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Hard wiring

Here in the Netherlands hard wiring is required for washing machines placed in bathrooms etc. No sockets other than special shaving sockets are allowed in such rooms. The wiring connector box is usually located out of reach and has a two-pole switch that can be operated by pulling a rope. The electrical cord should be installed such that it cannot touch the floor.
 
Hello people, tkanks for all these explanations. Here we can learn a lot of interesting things. Now I know why some plugs have a "hole". That's for the protruding pin for the french standards. My appartment have almost three years but I noticed that in some new appartments there are no more hard-wiring boxes, but standard plugs, probably or quite sure because of the European standards.
 
Hi Nino and thanks! Yes Bosch and Siemens are great appliances. I am very happy with my Bosch dryer and dishwasher. My grandmother have a Siemens dishwasher and a 18 years old Siemens washing machine. The washer can't hide the years, especially during the spin cycle, but is stil going :)
I know that some Bosch products are made by gorenje and some gorenje dishwashers are made by Bosch. Yes you are right, my washer shows the water usage per load on the display. Bye, Ingemar
 
Now we're talking electric connections..

I'll tell you a bit about my set up. I have two washers and two dryers connected to one connector box. This connector box was originally meant for hooking up one washer and one dryer, but I did it a bit differently. Instead of connecting the machines directly I connected two automatic switch boxes to it, for each set one. These switch boxes are used for a washer and dryer set. When the washer draws a lot of power when it's heating it automatically shuts off the dryer until the heating is done. Then it lets the dryer to continue. Here's a picture of one of those automatic switch boxes.
 
Hi Louis,

So you have a "wasmachineschakelaar" with a three position switch: washer/off/dryer. Interesting... I have never seen those before.
 
Washing machines and dryers in Ireland are normally just plugged in with a BS1363 (IS401) 13amp plug the same as any other appliance. Our sockets generally don't use 32amp ring circuits like the UK, rather they're connected to 20amp radials. A laundry room or kitchen would typically be supplied with several of these circuits to allow all machines to operate simultaneously.

If the machines are built in, they normally have their plugs located in a position where they can be easily accessed to disconnect them. Otherwise, they need to be connected via a double-pole switch, or be placed on a dedicated circuit that can be easily isolated at the circuit breaker.

Also, all socket outlets (less than 32 amps) are required to be connected to an RCD (GFCI) since the late 1970s.

For very large capacity dryers, they are directly connected to a 20amp or 32amp dedicated radial circuits. In this case, they would have a double-pole switch located near by. The wiring rules in this case would be similar to an electric shower or water heater i.e. local isolating double pole switch on a dedicated circuit with an RCD/MCB.
 
Hi Louis! *WAVES*

~When the washer draws a lot of power when it's heating it automatically shuts off the dryer until the heating is done. Then it lets the dryer to continue.

Can we then assume the dryer has mechanical (not electronic controls)and that there is no "push-to-start" button?

To me is is interesting to see the various safeguards used when ordianry line voltage is 220v!

~The wiring rules in this case would be similar to an electric shower or water heater i.e. local isolating double pole switch on a dedicated circuit with an RCD/MCB.

IIRC the neutral here in this country may not be switched or otherwise interrupted all the way to the load. Of course two-pole switches are desrable with our 220v which has two "hot" leads. Sometimes double-pole swithces are not used with 220v circuits here (Only ONe of two "hots" are switched; this poses the hazard of a potentially live circuit should there be a ground-fault even with the aplliance/load switched "off".

Thanks all, always a learning experience here
 
Neutral switching...

Toggleswitch:
Neutral is switched too because it is unsafe not to do so. Theoretically the voltage should be zero but that cannot be guaranteed. I live in a 1930s apartment and in my bathroom the light was double switched too. (Till the 1990s we had a 220V system with two hot wires and no neutral at all)

Louis:
Like Toggleswitch I was also wondering how electronic dryers react on switching on and off the power supply. I have this Asko washing machine and find it very frustrating that I cannot interrupt the program without starting again at the beginning of the cycle, something that was no problem with my mechanical Miele.
 
Waves back at the audience LOL

I read a warning somewhere too that electronic controlled dryers could give a problem on such an automatic box. My Miele dryer has electronic controls and a start button but it works on this box. You only have to restart the Miele when the door has been opened.

My Miele washer works in the same way. After a power failure it just will continue the cycle. This being an older Miele you can't open it when it's running but I can open the door with the extra mechanical door opener behind the lint trap door, add laundry and then close the door again. The Miele will continue from where it was stopped.

BTW, I don't think my set up would meet standard safety regulations, but it's not within reach from the shower.

Apologies to Ingemar for hijacking the thread! Is this interesting enough to start a new thread? For instance about electrical installations in Europe?
 
Louis,

I am sure that your set up is not according to the regulations. I remember seeing a picture of your bathroom with loose electrical cords all over the place!
 
Maybe we should start a thread about the various inventive and possibly a bit risky solutions to connect appliances to the power supply?
 
~Apologies to Ingemar for hijacking the thread!

I should be saying that! Thanks guys for indulging my silly questions!

If we are to start a new thread, I'd love to hear how the various countries in Europe converted from 110v to 220v. Sounds like it was a bitch-and-a half (difficult) to do!
 
~Maybe we should start a thread about the various inventive and possibly a bit risky solutions to connect appliances to the power supply?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm, sounds to me somebody wants to be slapped! LOL

Toggles,

No silly questions, I know you're intrigued by this kind of electrical stuff. I'm always intrigued by other systems as well. When I got online in 1997 it wasn't only appliances that had my interest but I also searched a lot on the American electrical system.
 
Louis,

I had no intention to offend you with my suggestion for a new thread, but your solution for connecting washers/dryers to the mains just reminded me of my own set up which is certainly not up to current regulations. I am about to open a new thread in the "Super" forum about this.
 

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