No plug socket behind washing machine

lis1320

We’ve had a reply from the estate agents, we’ll get in contact with an electrician. 

Section62

lis1320 said:

We’ve had a reply from the estate agents, we’ll get in contact with an electrician. 

So probably as I suggested - there will be a FSU* above the worktop which feeds down to the outlet plate behind the washing machine.  The electrician would need to cut the plug off**, and hard wire the washing machine.

* - looks something like this -

https://www.toolstation.com/bg-13a-low-profile-fused-spur/p21532

https://www.toolstation.com/bg-brushed-steel-switched-spur/p60176

** - If they do this, make sure the plug is disposed of immediately and carefully, don't leave it laying around or anywhere a child might find it. (and take the fuse out as well).

Edit: changed links

Keep_pedalling

Section62 said:

lis1320 said:

We’ve had a reply from the estate agents, we’ll get in contact with an electrician. 

So probably as I suggested - there will be a FSU* above the worktop which feeds down to the outlet plate behind the washing machine.  The electrician would need to cut the plug off**, and hard wire the washing machine.

* - looks something like this -

https://www.toolstation.com/click-mode-13a-fused-spur/p18434

** - If they do this, make sure the plug is disposed of immediately and carefully, don't leave it laying around or anywhere a child might find it. (and take the fuse out as well).

I don’t think multicore mains cables that come with modern appliances are suitable for connecting to the screw down terminals of a hardwired outlet. The sensible solution is to replace that outlet with a 3 pin outlet. Cutting off the plug may void the warrantee on the machine as well. 

FreeBear

Section62 said: The power rating is also only one factor that needs to be considered.  You suggested unwinding a long extension lead so it doesn't get warm, but that does nothing (of any significance) to reduce the resistance of that length of cable, and thus the volt-drop which will occur drawing high currents through a longer length of small-csa cable.

In my experience, it is the flying socket on the end of an extension lead that is often the weak point - I have a couple here where the contacts are burnt/corroded despite never having been used with high powered appliances.

Section62

Keep_pedalling said:

Section62 said:

lis1320 said:

We’ve had a reply from the estate agents, we’ll get in contact with an electrician. 

So probably as I suggested - there will be a FSU* above the worktop which feeds down to the outlet plate behind the washing machine.  The electrician would need to cut the plug off**, and hard wire the washing machine.

* - looks something like this -

https://www.toolstation.com/click-mode-13a-fused-spur/p18434

** - If they do this, make sure the plug is disposed of immediately and carefully, don't leave it laying around or anywhere a child might find it. (and take the fuse out as well).

I don’t think multicore mains cables that come with modern appliances are suitable for connecting to the screw down terminals of a hardwired outlet.

Appliances have been supplied with multicore mains cables since... a very long time ago. There's nothing new about this.

Outlet plates are available which are specifically designed for flex connections.  The electrician who does this job for the OP will know whether or not the existing outlet plate is suitable, and could replace it if not.

Keep_pedalling said:

The sensible solution is to replace that outlet with a 3 pin outlet.

Not really.

Firstly using a socket and plug may mean the washing machine cannot be pushed as far back under the worktop as it currently can be.

Secondly, it would need the landlord's consent to alter the electrical system to install a socket, and the tone of the agent's message suggests this probably won't be forthcoming.

Thirdly, the electrician may be unhappy installing a 13A socket in place of an outlet plate if it is fed from a dedicated FSU.  They may insist on doing additional work at further expense to the OP.

Keep_pedalling said:

Cutting off the plug may void the warrantee on the machine as well.

That's a risk.  But the alternative may be having no washing machine, or resorting to doing something potentially dangerous.

Eldi_Dos

Keep_pedalling said:

Section62 said:

lis1320 said:

We’ve had a reply from the estate agents, we’ll get in contact with an electrician. 

So probably as I suggested - there will be a FSU* above the worktop which feeds down to the outlet plate behind the washing machine.  The electrician would need to cut the plug off**, and hard wire the washing machine.

* - looks something like this -

https://www.toolstation.com/click-mode-13a-fused-spur/p18434

** - If they do this, make sure the plug is disposed of immediately and carefully, don't leave it laying around or anywhere a child might find it. (and take the fuse out as well).

I don’t think multicore mains cables that come with modern appliances are suitable for connecting to the screw down terminals of a hardwired outlet. The sensible solution is to replace that outlet with a 3 pin outlet. Cutting off the plug may void the warrantee on the machine as well. 

The electrician could solder the multicore cable before putting into screw down terminal.

FreeBear

Eldi_Dos said:

Keep_pedalling said:

Section62 said:

lis1320 said:

We’ve had a reply from the estate agents, we’ll get in contact with an electrician. 

So probably as I suggested - there will be a FSU* above the worktop which feeds down to the outlet plate behind the washing machine.  The electrician would need to cut the plug off**, and hard wire the washing machine.

* - looks something like this -

https://www.toolstation.com/click-mode-13a-fused-spur/p18434

** - If they do this, make sure the plug is disposed of immediately and carefully, don't leave it laying around or anywhere a child might find it. (and take the fuse out as well).

I don’t think multicore mains cables that come with modern appliances are suitable for connecting to the screw down terminals of a hardwired outlet. The sensible solution is to replace that outlet with a 3 pin outlet. Cutting off the plug may void the warrantee on the machine as well. 

The electrician could solder the multicore cable before putting into screw down terminal.

Would be better to use a bootlace ferrule rather than soldering.

Alanp

I used to be a commercial laundry engineer, I was sent to fit a part ordered by another engineer to their gas tumble dryer as it was out of use, someone had brought in a domestic dryer which was plugged into an extension lead, however, they hadn’t fully unwound it , by the time I’d fully uncoiled the extension I had to put my gloves on as it was so hot, probably not far off from catching fire, always fully unwind an extension lead if you are using anything that draws a lot of amps, ( washer,dryer ect) or better still , don’t use them for those types of equipment.

grumbler

Section62 said:

lis1320 said:

We’ve had a reply from the estate agents, we’ll get in contact with an electrician. 

So probably as I suggested - there will be a FSU* above the worktop which feeds down to the outlet plate behind the washing machine.  The electrician would need to cut the plug off**, and hard wire the washing machine.

Or, much better IMO, if there is enough space, just connect a surface-mounted socket to the plate. And why not simply replace the plate with a socket?!

FreeBear said:

Section62 said: The power rating is also only one factor that needs to be considered.  You suggested unwinding a long extension lead so it doesn't get warm, but that does nothing (of any significance) to reduce the resistance of that length of cable, and thus the volt-drop which will occur drawing high currents through a longer length of small-csa cable.

In my experience, it is the flying socket on the end of an extension lead that is often the weak point - I have a couple here where the contacts are burnt/corroded despite never having been used with high powered appliances.

Absolutely. And usually this happens with cheap multi-socket extension leads.

Bendy_House

travis-powers said:

We had a small fire because of this!

Yikes. What happened?