Burning Wires

[wardr77]

Hello,
I posted the following thread in the Appliance forum, but did not get any replies so trying here. If anyone could offer advice it would be much appreciated - Thanks

I don't know if anyone can help me with this problem; last night when the dishwasher was on, the electricity in the house tripped and I noticed a plastic burning smell coming from the dishwasher, so turned it off. This morning took the side panel off the machine and started it up again, keeping a close eye on it. Towards the end of the cycle smoke started coming off the black moulded terminal that connects the brown and the blue wire to the cylindrical heating element on the machine. So again turned it off and pulled out the plug. I removed the black connector and noticed it was the blue wire that was quite badly burnt. My question is, is this a faulty heating element that is drawing too much current, or could it be as simple as a loose connection? I'm thinking the heating element, but not sure. The machine is an integrated SMEG appliance.

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[JohnD]

Photos might help.

 

[raykf]

Its likely be the mains suppression filter block giving up.
Cheap and easy replace.

 

[securespark]

It could also be a loose connection which will arc and build up heat.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Easiest to look for an Appliance Repairs Engineer (not an electrician). Choose one that specialises in the Smug brand.
These folks know the boxes and often carry spare parts.

 

[wardr77]

Thanks for the replies, with the unit out I will probably tidy up the connections first and see if that fixes the issue and then go to the engineer if no good. Could a faulty heating unit draw too much current and cause the same problem do you think?

 

[EFLImpudence]

No.

 

[Jackrae]

The heating element theory might be a red herring because it's also used early in the cycle to heat the cold water for the wash. If it only happens near the end of the cycle it could be virtually anything, including a damaged wire in the cable loom to the door (assuming controls are on the door) The burning block may be a separate problem - or it may not be

 

[conny]

Whatever the cause don't leave the house while the dishwasher is on.
May seem like silly advice but a neighbour in the side street, many years ago, had a fault with a tumble dryer. I told her to switch it off and wait till I could get there the following day. The following morning she popped out to the shops and left a note in the window saying her neighbour had the key. I arrived late morning, got the key off her neighbour and opened the front door to a house full of acrid smoke. She had turned the dryer on so by the time I got there I would be able to see the fault! Luckily it hadn't caught fire before tripping the electricity but it had generated enough smoke to allow an insurance claim for smoke damage to the whole house and contents.