Sunday 8 November 2015

Electric drum; wooden sticks.



We've quite recently bought a new washing machine, the last one was leaking and when the men came to replace it, we discovered that it was simply a matter of a small hole in a hidden rubber pipe. We could have saved about €300 had we known; but such is life!

Anyway, we now have a nice new (almost identical) machine, with just one problem; every time Lady Magnon goes to open or close it she receives a nasty electric shock.

Being resourceful, she now uses two wooden spoons when opening or closing the drum.

Does anyone have a solution to static electricity in washing machines? Any handy hints that don't involve wooden spoons would be most welcomed. I've heard that putting a ball of aluminium foil in the drum can help; has anyone else heard about that?



38 comments:

  1. Never heard about such a problem, sounds to me a bit scary.

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  2. I would get an earth leakage test done and before I went near the machine again. If it is static then get used to it but if you unplug the machine and it doesn't shock then the machine or your circuit is faulty.

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    1. Wouldn't that give a seriously hefty shock (240 volts)? This is more like a small shock; so I'm told.

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    2. Depends how much current is leaking.
      I would think it difficult for wet clothing in contact with earthed metal to retain or even generate static. Tumble diriers do but it earths away quickly during the cool cycle.
      I am not a sparky but if you have an earth leakage trip for anything else pop it between the machine and the wall socket. If it trips then ask an electrician to sort it.

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    3. Thanks for that Adrian, I'll certainly look into it.

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    4. Yeah, I'd do the same. Doesn't sound right to me.

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  3. All far too technical for me. But if anyone knows the answer to an extremely noisy upright
    vacuum cleaner I would be grateful to hear it. The farmer's response is, 'well it still works doesn't it?'

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    Replies
    1. I think my solution would be to buy another one, but I'm not very practical with such things.

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    2. Unfortunately, the best vacuum cleaners are usually very noisy - like Dysons, for instance. (I seem to be full of handy info this morning).

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    3. Quiet vacuum machines are easily made but consumer purchase habits have shown that they equate noise with better suction and usually buy a machine that is noisy. Go figure. It's difficult to find a quiet vacuum because of proven customer buying patterns.

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  4. If this were a round of Cluedo I'd say: "It was the husband, in the utility room, with a washing machine." If you want a motive please do turn to either Miss Marple, Monsieur Poirot or your instinct.

    I thought you cherished your wife, Cro. Wooden spoons, wooden clogs, wooden anything: Water and electricity do NOT mix. Why take such a risk over some laundry? Statistics say that most accidents (not least the fatal ones) occur in the "safety" of our own homes. Unlike you I use the label "idiot" sparingly. However, when I see people on wobbly chairs because they can't be arsed to get the ladder out, I think "Idiot". Take a short cut now, repent later.

    Here is an idea: Get an electrician in. Will cost you more than a frozen salmon but at least Lady Cro will be around to bake many another cake.

    I am surprised at you, Cro.

    U

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    Replies
    1. Will you EVER get over my usage of the word idiot? I also use the word sparingly, and only for those who warrant it.

      However, thank you for your suggestion; I might even mend the wobbly leg on her chair.

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    2. That chair reference made me snort! Pardon me.

      I agree - get it looked at - better to be safe than sorry and all the other maxims.

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  5. get it looked at. Might not be static.

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  6. I concur with the above (apart from the 'idiot' bit. It is more likely to be the result of bad work by a bad electrician. It is probably not earthed properly, and possibly lethal.

    Here's a test you can make: Get a circuit-testing screwdriver and touch it against the drum when it is switched on at the mains. If the little light comes on in the handle, then it is not earthed. Sack your electrician.

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    Replies
    1. P.S. Don't forget to put your finger on the metal top of the circuit-tester, otherwise the test will be pointless.

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    2. Just tested it; the light DID come on. I guess I'd better get my man back to have a look at it. Could it be the plug badly wired? Or is it more complicated?

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    3. If it isn't an internal earthing problem, then it's the electrician's fault. These things are supposed to be safety-checked when they leave the factory, and it's unlikely that the earth connection would have vibrated loose, but still possible. Don't use it until it's fixed!

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    4. I've just saved your wife's life (maybe, possibly, perhaps), but it was nothing. My work here is done! (Flies away up into the sky...)

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    5. THANK YOU Tom; it's now fixed. We've plugged it into a different socket and the little light on the screwdriver no longer shows. The problem was in a short extension lead that we used because the machine's own lead was too short.

      Ain't blog-world wonderful!

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    6. Then that lead cannot be earthed properly. Chuck it! Right, now I really must go....

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  7. If it is not bad earthing I suggest Lady M changes her knickers to a nice cotton pair and gets rid of the static.

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  8. ALL FIXED. Thanks for all your suggestions.

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  9. Never heard of such a thing or seen a washing machine like that. They are different looking in the US. Does using your leg for a sawhorse with a circular saw count as iffy? If so, that is my middle name. Who wants to go get a ladder out when a chair will work? That and it's always something.

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    Replies
    1. The machine had to be a slimline model to fit in with our new kitchen design. Good machine.

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    2. The only thing I know about electricity is not to stick something metal in the socket. I did once splice two cords I cut with the hedge trimmer. I figured tape the red cords together and black cords together and it actually worked. I was pleased with myself. I will be washing loads today. Nothing better than a good washing machine. My housekeeper comes tomorrow and I like having all the laundry done before she gets here. I want her doing other jobs than laundry which she'd rather do.

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    3. You sound like my mother, making sure everything was clean before the cleaners arrived!

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  10. One time I was knocked to the ground by touching a soda machine. I was about twelve, at a swimming pool on vacation, and I remember getting up, walking into the rental house where we were staying, and bursting into tears. I think I was more scared than hurt.

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    Replies
    1. Electric shocks are never pleasant. I remember touching an electric fence wire when I was very small on holiday in Scotland. I'm still very wary of them.

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  11. Woa, that's not a very good thing. And glad that its been fixed!

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  12. When we first moved here, we switched off the 'leccy at the mains. The hot water tank still heated up...Spooky... Turned out there was another mains in the barn, and the hot water tank was connected by a cable looped over the garden!

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    1. I had a house here which had two separate electricity accounts; one of which we never used. When we received our two bills we found that they were both quite high; we discovered that our neighbour had connected himself up to our electricity. Resourceful I suppose.

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  13. If it's static build up, then just wrap a bit of wire around some bit of bare metal and lay the loose end on the floor. Our old van used to give a shock when we sometimes opened the door, and it turned out to be a slightly loose fan belt creating the charge as it slipped slightly, so the problem might be the belt that drives the drum.

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  14. I do like Lady Magnon's resourcefulness in coming up with the two spoon solution.

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  15. Lady M is a very brave woman, I wouldn't have gone anywhere near it until it was fixed! Glad to hear it is sorted. It is a most odd looking machine. Is it French?

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