Dishwasher Tripping Earth Leakage

Neuk_

Neuk_

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Before I fork out money I don't really have for a technician to take a look only to be told to buy a new dishwasher, I want to see if I can do some DIY debugging myself. For a while now our dishwasher, somewhat randomly, has been tripping our EL. I say randomly because 9 times out of 10, the EL trips when the dishwasher isn't running, a few hours after it has finished running. I have been running the dishwasher and then switching the CB that feeds the plug circuit that the dishwasher uses off, which stops the EL from tripping. I confirmed it is the dishwasher by running it off another plug circuit leaving it's plug circuit CB off. The dishwasher ran just fine, finished it's cycle and then a few hours later the EL tripped, again.

Any suggestions?
 
Mzezman said:
If the El is tripping even AFTER the dishwasher has gone then its likely a faulty EL
Click to expand...

I thought of that, I even have a new EL waiting to be fitted, I dismissed the idea because the EL doesn't trip at all without the CB for the dishwasher circuit being on. It is probably a good idea to just fit the new EL anyway before stripping the dishwasher or getting ga technician to look at it...
 
Neuk_ said:
Before I fork out money I don't really have for a technician to take a look only to be told to buy a new dishwasher, I want to see if I can do some DIY debugging myself. For a while now our dishwasher, somewhat randomly, has been tripping our EL. I say randomly because 9 times out of 10, the EL trips when the dishwasher isn't running, a few hours after it has finished running. I have been running the dishwasher and then switching the CB that feeds the plug circuit that the dishwasher uses off, which stops the EL from tripping. I confirmed it is the dishwasher by running it off another plug circuit leaving it's plug circuit CB off. The dishwasher ran just fine, finished it's cycle and then a few hours later the EL tripped, again.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Could be the dishwasher element, or pump. Must be temperature and/or time dependent to fit what you're seeing but that doesn't seem improbable e.g. a tiny crack somewhere that opens as it cools and lets a bit of water or condensation in.

Unplugging the dishwasher after each run sounds like the right way to debug. If you do that for a while and get no more trips I think it's pretty clear and probably the EL is doing exactly what it's supposed to do.
 
Tomtomtom said:
Could be the dishwasher element, or pump. Must be temperature and/or time dependent to fit what you're seeing but that doesn't seem improbable e.g. a tiny crack somewhere that opens as it cools and lets a bit of water or condensation in.

Unplugging the dishwasher after each run sounds like the right way to debug. If you do that for a while and get no more trips I think it's pretty clear and probably the EL is doing exactly what it's supposed to do.
Click to expand...
Makes no sense for it to be an element or something cooling down while the machine is turned off - because if it was live shorting to ground there'd be no power to the element in question to leak to ground - and if it was neutral shorting to ground then turning the CB off would not make a difference since neutral isn't switched.

But yeah, ELs go bad with age. Put in a new one first.
 
Tomtomtom said:
Could be the dishwasher element, or pump. Must be temperature and/or time dependent to fit what you're seeing but that doesn't seem improbable e.g. a tiny crack somewhere that opens as it cools and lets a bit of water or condensation in.

Unplugging the dishwasher after each run sounds like the right way to debug. If you do that for a while and get no more trips I think it's pretty clear and probably the EL is doing exactly what it's supposed to do.
Click to expand...

I'll try leave the CB for the dishwasher plug on and unplug the dishwasher but will replace the EL as well before myself checking or having a technician check the dishwasher components. From the research I have done if it is the dishwasher it could be the incoming power filter, heater element or possibly the waste pump although the waste pump is usually not a culprit of EL issues like drum motors in washing machines are.
 
