- This topic has 13 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 3 years ago by
.
-
Posts
-
We have a Hotpoint WMD960 that tbh has been nothing but grief since day one! Bought by SWMBO as she wanted the 1600rpm spin. The thing is like Trigger’s Broom. Most appliances I’ll fix myself but I’m very glad we took cover out on this although it’s about £20 a month.
Over the years it’s had everything from PCBs to seals to glass but mainly it’s been bearings packing up and more than a few times. It’s always a mission when whatever guy turns up. They heven’t got the right part or have to order something. One time they had to borrow my grinder, other times they’ve needed a bolt they didn’t have. I’ve repeatedly told SWMBO to get rid and buy an expensive Miele but no, she likes this one.
The drum bearings have gone again so we called out the agent earlier this month. He takes a look and comments how this one is a long job, others he can do in half an hour etc. Then he says he needs to do an “electrical test”. He goes and gets what looks like a glorified socket ‘n see and plugs in it. Says it’s failed as “it’s over 200 ohms” as in the fail light has come on on his device.
I happened to be there, off that day and said hang on I don’t think that’s right. A bit of background I’m C&G2330 L3 and 18th edition etc so have half a clue. I’ve not long checked the downstairs ring that this particular socket is on. I dug out my earth loop empedance tester and sods law the batteries were dead. Whilst hunting around for 6 AAs I explained to the guy we’re on a TT earth system but also that a 30mA RCD is fitted. Tbh he wasn’t really interested and said even if I took a reading with my meter he could only go on his one. I told him I thought he was taking the pee and trying to get out of the job. Then to SWMBO that we should cancel them and for the £240 a year we pay them we could buy a cheap new machine annually. Anyway, the guy leaves.
So I find 6 new AA’s and do an earth loop impedance test and get nom 32 Ohms which equates to arount 7A PFC. I’ve checked this against work’s brand spanking new MFT so know it’s right.
On the form he left, attached below as a link, it’s printed about being “over 2 ohms” surely a typo and that should read 200 ohms? He didn’t tick either box. A working RCD is anyway fitted that trips within the required times (my meter does that as well 🙂 ). It justy smacks a bit of them not really knowing what they’re doing and just wanting the “easy” jobs.
All I can think is to write back with the above and get them out again. As an aside, “worried” I’d missed something ref the earth I decided to try and improve things, adding multiple earth rods and even a plate and so far have got it down to around 13 ohms.
I really do think the guy just didn’t want to do the job.
Thanks
I think he’s written “Reading +200” – ie over 200 ohms.
I’d be going straight back to them with your evidence and a formal complaint as I fully agree it just looks like he couldn’t be asked to do the job.
On TT earthing where I live too and your 32 ohms is pretty decent – well done!dont really see why your earth impedance should stop him repairing your machine. if he was doing house electrical work or worked for the electric supplier I could see a reason. If the earth lead to the machine or back to the board was faulty I could see that but you have an RCD and its operating when you press the test button
yes the customer need to be informed and need to be given a stern warning that this needs to be checked by a part P qualified electrician but if it was me that would be itDave
tubafan wrote:Just seem 13 ohms after extra work – wow!!!
Though I’m at the bottom of a damp, frost pit valley it’s very thin topsoil then clay then chalk with flint in abundance. I can’t go any deeper than 4″ as there’s a flint bed. Tried in 3 positions 🙁
This is the road at the bottom of my drive after heavy rain. It wasn’t always a road but a cart track / seasonal water course (still is). As I say, damp!
(I can’t seem to post pictures direct as I’ve exceeded something?)
I have now 3 earth electrodes. First, in the original rod position, a 4′ long 5/8″ rod nearest the consumer unit. Then, >4′ beyond that I have a 2’x2′ ex DNO, copper earth plate buried in a 4′ deep trench I had dug. The centre of the plate is 3′ down. I’m backfilling, by hand, what the digger dug out. trying to put back just the clay as it absorbs water so well and discard the flints – it’s laborious and backbreaking. Then, >4′ beyond the plate another 4′ 5/8″ rod. I’m hoping once the trench is fully filled and the plate covered completely the reading might go down even further.
I’ve had a new water main trench dug as an aside. Before I back fill that I’m going to bury a 9mm x 1mm copper tape I have on a reel. The trench is about 30m long so that’ll be interesting what readings I get. If better I’ll get rid of the unsightly 3 “rod” positions.
Other engineers have just looked to see the RCD is there when they note the high earth treading and carried on with the repair, not even pressed the test button.
As for going back with “evidence” my earth loop impedance meter is not calibrated. Planning to borrow works one and repeat the test though as I said I brought mine to work and the testing results matched on a circuit at work.
Is there any agreement that the 2 ohm reference is shall we say misleading / wrong?
Thanks
Update…
I’ve now got rod/plate/rod. Tidied all the connections up, new crimps and dipped in ACF-50. Printed a couple of TPU grommets to go in the bottom of the earthing box and over the rod.
The original rod position:
Then it goes to the plate, then to the second rod.
I might put the 16mm2 cable in flexible conduit if I can find the glands!
As it stands the earth loop impedance is in fact worse than when I had 3 rods in. I haven’t fully buried the plate yet though so it should come down.
Testing and I’m seeing an earth loop impedance of 21.5 ohms. So a pfc of 11A.
View from upstairs, boards over the trench. I’m gradually filling by hand less the flints!
kaibart wrote:I’ve got hotpoint engineer come out tomorrow I will ask him and report back for you
Be funny if it’s the same bloke. Mind I’ve not said anything untrue.
Just to add, a day or so after he left we got an email saying how they were glad to able to fix our machine. I ignored it. Then even a follow up phone call on the same vein. Gave the bloke both barrels and he gave me a customer service number.
I could have bought a half drum and fitted it myself by now for just over the £100!
To update. I got the earth rod reading circa 20 ohms. 2nd engineer came back, checked the earth and commented “it’s not great” but then that he knows TT varies, he knows we have an RCD and that he was happy to work on it. Said if he was that worried he had a plug in RCD. He didn’t of course have the parts to fix the machine 🙁
3rd engineer attends. Checks and says the earth is fine, that he too carries a portable RCD. This one comes with the back half of the drum that the second one noted was required. Then says it also needs the front half too. Luckily he has one in the van for another customer but that it’s the wrong part for their machine. Lucky us.
Spends ages. Replaces a broken shock/damper, belt etc. Gets it going and leaves. Happy ‘ish wife though she said it sounds “different”. Does the first wash fine. On the second wash the drum stops turning, the belt has come off. I refit it, off it goes and comes off a second time a short while later. Fitted now for the third time with the belt dead centre of the 11 groove pulley on the motor.
We’ll wait and see!
I know the ribs of the belt should sit into the grooves of the motor pulley with the smooth side out. Is it though important which way round the belt sits?
I’ve sketched the belt profile. There’s 5 ribs but “1” is different to the rest and it’s not wear. All the 11 grooves on the motor pulley appear the same profile as 2,3,4 & 5.
The machine is a WMD960 and the belt is a 1613202002 5PJE 1158. Link to my sketch:
Update: A third engineer came and replaced a load of parts. Two halves of the drum, bearings, a shock, a spring etc. Did a couple of washes then on the 1600 spin the belt came off. Tried putting the belt on again but it just comes off on spin.
I’ve had a look and there’s a bit of casting missing off of the motor where it should attach to the drum.
Weird. I can’t find the piece on the floor or the bottom of the machine. Maybe it wasn’t there and he knew when he left?
Picture:
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.