Electrical question

[Superfly]

All of a sudden, my washer has started tripping breakers. I can't even finish my load because it keeps tripping the breaker. So far as I know, there is nothing else on the breaker except the washer.

Any ideas?

 

[the_recruit]

A short probably. How old is it? Does it trip if you try to run it without a load on the motor (no clothes)?

 

[Bob Blaylock]

All of a sudden, my washer has started tripping breakers. I can't even finish my load because it keeps tripping the breaker. So far as I know, there is nothing else on the breaker except the washer.

Any ideas?

I don't think anyone will be able to diagnose this problem without going there personally and making some tests.

Many questions pop into my head.

How long have you had this washing machine, in this house, connected to this circuit?

Have you ever before had even occasional problems with this breaker tripping.

Is it a 120- or a 240-volt circuit?

What is the current (in Amperes) rating on the breaker?

What is the rating on the washer, in current (Amperes) or power in (Watts or Volt-Amperes (VA))?

At what point in the washer's cycle does the breaker trip? Is it consistently at the same point?

Are you aware of anything that may have changed,recently, about the same time this problem began, that might be relevant?​

 

[Superfly]

A short probably. How old is it? Does it trip if you try to run it without a load on the motor (no clothes)?

Brand new washer, 3 months old. Brand new house, 2 years old. Never tried it without any clothes in it.

 

[Bob Blaylock]

Brand new washer, 3 months old. Brand new house, 2 years old. Never tried it without any clothes in it.

So a fairly new house, with fairly modern wiring. Probably NEC-2011-compliant.

Is it possible that the even-newer washer is more powerful than the one that it replaced, and perhaps more powerful than the house was wired to support?

 

[TurtleDude]

Brand new washer, 3 months old. Brand new house, 2 years old. Never tried it without any clothes in it.

electrical issues are nothing to screw with due to the danger of both shock and fire best call a electrician ASAP

 

[Superfly]

I don't think anyone will be able to diagnose this problem without going there personally and making some tests.

Many questions pop into my head.

How long have you had this washing machine, in this house, connected to this circuit?​

3 months. From the day we bought the washer. A few times the breaker has tripped, but tonight, it just kept tripping to the point that we couldn't finish the load of laundry.

Have you ever before had even occasional problems with this breaker tripping.

Yes but not like tonight.

Is it a 120- or a 240-volt circuit?

What is the current (in Amperes) rating on the breaker?

What is the rating on the washer, in current (Amperes) or power in (Watts or Volt-Amperes (VA))?

Not sure on the above questions. How would I know?

At what point in the washer's cycle does the breaker trip? Is it consistently at the same point?

I am not sure. I will ask my husband. He said it started really bad tonight while we were gone.

Are you aware of anything that may have changed,recently, about the same time this problem began, that might be relevant?

No. Nothing has changed. Nothing new has been plugged in, in the area. What else is weird, though - let me show you this:



The green is where the washer is plugged in. Nothing else is plugged in there.

The purple is where the freezer is plugged in.

The red is where I have plugged in my vacuum when I vacuum the floor. I have noticed since I got a new vacuum, the breaker keeps tripping there, too, when I try to vacuum the floor.

 

[Superfly]

So a fairly new house, with fairly modern wiring. Probably NEC-2011-compliant.

Is it possible that the even-newer washer is more powerful than the one that it replaced, and perhaps more powerful than the house was wired to support?

But it's a brand new house. Why would it not be wired to support a front-load washer? They've been out for 10 years.

 

[Superfly]

electrical issues are nothing to screw with due to the danger of both shock and fire best call a electrician ASAP

That sucks.

 

[TurtleDude]

That sucks.

yeah its expensive but unless someone who is a master IBEW guy here I'd rather you do that than not seeing you here for a month because you are in the ICU with third degree burns.

some things I don't screw with such as a temperature over 104, and electrical problems

 

[sangha]

3 months. From the day we bought the washer. A few times the breaker has tripped, but tonight, it just kept tripping to the point that we couldn't finish the load of laundry.


Yes but not like tonight.



Not sure on the above questions. How would I know?



I am not sure. I will ask my husband. He said it started really bad tonight while we were gone.



No. Nothing has changed. Nothing new has been plugged in, in the area. What else is weird, though - let me show you this:

View attachment 67164961

The green is where the washer is plugged in. Nothing else is plugged in there.

The purple is where the freezer is plugged in.

The red is where I have plugged in my vacuum when I vacuum the floor. I have noticed since I got a new vacuum, the breaker keeps tripping there, too, when I try to vacuum the floor.

Are you sure the washer is on a separate line and not just a different outlet?

 

[Superfly]

Are you sure the washer is on a separate line and not just a different outlet?

Well, I can't be 100% sure, but we checked the breaker box the first time it happened, and the breaker is labled only "washer." And when the breaker is tripped by the washer, nothing else turns off.

