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I have recently found out what I think is why i have been receiving small little electric shocks when removing clothes after drying in our Beko DTGV800w vented dryer . I have removed the back heater cover panel and found that Beko (or the ones that make the dryer , Arçelik is it) dont include a Brass Earthing strip attached at the end of the drum spindle like Indesit/hotpoint dryers have.
i got my continuity meter out and put one end of the prong on the metal of the drum inside and the other prong to the Earth at the top of the 13a plug. – as expected there was no audible signal / register in the LCD display of the continuity multimeter.
This means the Drum is not indeed earthed. So that would explain why the static electric shocks from the clothes when removing them from the drum , but it got me to thinking that at the top of the drum along the top of the cabinet and to the electronic control board run thick 230v AC cables, if one of those became loose somehow the insulation got chaffed and touched the revolving meta drum, if the drum is not earthed then it will not blow a fuse or trip a MCB or ELCB in the consumer board – whats more the drum will be live!!I had an old Beko DRCS68 Tumble dryer and I thought that I would be clever and take an earthing strip off the back of that drum and put it on the DTGV800w … but that didn’t have the earthing strip either included
I cannot think why the manufacturer would not fit one of these brass earthing strip apart from as a cost saving exercise , but if you look on an appliance repair site for say an Indesit or Hotpoint one although its priced between £10-14 pounds it must be even cheaper at time of manufacturing the dryer surely? – the appliance websites say ‘this part is for the electrical safety of your tumble dryer’ and that if it is broken or fails it must be replaced.
I have raised this with Arçelik in Turkey who make the Beko tumble dryer because I am pretty concerned, am still waiting for an answer for it, they have just passed it onto another department. – I personally think , but maybe I am just going over the top, but I think maybe they should do a product recall notice on them all and fit the part free of charge maybe. What do you reckon about it?
Here is the part:
It sounds as though you have an earthing problem on the machine as a whole. Have you checked the condition of the mains socket this machine is plugged into, particularly the earth in the socket. That earthing strip was only fitted to the Creda based Hotpoint dryers, it wasn’t used on previous models and isn’t common on any other makes.
iadom wrote:It sounds as though you have an earthing problem on the machine as a whole. Have you checked the condition of the mains socket this machine is plugged into, particularly the earth in the socket. That earthing strip was only fitted to the Creda based Hotpoint dryers, it wasn’t used on previous models and isn’t common on any other makes.
With a continuity tester (multimeter) it beeps when prong is touched to dryer cabinet and earth pin on the 13a plug of the tumble dryer. But no continuity when one prong on earth pin of plug and touched on inside of drum – its exposed metal. I think it should be earthed for safety .
I can see why there isnt earth there because the drum rolls on rubber bearing wheels at the front of the dryer drum and at the rear the bearing is made of plastic it looks like. The spindle on the drum shaft is metal
You need to test the earth in the wall socket the dryer is plugged into, you can’t do that properly with a simple multi meter.
iadom wrote:You need to test the Earth in the wall socket the dryer is plugged into, you can’t do that properly with a simple multi meter.
Regardless – just push that to one side, because the earthing is fine in this house and I am sure the earthing is fine at the socket and onto the dryer cabinet.
Pushing that to one side , have you any view on that they do not fit the earth strap and do you think its safe or not safe that they dont earth the drum on their dryers?Perfectly safe, depending on the design an earthing strip is not always needed and I would say that not many manufacturers have actually used that simple strip found on the Creda based dryer. Some types use an electrically conductive belt for instance. If you don’t have the means to do so I suggest you get an electrician to check the wall socket ASAP.
to be honest the drum is not likley to become live, there are no electrical components mounted on it and its driven by a rubber belt. The metal strip on creda dryers was more for possible static build up then an actual earth.
have you confirmed the socket you are using has a secure earth connection ?also are the clothes you talk about nylon or cotton. Static is more likley with man made fabrics. Try using tumble dryer sheets as these reduce static and see if it helps
Dave
iadom wrote:Perfectly safe, depending on the design an earthing strip is not always needed and I would say that not many manufacturers have actually used that simple strip found on the Creda based dryer. Some types use an electrically conductive belt for instance. If you don’t have the means to do so I suggest you get an electrician to check the wall socket ASAP.
you seem to be more fixated with the earth protection to the tumble dryer rather than the real problem that there is this large area of metal that is not earthed and apart from static electricity issue that it does not appear to be safe if the drum is not earthed on a tumble drier – all I can do is hope for more replies to balance things out a little more
there are lots of metal used in appliances that does not have to be earthed
the drum is sitting on insulating bearings and driven by a rubber belt, there is no electrical components sited anywhere near it and none are live till the door is closed because of the door switch
the dryer will have been extensivly tested to pass european and british standard who would have objected had it been unsafeDave
electrofix wrote:to be honest the drum is not likley to become live, there are no electrical components mounted on it and its driven by a rubber belt. The metal strip on creda dryers was more for possible static build up then an actual earth.
have you confirmed the socket you are using has a secure earth connection ?also are the clothes you talk about nylon or cotton. Static is more likley with man made fabrics. Try using tumble dryer sheets as these reduce static and see if it helps
Dave
Thanks for the reply – I still think there is a possibility of the drum becoming live .. not a huge probability maybe , but still a possibility. Live wires running at the top of the cabinet , and for beko models with a drum light wires going near the drum there and the heater at the back.
Yep, I think there were some mixed cotton and synthestics. if the dryer had a earth strip at the back of the drum I predict the static would have just discharged down through the earth.
andyr12345 wrote:
Yep, I think there were some mixed cotton and synthestics. if the dryer had a earth strip at the back of the drum I predict the static would have just discharged down through the earth.totally agree with that
I do think it should have been fitted but if it cost 1p and can be eliminted they will do it
Dave
andyr12345 wrote:
you seem to be more fixated with the earth protection to the tumble dryer
I do apologise, I agree my 45+ years plus experience in the trade counts for very little, however during that 45+ years I have found that a faulty wall socket earth is the most common cause of people feeling even the slightest tickle from an appliance.
You are obviously far more knowledgeable than I am so I will withdraw.
electrofix wrote:
totally agree with that
I do think it should have been fitted but if it cost 1p and can be eliminted they will do it
Dave
Yes I will agree with that – shame though . I know now that what is seen cannot be unseen. And i know now that if i keep getting static electric shocks I will more than likely order one of them and fit it myself. The holes are there behind the drum, even the screw hole is tapped there in the metal for it . Pricey around a tenner for a small bit of metal – maybe I can pick one up somewhere off an old hotpoint or indesit one
iadom wrote:
I do apologise, I agree my 45+ years plus experience in the trade counts for very little, however during that 45+ years I have found that a faulty wall socket earth is the most common cause of people feeling even the slightest tickle from an appliance.
You are obviously far more knowledgeable than I am so I will withdraw.
No I apologise . It wasnt my intention to question your experience – of course you are more experienced than I am on the subject. I was only opening a discussion on it
electrofix wrote:
…… the dryer will have been extensivly tested to pass european and british standard who would have objected had it been unsafeDave
hmm, I am a bit sceptical about things being passed and then recalls on indesit hotpoint and the like with cheap contacts in the door interlock and potential fire risk or on other items where there are recalls and of course recalls on Beko dryers as well for safety. Surely if they were checked that thoroughly in the first place they wouldn’t make it to market with these faults
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