The user buys a dishwasher to make life easier: just load the dishes into the cabin, set the desired mode, and pull out the clean dishes. However, sometimes the process becomes more complicated if the system starts tripping the circuit breaker.
The reasons for this problem may be:
- Faulty parts of the heating element,
- Loose electrical connectors;
- Accidents, short circuits;
- Malfunctions in the operation of the control board;
- Broken engine.
These problems provoke excessive power consumption, which in turn causes the device to overload and trip the circuit breaker, otherwise, there is a possibility of an accident.
How to reliably determine the cause
The following are conditions that may suggest what exactly is the root of the problem with the dishwasher. You need to study them carefully.
Is the machine connected to the GFCI?
GFCI is a ground fault circuit breaker. Make sure your device is connected to this system. This is important, because in this case the switch will not cover the entire space, but will work in isolation in one device. This will allow you to narrow down the number of suspected inconvenience culprits.
If your appliance is connected to the GFCI, but the circuit breaker still trips, then the dishwasher is not the problem. Check devices that do not have a short circuit breaker installed.
Circuit breaker trips in the middle of a cycle
Determine when exactly the switch is activated: before, during or after the washing phase. There is a possibility that shutdowns do not have a regular order and occur randomly. All of these features point to different possible causes.
The fact is that if the system gives a shutdown signal during the passage of the same phase, then some part, which is included in the work during the phase, is malfunctioning.
What to do if the switch trips in the middle of a cycle
As mentioned earlier, the heating element, electrical connectors, voltage suppression diode, control board, and motor can cause dishwashing failures. Let’s figure out how to figure out the culprit.
Heating element
From the name, it becomes obvious that the heating element is needed to increase the temperature of the water and generate steam for drying in the cabin. This allows you to make washing dishes as high quality and safe as possible.
A part can be damaged in several ways. Firstly, a fork, spoon, or any other element of the dishes could get there. Secondly, the part can be deformed as a result of long-term operation. One way or another, a damaged heating element starts to generate more heat, therefore, the total power in the system increases, which the fuse may consider unsafe and automatically turn off the device.
If you are not sure if this is your case, watch the structure work in intensive mode. If you find excessive heat that was not there before, or the machine shuts down at peak times, check the heater.
Unfortunately, this part cannot be repaired, it can only be replaced with a new one. It is usually located at the bottom of the mechanism. You will immediately notice it because it is shaped like a horseshoe, and it also has electrical connectors on both ends. To understand how to remove and replace it, refer to the instructions or user manual. It is also recommended to buy only original parts from the manufacturer. It is desirable that the brand of the dishwasher matches the brand of the purchased product, otherwise they may not be compatible.
Before repair, be sure to turn off the electricity network for safety reasons, also make sure that you have tools at hand: a wrench, a screwdriver, and a screwdriver. If you are not sure that you can handle the task yourself, contact the service center and call the wizard.
Electrical connectors
Electrical connectors are located inside your device. They form an electrical circuit that is responsible for the supply of electricity to all components of the device. They also regulate the operation of the entire mechanism during cycles.
Loose or faulty connectors can cause many failures, including shutting down an entire device. Moreover, the root cause for faulty wiring can be different. Firstly, it is possible that the elements of technology were initially connected to each other loosely, which caused failures after a while. This option is most likely in cases where the dishwasher goes through a frequent intensive wash cycle. Secondly, there is a chance that over time, part of the wire has worn off and it has become exposed. Therefore, the system disables the entire mechanism to prevent a short circuit.
With absolute certainty, it is possible to establish the cause of this problem only after a thorough inspection of all connectors for deformations. If some wires are loose, they can simply be tightened, but if they are exposed, then you will have to completely change the wiring in this section of the circuit. Replacing the wiring is by no means an easy task, so it is better to entrust it to specialists with the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience in the field. If you decide to do it yourself, do not forget to turn off the electricity and water.
Transient suppression diode
This element in the design is important and necessary since it protects the system from power surges, which can cause damage not only to one device but also to the failure of the entire electricity network. As a rule, the diode is used during thunderstorms or network failures.
During a severe thunderstorm and lightning, do not turn on household appliances once again, especially if you live in a private house.
However, if the element is damaged, for example, an internal short circuit occurs, then this entails malfunctions in the operation of the control board and the operation of the circuit breaker over the entire area.
The transient voltage suppression diode must be replaced in the event of a fault. First of all, refer to the instructions, in which the layout of all parts in the device should be drawn. Note that the diode may also have alternative names such as “TVS diode” or “transient suppression diode”. So, you will know in which part of the mechanism the error occurred. It is not easy to replace it yourself, so it is better to call a professional at home or take the car to a service center. But, if you still decide to do everything at home, do not forget to unplug the device from the outlet, and also disconnect the water supply hose.
Control board
The control board is a kind of command center for any household appliance, it is located inside the front case, namely behind the appliance door. Accordingly, if problems occur in this area, they will apply to the entire device. This is due to the fact that literally every action is coordinated with the help of a board. It is she who sends a signal about the beginning and end of the cycle, about the supply of hot water, about the beginning of drying, and other things.
In this case, the control board must be replaced with a new one. The main thing is to choose exactly what will be compatible with your dishwasher. To do this, refer either to the instructions or immediately to a specialist who can also replace the old board with a new one. As in previous cases, you can make a replacement yourself. To do this, be sure to turn off the electricity and water in the area where the repair is being carried out.
Engine
The engine inside the dishwasher is needed in order to drive the pump, which, in turn, increases the power to the required level so that the water can flow at the right angle and with the necessary pressure. Thanks to this work, clean water enters the cabin, and dirty water, on the contrary, leaves it.
Unlike the control board, the motor is purely a mechanical element, which means that it will fail if it is broken or deformed. When this happens, the motor consumes less energy, which means that not enough power is being transferred to the pump to work. If at the same time a heater is connected to work, then the machine fails, as the device begins to compensate for the lack of electricity that came from the engine. It is at such moments that the circuit breaker is activated for safety purposes.
Obviously, a broken engine cannot be returned to its original state: it remains only to completely replace the part with a new one. As in the previous options, it is better to entrust the work to a professional technician, but if you wish, you can do everything yourself. However, keep in mind that replacing an engine is the most problematic and complex process among all of the above, so you must have certain skills and knowledge to cope with the task.
In order to prevent explosions, short circuits, and other accidents, turn off electricity and water in advance. Also, to mount the engine, you will need to drain the water from the entire device, since it is located at the bottom of the structure.