It’s good that gone are the days of vibrating washing machines, when you had to wash several loads of laundry in one change of water. The current automatic car is a joy for the owner in every way. This faithful assistant washes perfectly, works silently, and saves a lot of time. Everyone enjoys modern washing thanks to such sophisticated household appliances, but there is danger in the form of unexpected power surges, because without electricity it cannot work. And, it would seem, some small voltage drop can damage the washing machine. And after that, worries begin with repairs, which result in a huge amount.
Surge filter for an automatic machine: what is it and why is it needed?
In order to avoid paying for expensive repairs, you can take care of proper protection of your automatic washing machine in advance. A surge protector for a washing machine comes to the rescue. Network filter:
- perfectly smooths out any voltage fluctuations;
- saves equipment from breakdown due to power surges and sudden drops;
- ensures a normal washing process, without any interference;
- protects household appliances adjacent to the washing machine from high frequency currents that can enter the electrical network during operation of the washing machine.
But you should not mistake an extension cord that has several outlets for such a protective filter. The extension cord can be used for all household appliances in general, and the surge protector takes on the protective functions of the complex system of the automatic washing machine and other household appliances surrounding it.
Surge filters can be built into the machine at the factory, or can be purchased separately by the consumer to connect the washing machine to the power source through it. The built-in network filter is a housing made of impact-resistant material that does not conduct current. All parts are protected by a non-conductive liquid poured into the housing.
Modern washing machines are very complex systems that require reliable protection and an even and stable power supply.
If the component equipment receives high or, conversely, low impulses, it burns out and requires replacement. This is especially true for machines with touch controls; they are very sensitive to even the slightest voltage drops. Therefore, surge protectors are installed on such devices by the manufacturer. As a rule, it is located where the electrical cord exits. See also -
How to replace the water supply hose for a washing machine
If there is no grounding, how to connect the washing machine
What to do if there is no grounding? You can remove the contact of the voltage divider with the housing if the design of the surge protector allows it. This is the easiest way to get rid of tingling when your washing machine is in absolutely working order. If you do not want to manipulate the surge protector, then try to place the washing machine at a considerable distance from metal communications, which may have relative ground potential. You also need to monitor the integrity of the paintwork of the case, do not touch the wet case and do not stand on a wet floor.
But what you should absolutely not do to prevent the washing machine from electrocuting is to ground its body to the heating system of an apartment building. Thus, you will create a threat in the event of a phase breakdown on the housing, not only for the residents of the apartment, but also for the entire riser. Grounding can only be done on a special conductor coming from the ground electrode or the point of separation of PEN into PE and N. Also, grounding cannot be done in a two-wire system.
Operating principle of the protective device
There is an opinion that you can use an automatic machine without such a protective device. But this only applies to old-type devices. Connecting modern washing machines without a built-in or external protective device does not guarantee that the next time the washing cycle is started, due to instability of the electrical network, the control panel, asynchronous motor or heating element will remain intact. Due to damage to the touch control, programs may spontaneously change washing modes.
It doesn’t matter what type of surge protector is used, the main thing is the presence and operation of capacitors; they affect both the quality of the device and the price. The machine already has inductors and capacitors installed, but they have such a small capacitance that they cannot withstand a strong voltage surge.
A surge filter built inside the machine allows vibrations that have a frequency of 50 GHz to pass through, while others - larger or smaller - are immediately blocked. This is an important factor, since if we take into account interruptions and power surges, they are different from a sinusoid with amplitude surges, and very significant ones, which can disrupt the systems of an automatic machine, even putting them out of action completely.
It must be taken into account that the device also has instability, and every time the relay is triggered and the asynchronous motor is turned on, current peaks or dips are generated, but this process should not go into the network, otherwise such instability will cause high-frequency harmonics, and the merit of the network filter – to neutralize this process.
To ensure that consumers do not neglect the protection of their washing machine, many modern models of automatic machines are programmed in such a way that if the built-in surge protector fails, all operation of the device is blocked until the protective device is replaced.
Repair
There are 2 types of filters installed on washing machines: repairable and non-repairable. The body of the latter is filled with compound and cannot be disassembled. The main reason for component failure is a defective capacitor. If during operation you hear a pop and there is a smell of burning insulation, the capacitor has exploded.
To repair the filter, you need to dismantle it and disassemble it (remove the cover). Which capacitor has failed is determined visually. For replacement, select a part with the required parameters (0.47 µF, 240 V). A new capacitor may have a higher voltage, for example 400 V.
The defective part is thrown away and a new one is installed in its place. If the standard size of a serviceable element does not allow installation in its original place, it can be placed on the FPS body and connected using a terminal block. After this, the device is mounted in place, and the SMA is checked in operation.
Network filters: types and their features
Surge filters vary in the way they are connected to the automatic machine. There is an internal filter, and there is an extension filter.
