Auto washer isolator

[nclegeorge]

My daughter's washer is below a work top.
There is a switched socket below the work top but no isolator.
Is the latter manatory?

Am not sure if the socket is a spur or ring main but the washer manual says that it needs a dedicated supply. What does this entail?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[nclegeorge]

should have said that the washer rating is 2200W

 

[JohnD]

the washer manual says that it needs a dedicated supply.

Is it an appliance designed for the UK market? Most other countries have a different method of wiring domestic sockets.

 

[nclegeorge]

It is a Samsung machine bought in UK intended for this market

 

[JohnW2]

It is a Samsung machine bought in UK intended for this market

Did it come with a UK plug fitted (and/or did instructions say to connected it via a 13A plug)? If so, one wouldn't normally expect them to ask for a 'dedicated supply'.

In answer to your initial question, there is no regulatory requirement for an isolator.

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnD]

Have another look at the instructions. Very often there is a separate paragraph headed "applies to UK only" or similar, because of our fused plugs.

 

[nclegeorge]

JohnD
There is not any reference to "applies to UK" or similar.

JohnW2
The washer came with an integral plug.

Thanks I would assume no problem with the washer socket itself

However there is another socket nearby for a Condenser dryer (which is on a spur). Am concerned now that this spur is connected to the intial washer socket which is taking 10A or so from the washer.
There are two sets of wires into the washer socket but cannot tell if this is a Ring main or the Dryer spur.
If this is the same spur, surely the spur will get overloaded if both washer and dryer are on at same time (cannot find rating plate on dryer)

 

[ban-all-sheds]

JohnD
There is not any reference to "applies to UK" or similar.

Is it a UK only manual?

There are two sets of wires into the washer socket but cannot tell if this is a Ring main or the Dryer spur.
If this is the same spur, surely the spur will get overloaded if both washer and dryer are on at same time (cannot find rating plate on dryer)

You really need to find out. 2 sockets on an unfused spur supplying a washing machine and a tumble drier is a Bad Idea™.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

If so, one wouldn't normally expect them to ask for a 'dedicated supply'.

Maybe they are taking a very cautious view of the advisory in Appendix 15?

 

[JohnW2]

If so, one wouldn't normally expect them to ask for a 'dedicated supply'.

Maybe they are taking a very cautious view of the advisory in Appendix 15?

Indeed - I was half-expecting eric to jump in and make that point. AFAIAA, manufacturers of appliances sold with fitted 13A plugs rarely, if ever, suggest that they should have a 'dedicated' supply (despite Appendix 15). Pragmatically, unlike dryers, washing machines and dishwashers draw high current for such a relatively short part of their cycles that I would personally not feel particularly inclined to invoke the Appendix 15 'guidance' in relation to them.

Kind Regards, John

 

[nclegeorge]

Thanks to all
will investigate further

 

[ericmark]

In the BS7671:2008 wiring regulations in the appendix 15 it refers to 433.1.5 and suggests that a fixed appliance over 2kW should have a dedicated circuit.

Because of the size and weight of a washing machine and tumble drier it could be considered as fixed. Items like immersion heaters and ovens although not normally over 3 kW are normally not supplied from the ring final and it could be argued that dish washers, tumble driers, and washing machines are no different.

It is common to fit a dedicated supply to the kitchen for large items but really the tumble driers, and washing machine are not kitchen items and where there is a utility room or wash room then they could be plugged into a ring at a point where it could overload part of the circuit. The same applies with a kitchen where it shares the ring with the rest of the house.

Personally I could see where a drier or washer/drier could cause problems. but with a washing machine the water heater is used for such a short time my son was able to use one on a 6 amp supply when living on a narrow boat.

So being pedantic then the regulations may say it needs a dedicated supply but the regulations are not law.

As to isolator having seen what happens when weights become lose on a washing machine then yes it's a good idea. However most new washing machines have a auto out of balance inhibit and if the weights were lose likely today it would fail to spin.

As to regulations because of the motor size being over 370W there was with 16th edition a requirement for an isolator but this was dropped with the 17th edition.

So for a modern washer I would not be unduly worried with plugging direct into a ring final with no isolator. But for a washer/drier then I would be looking for a dedicated supply because of the time over which it draws high current for.

As to manuals I have read manuals for a bike lamp which still tell you of the dangers from 230 vac clearly they just put it in all their manuals and likely the washing machine manufacturer also has a common part of the manual for all machines so will include the recommendation even where there is no drier included in the model.

 

[nclegeorge]

Ericmark

Thanks for input

With regard to the latter part of your reply.
Are we saying that an auto washer and a condenser dryer off the same spur are ok?

Regards

 

[JohnW2]

With regard to the latter part of your reply. ... Are we saying that an auto washer and a condenser dryer off the same spur are ok?

If, as you have said is a possibility, both sockets may derive from the same (unfused) 'spur' from a ring circuit, then that is contrary regulations.

What eric was saying was that he personally thought that, since it consumes high power for fairly long periods, any dryer (of any sort) should be on a dedicated circuit, not run from a ring. However, very many dryers are simply plugged into ring circuits. To have a washer and a dryer both supplied from a single (no-compliant) unfused spur from a ring would obviously be 'worse'.

As has been said, you really need to find out how the two sockets are wired.

Kind Regards, John

 

[nclegeorge]

Sorry for delay in replying

The auto wassher is on a ring main socket whilst the dryer is on a spur (one socket)

Thank to all for help