Bosch WAQ283S1GB tripping RCD immediately on switching on

[Nick Slater]

We have a 4 year old Bosch WAQ283S1GB washing machine which tripped the RCD half-way through a wash. I emptied the machine and have tried the following but am struggling to work out what the problem is:

1. Machine now trips the RCD immediately when the programme switch is turned to any programme (even just rinse/drain).
2. Cable and fuse undamaged
3. No signs of wet components, arcing, melting or short circuit (the inside of the machine is very clean)
4. No short circuit or resistance measured on the mains filter
5. I disconnected the heater element, plugged the machine in and the RCD does not trip. This suggests the heater element is at fault but when I measured the resistance of the heater element it was around 30ohms and neither terminal had an earth short.

This has left me really confused. I thought that it must be the heater element as connecting this triggers the RCD but surely the resistance would be really high or there would be an earth fault? I assume it isn’t the mains filter as there’s no resistance through it and the machine will turn on when the heater is disconnected. Is the heater connected in series with something else which could have a fault or must it be the heater?!

Thank you in advance for any advice received. I have recently set up a business and we have zero cash to spend, hence wanting to fix myself (and I enjoy this sort of thing!).

[electrofix]

its an earth fault and yes the heater has gone

has the machine been making any excess noise on spin ?

what I am trying to make sure is the heaters failure is not due to anything else

Dave

[Nick Slater]

Thanks Dave for your fast response. It’s always been a really quiet machine, even on it’s fastest spin so I don’t think anything else has broken. I only have a simple multi-meter (used for servicing the car normally) which didn’t show an earth fault when I tested but I was only doing a continuity test.

[electrofix]

well I know the heater has gone because it stops tripping when you disconnected it
but
had a few (not many) where the drum had gone out of line and rubbed through the heater casing.

if you give me the last 2 digits of the Enr number will find you the correct part

Dave

[Mitster]

Hey Nick

Did you manage to resolve your issue with your washing machine? I’m having the same issue, as soon as I turn the dial, it trips the RCD. I’ve checked fuses and they’re okay.

Same Make and Model.

Admittedly I have not disconnected the heater element to check. Off to Google!

Many thanks

[Author]

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