How to correctly position the dishwasher outlet

A dishwasher is a wonderful assistant for any housewife, but many people refuse to purchase a dishwasher because of its high price or the space it takes up. However, there are many budget machines available on the market that can be built directly into the countertop so that it does not take up unnecessary space. Therefore, in this situation, it is more difficult to find not a place for equipment, but the future location of the outlet for the dishwasher. Connecting to the electrical network should be convenient and safe, because the device works with water. Let's move on to where you can make a socket, and how best to organize everything.

Ideal “location” for a PMM socket

The most common mistake in arranging the connection point for a dishwasher is the decision to install an outlet immediately behind the body of the machine. If you do this, then the owners of the device run the risk of encountering a short circuit and other difficulties, because during sudden breakdowns they will not be able to urgently pull out the power plug. Because of this error, such a simple operation as turning it off will take extra time and effort, because you will constantly have to move the machine, which weighs quite a lot.

To avoid this, you can make an outlet right inside the kitchen cabinet. Undoubtedly, inside any bedside table there are shelves and household items, but it will still be much easier to get to the outlet. For this location, you will have to slightly damage the back wall of the cabinet by cutting out a rectangular hole in it for the socket, but it’s worth it, because there is simply no more convenient and safer option.

Also pay attention to the height of the outlet from the floor. Under no circumstances should it touch the baseboard, so it should not be installed lower than 10 centimeters from the floor. At the same time, you shouldn’t make it too high either, because if you place it at a height higher than 70 centimeters from the floor, then it simply won’t hide behind the cabinet. In addition, it is important that the outlet is far from the water or gas pipe - this will help to avoid possible problems.

What will you need to organize an outlet?

To make a dishwasher socket with your own hands, you first need to buy all the materials at any specialized store. For work we will need:

• copper wire;
• residual current device;
• moisture resistant socket;
• Voltage regulator.

Any wire will not work for a dishwasher; you must have a three-core copper wire in PVC insulation with a cross-section of 1.5 mm or more.

If you connect not only a dishwasher, but also other devices to the outlet, you will have to buy a wire with a cross-section of 2.5 mm, or calculate in advance the voltage of other equipment along with the dishwasher. Experts recommend always planning the wiring cross-section in advance, leaving yourself a small margin so that in the future you can safely increase the load and not worry about replacing sockets.

Also, for operation, a separate circuit breaker is required, which must be placed in the electrical panel in case an overload occurs. A single-pole circuit breaker for a single-phase 16A network can save you from a fire, so you only need to connect the dishwasher with it.

If several devices will be connected to the outlet, and not just a dishwasher, then you need to purchase a 20A machine.

You will also definitely need a moisture-proof outlet. The body of such an outlet is reliably protected from water penetration inside, because of this, even if water from the sink accidentally gets on it, everything will be in perfect order. Moisture-resistant sockets are a lifesaver not only in the bathroom, but also in the kitchen, so you shouldn’t skimp on them.

Finally, you need to buy a voltage stabilizer at a hardware store, without which it is difficult to live in Russia, where power grids suffer from constant instability. Yes, this is an expensive item, which is why many people ignore it, but it can save home appliances. The stabilizer protects the electrical network from sudden voltage drops, which can damage all equipment in the house in an instant. Don't skimp on safety, because by spending just $100 on a voltage stabilizer, you can save home appliances that cost much more.

For example, experts advise using the RESANTA ASN-2000 N/1-C stabilizer. With its help, you can reliably connect the dishwasher and other electrical appliances so as not to be afraid of sudden changes in power supply voltage. Before purchasing, calculate the total power of all devices that you plan to connect to the stabilizer so that it is enough for all devices.

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