Built-in washing-machine - where's the plug?!

[Clumsy08]

I'm sure this will be obvious to many but I need my hand held please!

I need to disconnect my old washing-machine, which is in a kitchen cupboard. I've identified the pipes ok but the electric plug must be hidden somewhere at the back and I can't see it.

There is a fusebox and I flicked the "washing-machine" one to confirm that it does in fact cut the electricity to the machine - the little light on the front went out - so everything should be fine in theory, but is there anything I should be looking out for? Is there any risk of something going wrong with the electric lead when I move the machine?

It's going to be quite difficult for me to do pull out the machine on my own (I know, I know, I should find a husband) so I'm looking for tips to help me in case something goes wrong - or for someone to reassure me that nothing can go wrong!

Thanks for your help.

Excellent website, by the way!

 

[JohnD]

the person who fitted it will have been able to push the machine in, so you should be able to pull it out

Quite likely there is a socket or a flex outlet in the wall behind the machine.

there is a chance it might be in the wall behind a cabinet to the side or above, so have a good look there first.

 

[Clumsy08]

Thank you very much for responding.

I'm a bit worried that the cabinet was in fact built around the machine but I suppose there's only one way to finding out, and that's to have a go...

On the plus side, I've arranged for a friend to come and install the replacement machine for me, so I'll be doing laundry this week-end

 

[kilovolt]

Sounds like the `fuse box` you describe is actually a fused spur (no plug) the machine is wired into this. The supply will have to be turned off at main fusebox then wires undone from spur.

 

[JohnD]

sounded like a dedicated radial to me

can you post some pics?
http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=99672

 

[Clumsy08]

I can't do it from here but I'll try to post some photos tonight.

In the meantime I can offer you a basic description in words, and my apologies for having to explain this in baby-talk... The lovely delivery guys pulled the machine out for me but they couldn't take it away because there is no obvious way of unplugging the electricity.

There is an electric cable which runs directly from the back of the machine into the lower side of a square plaque which is attached to the wall with 2 screws.

Common sense tells me that there must be a connection behind the plaque?

The "fuse box" is made of 3 rows: top row is kitchen lights on/off, next row is dishwasher / oven / washing-machine on/off and the bottom row is marked "fuses". It's the opposite end of the kitchen from the "plaque" mentioned above and flicking the "washing-machine" switch has turned off the electricity (the little red light went off on the front).

Assuming I'm right that there must be a connection behind the plaque so that the cable from the washing-machine doesn't run right round the kitchen and into the lightswitch / fuse box - is it simply a question of unscrewing the plaque and substituting the wires from the new washing-machine?

And is that a safe way to have it? Or should a qualified person come in to install a plug in the wall?

At this stage it's become my landlord's problem but obviously as I'll be living there I want to feel what's done is safe...

Also - I'm really starting to care and I'd love to know whether you can tell from this description whether it's a fused spur or a dedicated radial? I'm going to have to find out what those are, you know...

 

[JohnD]

it sounds like you have a modern kitchen electrical installation. i think you have a gridswitch arrangement for all the kitchen switches (it is not a fusebox)

There are fuses as well as switches in this gridswitch. They will be the same kind of fuses that you find in a square-pin plug. most likely each fuse corresponds to the switch above it.

the square thing in the wall is probably a Flex Outlet. If you undo the two fixing screws the plate will pull away from the wall and you will probably find a connector block with the appliance flex connected to a stiff plastic covered supply cable. Before removing the plate, turn off the circuit and remove its fuse. Turn off the supply at the fusebox if you have any doubts. the flex should be clamped to the plate. A new appliance can be connected to the plate in the same way. my own preference is to have plugs and sockets for appliances because everyone knows how they work.

flex outlet plate (front view)

gridswitch front (unassembled)

 

[Clumsy08]

Spot on!

I realise now I should have said before that the kitchen is fairly new, the building was converted to flats about 6-7 years ago.

I'll see what the landlord thinks - I agree that having a proper plug installed would make everybody's life easier in the long run but if keeping things as they are (a) is not unsafe and (b) gets me a working washing-machine quicker, I'd rather stick with that!

Thanks again for your help with this, I really appreciate it.