"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
. uk...
on 17/11/2009, Clive Page supposed :
My elderly father has just bought a new AEG-Electrolux washer-drier. It
was delivered yesterday and I helped him get it installed and working.
While adjusting the feet with my hand between the casing and the concrete
floor I noticed a distinct tingling, until I disconnected the machine
from the mains. I thought that was odd, and wondered if the earth
connection was not quite right. But I was running late and keen to get
home, so didn't follow it up at the time, unfortunately.

This evening my father phoned me to say he got a distinct shock from the
metal barrel when unloading a new batch of clothes. Although his
faculties aren't as acute as they were, he's a retired electrician so
fully aware of the difference between a mild and a more serious electric
shock. From his description over the phone, it sounded like the latter.

The machine is in a back porch, and the mains socket has been in place
for maybe 30-40 years, so it might have a corroded earth connection -
something I'll obviously follow up as soon as I can.

Meanwhile I told him to try the machine on an extension lead so it can be
plugged into somewhere else in the adjacent kitchen, which ought to be
ok. If the leak between live and the metal casing of the machine is
really large it ought to blow a fuse or two when properly earthed.

Appliances like washing machines are clearly designed to be used when
earthed properly, but I assume they must be designed to be reasonably
safe even when accidentally used without a proper earth connection. Does
anyone know if there are rules on how much current can be allowed to leak
from live to the metal casing?

Also - even if it turns out to be badly earthed, is there a case to be
made that the machine is faulty and should be replaced by the shop if one
gets a detectable shock from it?

The shock could have been from a fault where by the ground is live and the
casing of the washer is properly earthed - just something to keep in mind.

Now assuming the more likely shock from the case of the machine. Machine
these days are microprocessor controlled, so it will have a filter on its
mains input. The filter has some leakage to its earth connection and if
the machine lacks a proper earth, it would then be possible to get a
slight shock by touching the case and a ground.

Most likely scenario is the the socket you have plugged the washer in,
lacks an effective earth. Attend to it as a matter of urgency.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)



Good advice, i have seen this so many times with old and damaged wiring.
The best was someone who had a firework display using a washing machine
and also had incredible electric shocks reaching in to a chest freezer.
It is the socket and/or wiring in the house that is faulty. It seems stupid
to
ask about changing a product but leaving faulty wiring and/or sockets!
Buy a socket tester, then get it sorted before you see the person killed.
I saw one person who had a wiring fault after he touched both taps to
put water in a sink, he was dead as the current flowed up one arm and down
the other. Others I have seen with some nasty burns, one person even
jumped backwards and hit a worktop with a knife on it! Cuts and burns
are easier to treat - bringing someone back to life is a touch more
difficult.