 

[Buck Ewer]

A washer most likely is on a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) These will trip with the slightest unballanced trickle of current to ground to ensure that you have no chance of electrocution. They are identifiable by the little "test" button next to the reset handle.
With a new washer and a new house the GFCI is new as well, I would first check to see if there is any water leaking internally near any circuitry. If all is dry I would next suspect the GFCI itself.
Yes, GFCIs can go bad and trip when they shouldn't.
This being a washer not a dryer it is most likely 120 volt.
I would try plugging something else into the washer outlet, instead of the washer, with a similar amperage (probably 10 to 12 amps) like a space heater or a hair dryer.
If the breaker still trips you need to replace the GFCI breaker with a new one by an electrician. If it holds you may need to have the washer repaired by an appliance repairman.
You could also try plugging the washer into another outlet with the same breaker amperage as the washer's GFCI using a short heavy duty extension cord, and run it through a cycle. This will tell you if the problem is with the washer or the circuit breaker.
The breaker will be much cheaper to replace than a repair to the washer.
If any of this is unclear I will be glad to explain further.
Good luck.

 

[sangha]

Well, I can't be 100% sure, but we checked the breaker box the first time it happened, and the breaker is labled only "washer." And when the breaker is tripped by the washer, nothing else turns off.

Are you sure the freezer is still on?

That's something that could shut off unnoticed.

 

[Buck Ewer]

Are you sure the freezer is still on?

That's something that could shut off unnoticed.

If the breaker is labeled "washer" it is most likely going to be a dedicated line with a single outlet instead of a duplex. I've never seen one that wasn't.

 

[Superfly]

Are you sure the freezer is still on?

That's something that could shut off unnoticed.

Yup, just went and looked, and the freezer is still on.

 

[Superfly]

If the breaker is labeled "washer" it is most likely going to be a dedicated line with a single outlet instead of a duplex. I've never seen one that wasn't.

Thanks for the info above. I looked at the breaker, and it says "COMBINATION: Type AFCI, Type CHAF" whatever that means. It does have that funky yellow TEST button on it, though.

The washer is plugged into an outlet that was dedicated for our modem, but we had to move the modem to give better wireless coverage to the rest of the house. We plugged in the washer to that outlet, and nothing else is plugged in there. The breaker is still tripped, even now, and the freezer is still on. I just got up and checked the dining room light to see if it was still on, to see if the breakers that continually tripped with the washer and with the vacuum might be on the same one, and they are not, because even though the breaker is tripped, the dining room light is still working.

 

[Superfly]

Well, I can't be 100% sure, but we checked the breaker box the first time it happened, and the breaker is labled only "washer." And when the breaker is tripped by the washer, nothing else turns off.

I was incorrect in my above statement. It is not labled washer.

 

[Summerwind]

That sucks.

Here's what you need to know. What else is in the breaker. Every thing else off, all lights, tv, everything, then start the washer, it should run. If it doesn't you need an electrician or it's the washere. If it does, start turning things on, little at a time til you find all the things on that circuit. One of my houses had simply put too many things on the circuit, expecting some not to be in regular use but were. Again, probably hire an electrician, though upping a breaker is really pretty easy, if the offending item(s) can't be moved.

The other option is that the washer has an issue. And is overworking for some reason, like overloaded weighwise or a problem. So you may need to research how to have a warranty guy come out and check your washer, since that should still be under labor and parts warranty before you call an electrician.

 

[Green Balls]

It sounds to me like the breaker the washer is on is a 15 amp breaker. It should be on at least 20 or a dual 15 (bar runs across two breakers). There should be a number on the breaker handle. If it says 15, then you need to call an electrician.

 

[Superfly]

It sounds to me like the breaker the washer is on is a 15 amp breaker. It should be on at least 20 or a dual 15 (bar runs across two breakers). There should be a number on the breaker handle. If it says 15, then you need to call an electrician.

I just checked it and it says 20 SWD.

 

[Summerwind]

It sounds to me like the breaker the washer is on is a 15 amp breaker. It should be on at least 20 or a dual 15 (bar runs across two breakers). There should be a number on the breaker handle. If it says 15, then you need to call an electrician.

My thoughts too. You said it much better. However, if she needs a quick fix and there happens to be something else contributing, it'd be good to be sure no other appliances or ceiling fans or whatever might be on the same circuit.

 

[Superfly]

Here's what you need to know. What else is in the breaker. Every thing else off, all lights, tv, everything, then start the washer, it should run. If it doesn't you need an electrician or it's the washere. If it does, start turning things on, little at a time til you find all the things on that circuit. One of my houses had simply put too many things on the circuit, expecting some not to be in regular use but were. Again, probably hire an electrician, though upping a breaker is really pretty easy, if the offending item(s) can't be moved.

The other option is that the washer has an issue. And is overworking for some reason, like overloaded weighwise or a problem. So you may need to research how to have a warranty guy come out and check your washer, since that should still be under labor and parts warranty before you call an electrician.

Please excuse me if this is a stupid question, but can too much weight cause it to trip? Like too many towels or something? I don't know if that is what is going on - again, my husband did a load of laundry tonight while the girls and I were at the movies.

 

[Summerwind]

I just checked it and it says 20 SWD.

Do your washer instructions give specs and requirements. A front loader may need a 30amp or the dual 15 mentioned above.

 

[Summerwind]

Please excuse me if this is a stupid question, but can too much weight cause it to trip? Like too many towels or something? I don't know if that is what is going on - again, my husband did a load of laundry tonight while the girls and I were at the movies.

YES! It can, though it should just give you the same warning it does when it's out of balance.

On edit: Hmm, I guess with a front loader there isn't a balance issue at all is there? I have not had a front loader. Perhaps I'm out of place to comment further on that particular. Perhaps again the original manual would tell you if there's weigh limit or something similar and what would happen if overloaded.