Keeps blowing the plug fuse after a few minutes running

[hmclem]

I have a Ikea Whirlpool DWHM10W ( 8511 089 15000) which seems to work normally , but keeps blowing the 13A mains plug fuse. Ive tried / noticed the following.
(1) My 30mA RCB on my main house fuse board is NOT tripped ( to me suggesting the short is not to earth.
(2) On replacing the fuse ( 3 times now) the dishwasher runs normally for a few minutes then these is a loud bang , and the fuse has blown.
(3) Having noticed a wisp of smoke from around the motor area I replaced the motor start capacitor ( 4 uF). The diswasher now worked for 20 mins , heating water etc , but then blew the fuse again.
(4) I rechecked my original capacitor using a 500V megger , and it actually seemed OK
(4)It now looks to me like a short in some significant wiring , but I cant see any sign of charring.?

Any thoughts as to what I might try next?

[Andy jones]

Re: Keeps blowing the plug fuse after a few minutes running

Check the mains suppressor

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[hmclem]

Re: Keeps blowing the plug fuse after a few minutes running

Thanks for the suggestion.
Ive just checked the suppressor , and it looked fine with no sign of charring. For good measure I bybassed it. It all worked fine for about 2 minutes. Then the 13A plug fuse blew with a bang , and there was a visable flash from somewhere underneath, it wasnt clear where. Same pattern as before.
So the suppressor doesnt appear to be the problem.
Any other common issues like this?

[Andy jones]

Re: Keeps blowing the plug fuse after a few minutes running

Most likely cause if you’ve checked everything else is where the wires go under the door, obviously plug out first

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[hmclem]

Re: Keeps blowing the plug fuse after a few minutes running

Found the problem.

Eventually located charring on the heater connector.

I reckoned that the heater itself was unlikely to have an intermittent short so it must just be the connector insulation breaking down. Found the there were large holes blown in the spade connectors. So possibly the connection they were making had been slackening causing increased resistance ,which in turn lead to them overheating and an intermittent short. Well maybe.

Anyway I didn’t like the idea of that type of connector carrying 7A , so I just soldered the wires onto the heater. I hope that will remain more secure.
The dishwasher has now run longer than it had before so fingers crossed.

So all down to a faulty heater connector.

Thanks for all you suggestions.

[Author]

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