How to ground a washing machine
Today, large household appliances, like the washing machine, are designed for a single-phase, three-wire AC system. The connection is made according to phase, neutral and grounding. Old apartment buildings and private houses are often connected to a two-wire current system, without the use of a ground wire.
To protect family members and electronics in the home, it is imperative to ground your washing machine. The process technology depends on the type of structure and the presence of grounding connected to the distribution panel. If the cable is connected, the procedure will not take much time, and anyone can cope with the task.
The content of the article
How to ground a washing machine if there is no grounding?
With the purchase of a washing machine, the question of additional safety arises. If an electrical appliance is not connected correctly, electricity will flow through the metal body of the machine, and there is a chance of getting an electric shock.
Also, incorrect connection can lead to damage to the machine's electronics. Parts are quite expensive, and repairs are not always easy.
Washing machines are often equipped with a network stabilizer that blocks voltage surges. It is connected directly to the body of the equipment.If there is no grounding in the outlet, then such a stabilizer generates a voltage of 110V on the metal parts of the case.
Important! Washing machines are installed mainly in the bathroom. The percentage of humidity in it is always high, so the chance of getting an electric shock increases.
Grounding methods
Grounding is a conductor that is driven into the ground. There are 2 types of grounding according to the purpose of operation:
- Working. Protects electrical equipment from damage;
- Protective. Designed to protect people from electric current.
Modern houses are equipped with a three-wire network, so connecting the machine to the electrical network will not present any difficulties. A cable comes out of the apartment from the outlet, which is connected to it with 3 wires. If grounding is not connected to an apartment building, you can use the potential equalization method. But this method is not completely safe.
The “old-fashioned” method can be called attaching the ground wire from the machine to the heating radiator or pipeline. The method has not been used for a long time, since it is far from safe.
Residents of private houses can completely install a grounding system. To do this, it is necessary to create a chain of metal pins, which are buried in the ground to a depth of 1.5 m. The wire is connected to the metal circuit by welding, which will allow the current to be discharged into the ground.
Connection to the panel
If the house is not grounded, it can be simulated using a neutral wire. This method is used quite often, and has already proven its reliability and safety. The neutral wire needs to be bifurcated and the outlet bus attached to it. A busbar is also attached to the grounding. Cable wiring to the apartment is derived from these buses.
To connect the equipment, you need to install a new outlet, which will be powered directly from the distribution panel using a three-core cable. The cores are connected to certain contacts according to the diagram. To connect the cable to the shield, an AZO and 2 buses are used.
If you connect the zero directly to the ground contact in the panel, there is a chance of damage to the wires, which will bring very unpleasant consequences. Also, the effectiveness of such grounding is much less.
Reference! To ground the washing machine through the shield, you only need an indicator screwdriver, pliers and a wire stripper.
Many people turn to electricians to solve this issue. However, those who are familiar with the wiring system in the house and skillfully operate the tool can connect the washing machine to grounding themselves.
Grounding to a battery in a bathroom or sewer pipe
A long time ago, some craftsmen came up with a grounding method that uses metal heating and sewage pipes.
The cable was connected to the battery using special connections. For a long time, the method was the most common due to its high efficiency. However, grounding to the battery has a number of disadvantages:
- Illegality. GOST standards for behavior with electrical wiring indicate that such actions are dangerous, therefore it is strictly forbidden to use the method. But the law is not scary to the common people;
- Damage to heating system elements. Electric current contributes to the corrosion of metals, so leaks often form at the junctions of pipes (batteries) and cables;
- Unreliability. This grounding circuit does not completely eliminate the risk of electric shock.
The method is simple to implement, so many still choose it.To do this you will need a copper wire with 1 core. The insulation must be removed at both ends. One end is fixed to the body of the equipment, the other - to the water supply. You can secure the wire using a metal clamp.
Important! Grounding to the heating system will sooner or later cause a burst of pipes or radiators.
Grounding into the ground - private house
Residents of a private house, in addition to connecting the grounding to the panel, need to design the system itself. The process consists of the following steps:
- 3 pipes are selected, the length of which depends on the level of soil freezing. For temperate climates this is usually 1.5-3 m.
- One side of each pipe is sharpened.
- From below, about a third of the length, holes up to 1 cm in diameter are made in the pipes.
- A hole up to 50 cm deep is dug.
- The pipes are driven into the ground using a sledgehammer. The distance between elements is up to 1.5 m. Pipes should protrude from 10 to 15 cm above the ground.
- Three pipes are connected using fittings. A triangle is formed, which is secured by welding.
- The grounding cable is connected to the fittings by welding. Starts up in the house.
- The wire is connected to the PE bus, which allows you to ground the entire house.
Most models of washing machines have a special bolt on the back for connecting the ground to it. It ensures the reliability and security of the system.
