Bosch washing machine tripping electric

victor2

rothchick said:

I have a series 4 Bosch washing machine and this morning it has tripped the electrics - I reset everything and still doing it. It’s well out of warranty. Any ideas if this is repairable? Potential costs? Better to call Bosch or someone local?
Thanks I’m advance 

Assuming it is tripping the RCD, it may have developed a fault that is repairable, if it can be identified. Similarly, it may have developed a fault which is not economical to repair. We had to replace our 20 year old Bosch washing machine this year because of a different type of fault, and it was generally worn out. An expense we could have done without, but now have a slightly bigger, more efficient washing machine.

If you are a little bit confident with basic household electrics, just check that the wiring in the plug isn't frayed or loose - although if it's on a moulded plug, that will not be possible.

You could try a local "washing machine repair" service, if you have one, as it might just be a relatively inexpensive fix.

Does it trip the breaker as soon as you switch the power on, or at a particular point in the wash? If the former, it could be what grumbler suggested, if the latter, it could be a more expensive fix, or terminal.

grumbler

You have to make sure and mark the 'switch' (RCBO) accordingly.

rothchick

It’s happening when it tries to heat the water so have a feeling it’s a bigger fault with the heater element but will try a different plug. I’m not sure how to get rid of the water that’s in the drum now!! Managed to open the door and get my washing out though.

thanks everyone 

victor2

rothchick said:

It’s happening when it tries to heat the water so have a feeling it’s a bigger fault with the heater element but will try a different plug. I’m not sure how to get rid of the water that’s in the drum now!! Managed to open the door and get my washing out though.

thanks everyone 

There's probably a cover you can open on the front bottom of the machine. Under that will be a drain point you can open - get something shallow enough to fit under it to catch the water in though!

grumbler

rothchick said:

It’s happening when it tries to heat the water so have a feeling it’s a bigger fault with the heater element but will try a different plug.

I have a feeling that it IS a heating element and that the plug has nothing to do with this.

molerat

victor2 said:

rothchick said:

It’s happening when it tries to heat the water so have a feeling it’s a bigger fault with the heater element but will try a different plug. I’m not sure how to get rid of the water that’s in the drum now!! Managed to open the door and get my washing out though.

thanks everyone 

There's probably a cover you can open on the front bottom of the machine. Under that will be a drain point you can open - get something shallow enough to fit under it to catch the water in though!

If it only happens during water heating there is a possibility moving it on to a drain and spin cycle will work OK.

rothchick

molerat said

If it only happens during water heating there is a possibility moving it on to a drain and spin cycle will work OK.

I only have a rinse, spin and drain option! Next washing machine I buy I will make sure there is a spin and drain option as this is very annoying! 

Section62

rothchick said:

It’s happening when it tries to heat the water so have a feeling it’s a bigger fault with the heater element but will try a different plug. I’m not sure how to get rid of the water that’s in the drum now!! Managed to open the door and get my washing out though.

If it only happens when the machine is heating the water (and not for example on a spin cycle) then it is likely the heating element has failed, allowing current leakage to 'earth'.

Replacing a heating element is relatively cheap and easy for an independent washing machine repair person to do.  Phone a few in your area and see what they would charge for a heating element replacement for your model.  Then work out whether it is cost effective to pay that.

GDB2222

rothchick said:

It’s happening when it tries to heat the water so have a feeling it’s a bigger fault with the heater element but will try a different plug. I’m not sure how to get rid of the water that’s in the drum now!! Managed to open the door and get my washing out though.

thanks everyone 

A wet and dry vacuum cleaner is very handy. You can use it to get some of the water out of the drum, and there's always a mess when you use the drain tap, and the vacuum will make short work of that, too.

macman

You really need to try it on a different circuit on your ring main first just to establish that it's the w/m and not the socket/circuit or MCB at fault.
Subject to that, could just be earth leakage on the w/m. If it's otherwise OK, get a white goods repair person in. A heater element is not a major repair, and that's the most likely issue.
Finally, please relabel your CU to remove 'shower'!