The internal one is already installed during production; it must be purchased and connected separately. Failure of such a filter will entail its complete replacement. You will need exactly the same part, which is very problematic: it is usually difficult to find original spare parts in stores. Leading manufacturers of washing machines are constantly improving the protection of their machines and producing a wide variety of filters, which is why in certain models they have differences in appearance, and most importantly, they differ in the level of protection. This means that filters will react differently to:
- rated current;
- permissible voltage threshold;
- machine shutdown time after a power surge;
- maximum load and maximum current.
As additional protection, you can use a surge protector extension cord. In the event of a short circuit or power surge, the fuse of such a device trips and cuts off the flow of electrical current.
Security questions
Checking safety recommendations is a mandatory requirement before starting work.
The following nuances will help protect yourself:
- Heating devices are not suitable for extension cords.
- You should not connect one extension cord to another.
- Use indoors where there is a constantly high level of humidity is not allowed.
- 3.5 W is the maximum permissible power for the device.
- Surge protectors should only be connected to outlets that have a separate ground.
- It is prohibited to use networks with a power of 380 V.
Features of external filters
The extension cord is reliable and advantageous in that you can choose the one that is most convenient for use. They are produced with various types of protection:
- basic;
- professional;
- advanced.
The extension cord can be selected with the required number of outlets, from 3 to 8. Some models contain convenient devices, which include: buttons for turning on or off the mains on each outlet, as well as special protection against small children.
An extension cord with a large number of outlets is needed for rooms in which several electrical appliances are located close together. This is a universal and powerful device, but the price of such a protective filter will be much higher.
The extension cord also has different lengths from 1 to 5 meters. Before going to the store to purchase a surge protector, it is recommended to measure the distance from the outlet to the washing machine and calculate the required wire length.
Another important characteristic is the maximum load. It indicates the range of energy spikes absorbed by the filter. If there is professional protection, then the figure will be 2500 J, compared to conventional protection - 960 J. The most expensive are those that can withstand a lightning strike.
The speed at which the device can operate is also important. This will determine whether the operation of all devices connected to it and the level of protection of electrical appliances will be blocked in time.
There can be several fuses, the main one should be fusible, and the rest: thermal and fast-acting.
An extension cord equipped with an LED indicator is much more convenient. After all, with its help you can find out the condition and serviceability of the protective device.
There are certain prohibitions when working with an external surge protector:
- It is prohibited to connect an extension cord to a 380 V network;
- The socket into which the protective device is connected must be grounded;
- the power of the device operating through an extension cord cannot exceed 3.5 kW;
- If there are several similar devices at home, it is not recommended to connect them to each other.
What types of devices are there?
There are different types of connections, and contribute to the division into the following groups:
- Extension devices;
- Devices inside.
Internal types are set by the manufacturers themselves. If such a device breaks down, then it definitely needs to be replaced; repair becomes impossible. Different machine models are equipped with different types of accessories.
Appearance does not become the only source of differences; they also lie in the technical characteristics. They determine what level of protection the washing machine will have in a particular case.
Important parameters include:
- Maximum load.
- Maximum current.
- The time it takes for the device to respond.
- Indication of the voltage threshold with its differences.
- Nominal values of voltage and current.
Filters such as extension cords are also equipped with important parameters.
Depending on this, the following types of devices are distinguished:
- professional protection.
- Advanced level protection.
- At a basic level.
Extension filters allow the use of sockets in the amount of 3-8 units. There is a set of additional functions such as a power on and off button for each outlet, child protection, etc.
Plugging into a grounded outlet is the way to achieve maximum efficiency. But the filter will provide protection even if such a design is absent. The question of how to check the design is worthy of separate discussion.
Some popular models
There is quite a large selection on the market now. Therefore, it is recommended to find out in advance about at least several manufacturers who have taken leading positions in this area.
SVEN FortProBlack
A device with a universal purpose. It provides additional protection against both voltage fluctuations in the network and short circuits. Overheating above 105 degrees is not a problem for the device due to the reliable materials of the case. 1050 kJ is the maximum energy that such a filter can absorb. The device has as many as six sockets.
APC SurgeArrest PM6U-RS
An electrical device distinguished by its versatility. Energy absorption reaches a maximum of 1836 kJ. These types of devices are equipped with two USB ports. They can be used to charge gadgets.
In addition, the work involves the use of three indicators:
- Network congestion.
- Network connection.
- Protective and grounding parts.
VDPS Extreme
A filter produced by an Israeli company, with high quality. Special development for working together with classic washing machines. Provides complete protection against network surges. Equipped with additional parts protected from lightning. 1 second is the total speed at which everything works.
VDPS-5
The same Israeli production. Can work with both washing machines and dryers. Connection occurs automatically after the power supply returns to normal. A convenient solution for most modern users. And repairs will be easy, even when the surge protector has burned out.
