested the continuity of the heating element which is fine and it’s not borken.

    It works fine and doesn’t trip main’s RCD anymore, except the drying part of the washing machine.
    Any help for troubleshooting and fixing the dryer would be greatly appreciated..

    Thanks

    September 17, 2018 at 10:05 am #457943
    iadom
    Moderator

    Re: Hotpoint WD440 is tripping main’s RCD

    Guessing you mean the dryer heating element and not the wash element.

    You do not test for continuity but for insulation leaks.

    The simple fact that it works with heater disconnected suggests an earth fault on the element.

    September 17, 2018 at 8:20 pm #457944
    abhinom
    Participant

    Re: Hotpoint WD440 is tripping main’s RCD

    Thanks a million for such a swift response.
    Yes I meant dryer’s heating element.
    I have connected one lead of the multimeter to the heating element’s terminal and the other one to the neutral of the plug but it doesn’t beep or no continuity, this means that the heater element is not earthed.
    I might be wrong but I want to confirm before ordering a new heating element.

    Should I order a new heating element or do more tests ?

    Thanks.

    September 17, 2018 at 9:08 pm #457945
    iadom
    Moderator

    Re: Hotpoint WD440 is tripping main’s RCD

    TBH a meggar is much better for proper insulation tests. Even with a multimeter you should disconnect both wires from the element and then test between either terminal and any nearby earthing point. With your meter set to the ohms setting you should get something like 0.L on screen. Any reading other than that indicates some current leakage, as a meggar puts 500 volts through it will show up poor insulation far better than a basic multimeter.

    September 18, 2018 at 8:28 pm #457946
    abhinom
    Participant

    Re: Hotpoint WD440 is tripping main’s RCD

    Thanks, you are right.
    I have one of those cheap multimeter, and when I connect terminals it displays around 180 ohms for 1 to 2 seconds and then it displays 1 (open circuit).
    To be honest with you, I never used heater for 6 months due to warm weather, but still it has gone off!
    I will replace the heater element and see if everything works fine !

    Cheers!

    September 18, 2018 at 9:06 pm #457947
    iadom
    Moderator

    Re: Hotpoint WD440 is tripping main’s RCD

    Not using the dryer heater can lead to this type of failure, a very common fault on Zanussi washer dryers more so than Hotpoint. Lack of use allows moisture to build up in and around the element.

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