boboh1
Well-known member
On the back of my vintage washer and dryers there is a labeled grounding screw. Does this have to be connected to a cold water pipe or is it not really needed?
Appliance Ground Wire?
- Thread starter boboh1
- Start date
Help Support :
Unless the hookup wires for the washers and dryers have been changed to use a cord with a ground AND the grounding conductor of the hookup cord has been correctly attached to the appliance frame, don't take a chance and connect a sturdy ground wire to each appliance. We're a little fussy about grounding up here in Canada - three-wire cords for 120v appliances and four-wire cords for 240v appliances (dryers, ranges) have been the norm for over 40 years now...
boboh1
Well-known member
The washer and dryer still have the original plugs. If the plug has only two prongs then not grounded. If three then it must have in the built in ground wire. I'll have to check and see how my machines are. Better safe then sorry to hook up ground wire I suppose.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Ground 'Em!
Not just for safety - if you have a Maytag dryer with Electronic Control, the dryer actually requires grounding for proper operation.
Your local hardware store will have copper grounding wire, which is heavy-gauge, single-strand solid copper wire, and the correct ground clamps that fit onto the nearest cold water pipe. Cheap insurance.
Here's a shot of my Almond 806 pair showing the ground wires running up the wall to the cold water pipe:
Not just for safety - if you have a Maytag dryer with Electronic Control, the dryer actually requires grounding for proper operation.
Your local hardware store will have copper grounding wire, which is heavy-gauge, single-strand solid copper wire, and the correct ground clamps that fit onto the nearest cold water pipe. Cheap insurance.
Here's a shot of my Almond 806 pair showing the ground wires running up the wall to the cold water pipe:
boboh1
Well-known member
Thanks
Will ground them. Can you use the cold water pipe that goes to a hot water heater or the pipe that goes to the washer itself?
Will ground them. Can you use the cold water pipe that goes to a hot water heater or the pipe that goes to the washer itself?
danemodsandy
Well-known member
DON'T....
Don't use a cold-water supply pipe leading to the water heater. A properly-installed water heater has a grounding system necessary to its operation, and installing another ground in this area could conceivably interfere with the one for the water heater under certain conditions. BTW, this is true for both electric and gas water heaters, though the grounding system is different for gas.
The one leading to the washer is fine.
Don't use a cold-water supply pipe leading to the water heater. A properly-installed water heater has a grounding system necessary to its operation, and installing another ground in this area could conceivably interfere with the one for the water heater under certain conditions. BTW, this is true for both electric and gas water heaters, though the grounding system is different for gas.
The one leading to the washer is fine.
davetranter
Well-known member
@ turquoise Dude
Not wishing to 'hijack' the thread, but...
'4-wire cord'?? I'm fascinated!! Or is it a 'two-tap' type supply (Gnd-Neutral-120-240)???
Surely it can't be two separate earth connections??? Not even our ridiculously overcomplex regulations require that...
All best
Dave T
Not wishing to 'hijack' the thread, but...
'4-wire cord'?? I'm fascinated!! Or is it a 'two-tap' type supply (Gnd-Neutral-120-240)???
Surely it can't be two separate earth connections??? Not even our ridiculously overcomplex regulations require that...
All best
Dave T
Dave . . .
The standard 240v four wire plug has the two split phase hots, neutral and one ground. Obviously the neutral and ground are electrically pretty much the same but have their own paths back to the panel. Some 240v appliances use 120v control circuits so they will use the neutral and one hot to provide 120v for that and the two hots for resistance heaters or whatever needs the 240v circuit.
The standard 240v four wire plug has the two split phase hots, neutral and one ground. Obviously the neutral and ground are electrically pretty much the same but have their own paths back to the panel. Some 240v appliances use 120v control circuits so they will use the neutral and one hot to provide 120v for that and the two hots for resistance heaters or whatever needs the 240v circuit.
davetranter
Well-known member
Hydraulique
Ahh... So it's a Centre Tap Earth system... 120-0-120 plus Protective Ground. Here we just have Earthed Neutral, 240V phase, and protective ground. It has to be said that yours is (of course) the more flexible system, allowing use of either (or dual) voltage appliances. it certainly simplifies multi-tap heaters, for instance...
Thanks
Dave T
Ahh... So it's a Centre Tap Earth system... 120-0-120 plus Protective Ground. Here we just have Earthed Neutral, 240V phase, and protective ground. It has to be said that yours is (of course) the more flexible system, allowing use of either (or dual) voltage appliances. it certainly simplifies multi-tap heaters, for instance...
Thanks
Dave T
