I am talking about mild “tingles” and not proper electric shocks. However, if anyone receives any kind of electric shock, the appliance should be disconnected immediately, and an appliance engineer called out. Mild electric shocks or tingles might not be taken seriously, but they can turn into lethal full mains voltage shocks at any time.
So never use any appliance even if you only get a mild shock from. Disconnect it immediately. The reason you get shocks from a washing machine, or any other appliance, is because it is not earthed properly.
Why Does an unearthed appliance cause shocks?
All large appliances need to be connected to earth for safety. The earth wire runs down the mains cable and then through the socket it is plugged into. If this connection becomes broken at any point in the machine, cable, plug or wall socket, then you can get the symptom of mild electric shocks.
The shocks are often mild, or just tingles because they are caused by small amounts of electricity leaking or inducing across to the disconnected earth wire and running through the casing. It’s a phenomenon related to eddy current, but it’s not necessary to understand the scientific reason.
Such an appliance poses a serious danger. Because the mild shocks indicate that the washing machine is not earthed it means that if a component inside the machine’s insulation breaks down, or a live wire comes adrift and touches the metal parts inside, then the low voltage current will be replaced by the full mains voltage – which can kill. Without a path to earth, the washing machine cannot blow the fuse, and instead could just work as normal but be lethal.
Plug not earthed?
The first thing an engineer is likely to check is the appliances plug. They would check inside the plug to make sure the green and yellow earth wire is connected securely.
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If it’s OK, then either the earth wire inside the mains cable could have a break somewhere inside and needs replacing, or it may not be connected inside the washing machine. (The latter is very unlikely, I’ve never known it, but it’s theoretically possible). Both can (and should) be checked with a continuity test meter by checking the continuity between the earth pin on the plug and the metal door hinge or another suitable bare metal point on the washing machine.
Moulded plugs
Most appliances have long since come with pre-fitted moulded plugs which can’t be checked. So if unable to check inside the plug the first thing an engineer would check is the continuity down from the earth pin as described above. If he had a good reading he shouldn’t need to look inside the plug anyway. If the reading was open circuit or high resistance, but the earth was connected properly inside the machine he’d cut off the plug about an inch down and replace it because earth wires can break at that point. If that failed to make a difference he’d replace the mains cable.
Extension cables
If the appliance is plugged into an extension cable then clearly there could be a problem anywhere on the extension. So an engineer would check the earth connections and continuity on the extension cable. Ideally ditch the extensions, they aren’t ideal on large white goods appliances. If one is necessary try another extension (but make sure it’s appropriate – appliances and extension cables). I have seen appliances plugged into totally inappropriate extension cables that are using 2 core cable with no earth!
Wall socket not earthed
Another possibility is a fault in the wall socket. The earth wire could be disconnected inside or the brass earth prongs inside could be worn or too far apart to grip the earth pin on the plug properly. Obviously you don’t mess with wall sockets. If you suspect a faulty wall socket get an electrician – not an appliance engineer.
Don’t confuse with static electricity discharges
If you get just a single short shock when you touch an appliance (possibly accompanied by a cracking sound) which doesn’t reoccur when you touch the appliance again this could be static electricity discharging from your body and is very different to this issue.
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Sorry I have just re read orginal message and was reading wrong article I was reading one about plugs socket and extention leads not one high lighted in your message. Thanks again
Hi P.Y. That explains the confusion :) Yes I was referring to the article I gave you in my recent comment Washing Machine Tripping or Fusing Electrics. That’s the article that can help to find the cause of low insulation but it’s too involved for most people.
Just removed my old cooker hood from socket and fitted the new purchased one (Leisure PCWB9752BP), by simply plug-in to socket and attach it to wall (10min job).
I accidentally touched the casing of the hood with my finger skin and my upper arm skin and it gived me small amount of shock. I sticked out my tension screwdrived and it lit up when i touched the hood casing. My previous cooker hood didn’t had this issue.
This new hood has a box on top of it, that connects on two connectors that comes out from the hood then power cord from this box to the socket. This box needed to be earthed to the hood metal casing by 2 screws. No really sure what happened or if thsi is normal. What is causing this shocks?
Can someone reply asap please?
Hello John. The only thing that can cause shocks is if the appliance is not earthed. If the motor is entirely plastic it shouldn’t normally need earthing but if it has metal parts that touch the casing it needs to be earthed. You shouldn’t have to do anything specific, it should automatically be earthed if it needs earthing. If it’s plugged into a wall socket check the plug and check the socket to ensure it’s earthed. You can buy socket testers to plug into wall sockets.
Hi Andy, Thank you for quick reply. I have added a picture with the hood itself so you can clearly see the box on top of it. That box has a metal braket on the botton that needed to be attached on to the casing with 2 screws and ground simbol on it.
I will check the socket to see if the ground wire hasnt been disconnected when moving the socket.
https://media.ao.com/en-GB/Productimages/Images/rvLarge/leisure_pcwb9752bp_bk_05_l.jpg
Spoken with manufacturer today and they said it might be some problems with my socket and not with their hood.
Also one more thing. When i start the hood everything works ok, but i can hear a whisle sound coming out from there also, not just a motor spinning. Is that ok? Seems really strange
Hello John. Yes the only way you can get a shock is if the earth is not connected somewhere on the appliance or the electricity supply it’s connected to. If it was, the fuse should trip. Be sure to fix it asap as if there is no earth you get the small electric shock as described in my article, but if a proper electrical fault developed that would change to lethal mains voltage.
I would say it’s very unlikely that the earth fault is with a new appliance, and much more likely to be an installation or electricity supply issue. I don’t know about the whistling sound though. I don’t really deal with cooker hoods.
Thank you Andy. I will have some picture done tonight and will show you, you might find if that’s ok or not.
Thank you for your help Andy. The socket installed was installed without an actual earth wire, so basically just two wires was there. That’s why the applience was giving shocks. Sorted out fantastic now by myself. Thank You