Neuk_ said:
Before I fork out money I don't really have for a technician to take a look only to be told to buy a new dishwasher, I want to see if I can do some DIY debugging myself. For a while now our dishwasher, somewhat randomly, has been tripping our EL. I say randomly because 9 times out of 10, the EL trips when the dishwasher isn't running, a few hours after it has finished running. I have been running the dishwasher and then switching the CB that feeds the plug circuit that the dishwasher uses off, which stops the EL from tripping. I confirmed it is the dishwasher by running it off another plug circuit leaving it's plug circuit CB off. The dishwasher ran just fine, finished it's cycle and then a few hours later the EL tripped, again.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Hey, have you considered changing the plug ? (The wall socket)

Some of those cheap ones aren't rated for high amps. It could be getting overloaded.

I had a tumble dryer that melted a few sockets.
 
Neuk_ said:
Before I fork out money I don't really have for a technician to take a look only to be told to buy a new dishwasher, I want to see if I can do some DIY debugging myself. For a while now our dishwasher, somewhat randomly, has been tripping our EL. I say randomly because 9 times out of 10, the EL trips when the dishwasher isn't running, a few hours after it has finished running. I have been running the dishwasher and then switching the CB that feeds the plug circuit that the dishwasher uses off, which stops the EL from tripping. I confirmed it is the dishwasher by running it off another plug circuit leaving it's plug circuit CB off. The dishwasher ran just fine, finished it's cycle and then a few hours later the EL tripped, again.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
There is always some earth leakage happening and with all the rain lately the increased moisture could push you over the 30mA limit. A possible solution would then be to split your DB and install another EL.

So maybe nothing has changed with the dishwasher but because your outside plugs are damp the normal earth leakage on the dishwasher is now too much.

"Insulation Degradation: Prolonged high humidity and dampness can cause the insulation material around wires (even within walls) to absorb moisture. This moisture temporarily lowers the insulation resistance, making it easier for a small amount of current to leak to conductive surfaces like damp walls, metal conduits, or framing, which are ultimately connected to the earth."
 
Nerfherder said:
Hey, have you considered changing the plug ? (The wall socket)

Some of those cheap ones aren't rated for high amps. It could be getting overloaded.

I had a tumble dryer that melted a few sockets.
Click to expand...

I haven't it is still the original plug that came with the dishwasher when we bought it in 2018.
 
Sinbad said:
Makes no sense for it to be an element or something cooling down while the machine is turned off - because if it was live shorting to ground there'd be no power to the element in question to leak to ground
Click to expand...

Depends on the dishwasher what exactly is still powered on after a cycle has ended. There may be a drying cycle with element and/or fan. Or it just sits there but an internal power supply is still online. But ja true it's not likely to be an element that is cooling at the moment of the trip, unless they're switched on neutral?

In any case if the OP has done enough experimenting with unplugging and not unplugging the dishwasher after a cycle, and found the EL only trips with the dishwasher remaining plugged in, then it becomes implausible that it's anything but the fact that it's drawing current somewhere and leaking it to ground.

Replacing the EL might buy more headroom but what if the issue deteriorates further.
 
Last edited:
Sinbad said:
Makes no sense for it to be an element or something cooling down while the machine is turned off - because if it was live shorting to ground there'd be no power to the element in question to leak to ground - and if it was neutral shorting to ground then turning the CB off would not make a difference since neutral isn't switched.

But yeah, ELs go bad with age. Put in a new one first.
Click to expand...

I missed your post like I missed going around Kyalami in your Cupra with a full tank of meth on board...

I'll swop the EL out first and go from there, it hasn't made much sense to me, like I said 9 times out of 10 the dishwasher isn't running or even 'on' and it sometimes happens an hour later and sometimes 6 hours later.
 
Neuk_ said:
I missed your post like I missed going around Kyalami in your Cupra with a full tank of meth on board...

I'll swop the EL out first and go from there, it hasn't made much sense to me, like I said 9 times out of 10 the dishwasher isn't running or even 'on' and it sometimes happens an hour later and sometimes 6 hours later.
Click to expand...
1764770223560.png
 
You need an insulation resistance tester.

Will point out where the issue lies
 
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