A washing machine can trip a breaker due to a fault inside the washing machine or a fault with the cord or plug.
There could be a fault with the power socket which the washing machine plugs into.
A fault inside the switchboard or with the cable between the power socket and switchboard could also be to blame.
This post aims to discuss why a washing machine would trip a breaker and six different locations where the fault could be found from an electrician’s perspective.
Why A Breaker Trips?
A breaker tripping can be an annoyance but it occurs for very important reasons.
This is mainly to prevent property damage as a result of fires and harm to human life via electric shocks.
Electrical faults when they occur have the potential to cause a lot of problems if they aren’t stopped in time.
This is the job of circuit breakers. Circuit breakers are designed to detect a fault and automatically shut off power before a fire develops or someone becomes electrocuted. Different types of breakers exist for different electrical faults.
For example, the three main faults we are interested in for this post are short circuits, overloads and ground faults.
Short circuits are an explosive type of fault which generates a lot of heat that has the potential to cause a fire.
An overload results in the cable heating up before eventually causing a fire. A ground fault is electrical current leaking to earth. If this occurs through someone’s body (through touching a conductive surface with voltage on it) they will get an electric shock.
A MCB breaker is designed to detect short circuit and overload faults and trip when they occur while an RCD will trip when a ground fault occurs. Determining what type of breaker has tripped will help determine what type of fault is happening and give clues as to where we can find it.
An RCD is usually (but not always) physically wider than a standard MCB.
A standard MCB will have a number indicating its overload rating such as 10A or 20A. An RCD will have a rating as well such as 63A indicating the max amount of current the RCD can function at.
Washing Machine Wiring Basics
A washing machine is plugged into a power socket via a cord and plug. This power socket is fed electricity via a cable originating at the switchboard.
This power socket could be ‘looped’ with other power sockets meaning they are on the same circuit. The washing machine could also be on its own dedicated circuit. At the switchboard, unless it is an old one with only plug in fuses, there should be both an RCD and a MCB protecting the power outlet it is plugged into.
This is the bare minimum protection for an outlet with a washing machine plugged into it.
Washing Machine Tripping Breaker? – Reason #1
Faulty Washing Machine Power Cord
The washing machine power cord could have abrasions on the insulation from wear and tear.
This can lead to a short circuit tripping the breaker. Inspecting the cord to check that it has no nicks or exposed wires will rule out whether the cord has caused the problem.
Washing Machine Tripping Breaker? – Reason #2
Faulty Washing Machine Plug
The plug for the washing machine is the next culprit. Unplugging the machine from the socket will help reveal the condition of the plug. The plug should have all of its prongs. It should not have any exposed wires or a damaged casing. Any evidence of bulging, melting or weird smells could indicate a short circuit has occurred tripping the breaker.
A damaged plug is a relatively common occurrence in our opinion.
Washing Machine Tripping Breaker? – Reason #3
Faulty Washing Machine
If the plug and cord look to be in good condition it is time to check the condition of the machine itself.
Has the washing machine been making any weird noises lately or not running as expected? Wear and tear of the machine over time can eventually lead to a component burning out tripping a breaker.
Plugging the washing machine into a distant power socket via an extension cord will help determine if this is the case. If the breaker still trips with the washing machine plugged into a different outlet then the machine itself is likely to be to blame.
Washing Machine Tripping Breaker? – Reason #4
Faulty Power Outlet
The power outlet that the washing machine plugs into is also a common cause of breakers tripping. Power outlets can fail over time due to wear and tear.
They can also fail due to ant nests behind the outlet, loose wires, or rodents. This results in the outlet short circuiting causing the breaker to trip. Checking for carbon around the outside of the outlet, melting, discoloration or weird metallic smells will also help determine if the outlet is at fault.
Washing Machine Tripping Breaker? – Reason #5
Cable Between Power Outlet And Switchboard
The cable between the power outlet and switchboard could be damaged as a result of rodents or wear and tear. This could also trip a breaker. This cable is typically located in hard to reach places such as wall cavities and ceilings. For this reason, an insulation resistance test will help locate whether a short circuit has occurred in the cable causing the breaker to trip.
Washing Machine Tripping Breaker? – Reason #6
Fault Inside Switchboard
A fault inside the switchboard could be the reason. Sometimes rodents or bugs get into switchboards causing problems resulting in breakers tripping. This is probably the least likely reason but worth mentioning because it has occurred more than once.
Electricians Perspective
A faulty power outlet is the most common reason why a washing machine would trip a breaker in our experience. A fault inside the power cord, plug or washing machine are the next most likely causes. A faulty cord or plug is a relatively simple repair but replacing a washing machine is more costly. A fault inside the switchboard or with the cable between the outlet and switchboard is less likely but still possible.
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