It's good that the days of vibrating washing machines are gone, when several batches of laundry had to be washed in one change of water. The current car is an automatic machine - a joy for the hostess in all respects. Such a faithful assistant erases perfectly, works silently, saves a lot of time. Modern washing is good for everyone thanks to such complex household appliances, but its danger lies in wait for unexpected power surges, because it cannot work without electricity. And, it would seem, some small voltage drop can damage the washing machine. And after that, worries about repairs begin, which translate into a huge amount.
A surge protector for an automatic machine: what is and why is it needed
In order not to pay for expensive repairs, you can take care of the proper protection of the washing machine in advance. A surge protector for a washing machine comes to the rescue. Network filter:
- perfectly smooths out any voltage drops;
- saves equipment from breakdown due to voltage surges and its sharp drop;
- ensures a normal washing process, without any interference;
- protects household appliances adjacent to the washing machine from high frequency currents that can enter the power grid during the operation of the washing machine.
But do not mistake an extension cord that has multiple outlets for such a protective filter. The extension cord can be used for all household appliances as a whole, and the surge protector takes over the protective functions of the complex system of the automatic washing machine and other household appliances surrounding it.
Surge protectors can be built into the machine while still in production, or they can be purchased separately by the consumer to connect the washing machine through it to a power source. The built-in mains filter is a housing made of shock-resistant material that does not conduct current. All parts are protected by non-conductive liquid poured into the housing.
Modern washing machines are very complex systems that require reliable protection, even and stable power supply. If the accessory equipment receives high or, on the contrary, low impulses, it burns out and requires replacement. This is especially true for machines with touch control, they are very sensitive to even the slightest voltage drops. Therefore, line filters are installed on such devices by the manufacturer. Typically, it is located at the exit of the electrical cord.
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How the protective device works
There is an opinion that it is possible to use an automatic machine without such a protective device. But, this applies only to the devices of the old type. Connecting modern washing machines without a built-in or external protective device does not guarantee that the next time the wash cycle is started, due to the instability of the electrical network, the control panel, asychronic motor or heating element will remain intact.Damage to the touch controls may cause programs to change wash modes spontaneously.
It does not matter what type of surge protector is used, the main thing is the presence and operation of capacitors, they affect both the quality of the device and the price. Coils and capacitors are already installed in the machine, but they have such a small capacity that they cannot withstand a large voltage surge.
The mains filter built into the machine allows vibrations that have a frequency of 50 Hz to pass through, others - larger or smaller - are immediately blocked. This is an important factor, since if we take into account interruptions, voltage surges, then they are different from a sinusoid with bursts of amplitude, and very significant, which can disrupt the systems of the machine-machine, even putting them out of action.
It should be borne in mind that the device also has instability, and every time the relay is triggered and the asynchronous motor turns on, there is a generation of peaks or a dip in currents, but this process should not go into the network, otherwise such instability will cause high-frequency harmonics, and the merit of the network filter - to neutralize this process.
So that consumers do not neglect the protection of their washing machine, many modern manufactured models of machines are programmed in such a way that if the built-in surge protector fails, all operation of the device is blocked until the protective device is replaced.
Surge protectors: types and their features
Surge protectors differ in the way they are connected to the automatic machine. There is an internal filter and there is an extension filter.
The internal one is already installed during production, it must be purchased and connected separately. A breakdown of such a filter will entail its complete replacement. You will need exactly the same part, which is very problematic: it is usually difficult to find original spare parts in stores. Leading manufacturers of washing machines are constantly improving the protection of their machines and produce a wide variety of filters, therefore in certain models they have differences in appearance, and most importantly, they differ in the level of protection. This means that filters will react differently to:
- rated current;
- permissible voltage threshold;
- time of shutdown of the machine after a power surge;
- maximum load and maximum current.
A surge protector can also be used as additional protection. In the event of a short circuit or a power surge, the fuse of such a device trips and cuts off the supply of electric current.
Features of external filters
The extension cord is reliable and advantageous in that you can choose the one that is most convenient for use. They are produced with different types of protection:
- basic;
- professional;
- advanced.
The extension cord can be selected with the desired number of sockets, from 3 to 8. Individual models contain convenient accessories, which include: buttons for turning on or off the mains on each outlet, as well as special protection against small children.
An extension cord with a large number of outlets is needed for rooms in which several electrical appliances are located close at once. This is a versatile and powerful device, but the price of such a protective filter will be much higher.
The extension cord also has different lengths from 1 to 5 meters. Before going to the store to purchase a surge protector, it is recommended to measure the distance from the outlet to the washing machine and calculate the required wire length.
Another important characteristic is the maximum load. It indicates the range of energy surges absorbed by the filter. If there is professional protection, then the indicator will be 2500 J, compared to the usual - 960 J. The most expensive are those that can withstand a lightning strike.
The speed at which the device can fire is also important. This will determine whether the operation of all devices connected to it and the level of protection of electrical appliances is blocked in time.
There can be several fuses, the main one must be fusible, and the rest: thermal and fast acting.
An extension cord equipped with an LED indicator is much more convenient. Indeed, with its help, you can find out the condition and serviceability of the protective device.
There are certain prohibitions when working with an external surge protector:
- It is forbidden to connect the extension cord to a 380 V network;
- The socket to which the protective device is connected must be grounded;
- the power of the device operating through the extension cord cannot exceed 3.5 kW;
- If there are several similar devices at home, it is not recommended to plug them into each other.
If the filter is out of order
If there are doubts as to whether the power filter is working, it is necessary to ring the terminals - at the input and output.
Sometimes the input impedance can fail, for this you have to bite the "crocodiles" on the plug. If the terminals in the area of the line filter are detachable, they must be undocked, and only then measured. The result should be 680 ohms.
If the standard test gives normal results, you can test the capacitors. It is required to turn them on in parallel, and sum the denominations. If you turn it on in turn, the reciprocal values are added. A discrepancy with the required indicators indicates the burnout of condensate and the need to replace it.
The issue of protecting the washing machine from sudden voltage surges is quite serious. Each consumer needs to choose and install a surge protector on his washing machine.
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