Zanussi washing machine blow fuse in plug intermittently

HitAndMiss

Over the past 10 weeks our Zanussi washing washing machine has blown the fuse in the plug 3 times.When we put a new 13 amp plug into the plug it works again but it goes back to the beginning of the cycle. It does not blown the trip switch in the main fuse box. We use the washing machine on average 3 to 4 times a week so the fault is only intermittent. Any suggestions. Is likely to be the washing machine or the wiring.

Rockingit

Sadly it's almost certainly a fault with the appliance, and most likely an issue with the motor rather than the heating element.

Time to find a deal!

Martin85

I am no electrican but would suggest if the trip switch has not cut off then it is a fault with the washing machine and not the electrics. Have you moved it, We had a problem with our washine machine when our kitchen was being refitted, it seemed to put the washing machine out of cinque. Do you know if the fuse always "blow"s at a certain stage of the cycle for example at the end of the wash and before the spin cycle.

Myser

HitAndMiss wrote: »

Over the past 10 weeks our Zanussi washing washing machine has blown the fuse in the plug 3 times.When we put a new 13 amp plug into the plug it works again but it goes back to the beginning of the cycle. It does not blown the trip switch in the main fuse box. We use the washing machine on average 3 to 4 times a week so the fault is only intermittent. Any suggestions. Is likely to be the washing machine or the wiring.

How did you manage to put a 13A plug inside another plug!

When does the fuse usually blow - at the start of the cycle?

If it's random, the mains inlet filter may have some shorted components.

It it occurs during a wash cycle, it may be due to the element. If the element is faulty, it could draw more than 13A.

It's unusual that the MCB (Mini Circuit Breaker) hasn't tripped? May be worth having that checked out.

Rockingit

Myser wrote: »

How did you manage to put a 13A plug inside another plug!

When does the fuse usually blow - at the start of the cycle?

If it's random, the mains inlet filter may have some shorted components.

It it occurs during a wash cycle, it may be due to the element. If the element is faulty, it could draw more than 13A.

It's unusual that the MCB (Mini Circuit Breaker) hasn't tripped? May be worth having that checked out.

Not necessarily. If we assume the appliance circuit is on a 32A OCPD then it's not going to trip until x1.45 or thereabouts, whereas I'd expect the fuse to pop around 18-19A. Notice that I'm saying overload, not earth leakage. Anything with pumps and motors is prone to seizing = inrush overload = over current. If it happens when the element is heating as well.........

PaulPonting

If the fuse is being blown during the wash or rinse cycle it is very unlikely to be an electrical problem. I do not know if it is the same Zanussi model (ours was ZWG 1120M) but our machine kept blowing the fuse somewhere towards the end of the wash cycle but it did not happen during every wash. We investigated calling an engineer but with the call out charge and the problem not being consistent it would have been expensive. We continued using them machine for a further 4 months having to replace the 13amp fuse in the plug when necessary. However we got fed up with it and decided to cut our loses and replaced it with a Bosch washing machine . This brand seems far more reliable than Zanussi. I do not know if this is a common problem with Zanussi Washing machines, but perhaps if others have had a similar problem they could post it on this forum. Maybe someone with more technical expertese could advise/help the originator of this post.

ValHaller

Rockingit wrote: »

Not necessarily. If we assume the appliance circuit is on a 32A OCPD then it's not going to trip until x1.45 or thereabouts, whereas I'd expect the fuse to pop around 18-19A. Notice that I'm saying overload, not earth leakage. Anything with pumps and motors is prone to seizing = inrush overload = over current. If it happens when the element is heating as well.........

When the fuse blows, the point at which the program stops could be a huge clue as to what exactly is causing the problem. If it is at the start of the spin cycle, then as above, probably the main motor. If it is just after a fill on a hot wash, then probably the heating element.

Is there any consistency about where it stops?

HitAndMiss

We do not watch the washing machine whlst it is running it is difficult to tell exactly when the fuse blows. It does seem to happen well into the wash and before its spins. What is strange that the wash completes most times but then occasionally the 13amp fuse blows. We replace the fuse the washing machine goes back to the start of the wash and then completes the full cycle.

keystone

Dont know of any WG repair guys on here. Plenty of them here to ask or look around the site.

Cheers

HitAndMiss

It seems that the 13 amp fuse in the plug blows intermittently at the end of the wash cycle and before the spin cycle starts. It does not do it every wash. Is it worth repairing or is it a case of looking for a new washing machine. Not a Zanussi as just under 3 years is no time at all.

Yellow_Is_The_Colour

We have a simiar problem with a Hotpoint washing machine. We recenty had our kitchen refiitted and it meant we had to disconnect and move the washing machine until the work was completely. When we moved the washing machine back 3 weeks ago the fuse in our plug blows about every 4th wash at the end of the wash cycle and before the rinse cycle starts. When we put in anew fuse it goes back to the beginning of the cycle and then runs through to the end!!!. Is it a coincidence that the problem happened after having to disconnect the item or is there a fault.