On Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:00:12 +0000, Adam Funk wrote:

On 2012-02-08, Jethro wrote:

On Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:19:11 -0800, Keefiedee wrote:

Can someone shed any light on this as it is puzzling me? Looking on
eBay for "UK 3 Pin 24HR 24 Hour Timer Programmable Mains Wall Home
Socket Plug-IN Switch", these are generally rated at 3200 or 3000
watts - yet they all look the same, and the one with the 3200 rating
also includes a warning that it is not to be used for washing machines
- which is exactly what I do want it for. I haven't scrabbled round
the back of my washing machine to see what wattage it is, but I can't
see it being more than 3000 watts, so why should there be this
warning?

These timer switches tend to be just 2 pieces of contact that touch and
release. Anything with a big motor in it will be an inductive load,
which will cause arcing, and could fuse the contacts together. You'd
need the timer switch to switch a contactor relay which you plug your
washing machine into.

I used to use a timeswitch like that on my washing machine (nothing said
not to use it that way), with no problems. Was I lucky, or had I bought
an unusually good timer? Or have they pared down the quality in the
past few years?

As others have posted, it's not usual for the machine to start with the
motor on, so the load may not cause an arc ... I was just speculating why
the OP was advised against using the timer for a washing machine.


(My current machine has a built-in delay timer.)

So has mine, but I don't think we have ever used it.