Grounding a washing machine in a private house

It is very important to properly organize grounding in the house. This is not a whim, but a mandatory norm regulated by the rules for the construction of electrical installations (PEU). Everyone should understand that this is the basis of electrical safety. To organize grounding, it is not necessary to call a specialist. It's not as difficult as it seems. Let's figure out how to ground a washing machine in a private house, what will be needed during the work process, and which circuit diagram to choose.

Choosing a method

If you decide to do the grounding yourself, you need to decide what the structure will look like. Let’s look at what options you can choose from and what are the pros and cons of each circuit. Read more about ground loops.

1. Pin method. This method is considered the simplest. Its advantages: quick assembly, minimum preparatory work and great variability when choosing the installation location. The stakes are driven in at a certain distance from each other and connected with a metal strip and wire.
2. Square. This method is rarely used. It is more labor-intensive and costly. To make grounding, you will need a lot of metal corners and welding.
3. Triangle. It is considered the second easiest to install after the pin circuit. This design is the most reliable, so people try to ground the washing machine this way. An undoubted advantage is that with this connection method there is minimal consumption of materials.
4. Circle. The most difficult circuit to perform. It is very rare in private homes.

The most economical and easiest way is to make grounding in the form of a triangle.

“Triangular” grounding is in no way inferior to a pin circuit in terms of reliability.Therefore, it is better to organize a safe connection for a washing machine in a private home this way.

We make the design

If there is no grounding in the house, then family members using household appliances are in no way protected from electric shock. Therefore, the importance of such a measure cannot be underestimated. To make grounding for a washing machine, you will need:

• welding machine;
• Bulgarian;
• bayonet shovel;
• sledgehammer;
• wrench 14.

Materials you will need:

• three metal corners, 50 by 50 mm. The length of each should be one and a half to two meters;
• 4 pieces of metal strip, at least 11 cm wide;
• about five meters of copper wire, with one conductor cross-section of 6 mm2;
• bolt 14;
• a pair of washers of the appropriate size for the bolt and a nut.

The first step is to dig a small “ditch” in the shape of a triangle. You also need to make a separate strip from which the copper wire will go to the electrical panel. The depth of the trench for the grounding loop must be at least 70 cm. Having finished with the trench, you need to drive a metal corner into each of the vertices of the triangle. For these purposes you will need a sledgehammer. As a result, 15-20 cm of the pin should “stick out” above the ground.

After this, you should start welding. The corners driven into the soil are connected to each other with metal strips. The welding seam must be at least 10 cm. The fourth strip must be welded from one vertex of the triangle to the place where the connection to the distribution panel will be organized. The final stage is connecting the wire to the ground bus. To do this, you need to drill a hole in the metal strip, crimp the cable using a sleeved end and tighten it with a bolt, washers and nut.

Testing the circuit resistance

Before connecting the wire to the bus, it is imperative to check the loop resistance. You should take a regular lamp, connect one wire to the phase, and the second to the delta cable. The light should glow brightly.

Having completed the test, you can connect the ground wire to the bus. In fact, making a contour with your own hands is not difficult. All you need is time and welding skills.

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