Surge protector for Washing machine

17 years ago

Question:

Does anyone use a surge protector or line conditioner for their washing machines to protect the electronics?

After investing all that money in my Bosch Front loader I am worried about the control board getting blown out with a power surge or a lightning strike. I use battery backups for my computers but I'm sure the washing machine draws too much to use one of those.

Thanks

Bob

Featured Answer

sr712

17 years ago

We had a lightening strike here about 2 weeks after taking delivery of our LG TROMM Washer/Dryers last year. The strike came in through the cable service outside the garage. It took out a lot of devices in our house... 2 TiVos, our wireless phone system, cable modem, wireless router, one motherboard on one of the computers, the sprinkler controller, and several X10 device controllers. It was a very expensive day. Obviously, the electrical charge that came into the house jumped across all wired systems- cable, phone, network, and electrical. I didn't have any surge protectors on any of the systems. I'm not sure if they would have helped. My daughter was in the garage at the time of the strike putting her bike away. She saw a blue-white charge/flame enter the side of the garage just in front of where she was standing. She was scared, but fine. To the point... our LGs were plugged in at the time in the utility room, about 2 feet through the wall from where it entered. Amazingly, they were fine. I really was surprised. They were so close to the source, and plugged in, I thought for sure they were fried, too.

I now have surge protectors on everything in the house. Including single outlet ones on the LGs.

Just 2 weeks prior, a house in our neighborhood, on our street, was hit by lightning, and burned down. It came in through a lightning strike to the ground, into the house electrical service through the underground electric wires, and started a fire inside the wall at the circuit breaker box. I considered myself lucky.

Go get a surge protecor. They're cheap. It might save you from an expensive repair... might not. They have their limits too.

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Comments (13)

rolls_rapide
17 years ago
I've never used one on a kitchen appliance, but several faulty components within the appliances can cause the control boards to go wonky.

I've read of washing machines where the door interlock has caused the electronics to go haywire; the same with the carbon brushes on the motor, as they wear down through normal use.

I believe there is even a brand of dishwasher, whereby a faulty dispenser solenoid can cause an electrical spike to zap the control board.
fordtech
17 years ago
I have a whole house surge protector installed behind the meter. It cost me about 400.00 installed by the power company and has been great reassurance for years. I still use individual power strips at my computer and other sensitive electronics for an added buffer but I think for appliances as a whole you should go for the one at the power meter or breaker box to protect all the wiring in the home.
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Unplugging is not a reliable solution for a long list of reasons. First, a most unreliable solution means human intervention. Second, even early 20th Century ham radio operators disconnected their antennas, put the lead inside a mason jar, and still suffered damage. Damage stopped only when the antenna lead was earthed. That is the only reliable solution used everywhere that damage cannot happen. Your telco's computer is connected to overhead wires all over town. They disconnect - stop all phone service - everytime a thunderstorm approaches? Of course not. With about 100 surges during each storm, well, how often is your entire town without phone service for four days? Never? Because every telco everywhere in the world uses a solution that is reliable. Only effective protector is located where wires enter the building - the 'whole house' protector. AND earthing must be upgraded to both meet and exceed post 1990 code. No protector - not even the 'whole house' protector - provides protection. Protection is always the earth ground. Earthing both meets and exceeds code so that nobody knows any surge existed. A properly earthed 'whole house' protector earths even direct lightning strikes - and remains functional. The reason for earthing and a 'whole house' protector is ... well your telco never disconnects during thunderstorms - and must never suffer damage. Same reason why informed homeowners upgrade earthing for that one protector - and use computers routinely during every thunderstorm. Again, why is the 'whole house' protector so highly recommended and effective? No protector provides protection. Protection is always about where energy dissipates. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground.
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Hope you don't mind but I'd like to ask about my similar situation. Our service comes into our main panel in the barn. From there it goes to the service panel in our house (not attached to the barn). And we have a standby propane generator that is not yet hooked up to the service panel in the house (under construction). Our new home is in an area with frequent lighting strikes (and we have the scorched trees to prove it). We've had the power company out twice in the last 6 months when the transformer tripped. One of the strikes burned out all the exterior lights on the barn and an overload fuse on the well pump in the house. At the time of the strike, the power to house was actually turned off from the main service panel in the barn. Power was just running from the service to the main panel. I think that getting a whole-house surge protector might help to prevent or at least lessen damage. Do we need a whole-house surge protector for each ... barn service panel, house service panel, and generator? Or just one surge protector? I'm sure out electrician will know what to do but I'd like to get an idea of what we will need so I can budget.
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ihalsema
17 years ago
Living in Southern California, I've never had something damaged by a surge. However, that doesn't mean I don't use a surge protector for my PC - its a little like wearing a belt AND suspenders!

I wish I had a whole house surge suppressor, but keep in mind that surge suppressors should be replaced if they have done their suicidal job of burning out (like an old-fashioned fuse) when hit by a surge (see http://www.totse.com/en/technology/computer_technology/surge.html). And good luck!
georgect
17 years ago
I'm using those single outlet type surge suppressor (you can buy at Radio Shack or Home Depot), for my digital TV's and sensitive equipment.

My computer and equipment is on a battery back up/suppressor.

When I get my new FL washer, I'll use one of those single outlet suppressors for that also.

They are relatively inexpensive (about $5-$10). Better to fry that than the control board in the washer.
bobkatt
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks, I have had a modem burn out during a lightning storm when it came through the phone line and another storm took out a power supply, floppy disk drive, and cd drive in my computer. That is why I am really concerned as the control board is probably expensive on the washing machine.
Thank you everyone.
User
17 years ago
I purchased a whole-house surge protector and had it installed for less than $300 total. It has a 10 year buy-back policy for any appliance damaged by a power surge. I can't remember the brand off-hand, but will look for you if you would like.
mike_73
17 years ago
I have a single outlet surge protector on my washer since new. it may be thought of as over kill but there are electronics in the new FL washers that can be damaged by a surge. I work as a computer technician so I have seen the damage that can be done. the one thing many of you may not know is that it doesn't always take one big surge to kill a circuit board, there are often small surges that even though they won't kill it can weaken its ability to with stand surges later. If you are thinking its a good idea by all means go buy one for your washer they are not that expensive, mine was like $12 and I think of it as good cheap insurance.
speedmaster
17 years ago
Also have a whole-house surge protector at the meter. Highly recommended. Only wiring left unprotected is the phone/DSL line . . . anyone have a whole house device for that? Had a lightning strike last summer that fried our security system via the phone line, but nothing else.
User
17 years ago
Some whole-house protectors have a phone-line attachment as well. Mine does, but I'm not using it since I use VoIP for phone service.
fordtech
17 years ago
Power surges can occur within an appliance as well due to problems with a motor or mechanical failures. A good line conditioner should be part of the appliance circuitry. Unfortunately that is something that is not always implemented properly. Internal fusing should also be included but do we see it? Very rarely. Hence we see many fixes for our appliances as complete control boards and more.
Svend_excelan_com_au
13 years ago
I've pulled apart my Fisher & Paykel washer a number of times to fix issues such as blown fuses etc.

I just wanted to point out that the circuitry that converts the mains voltage has a number of thermistors located around it as surge protection. These are the same components that you would find in a commercial surge protector power board.

So if the washer manufacturer has already gone to the trouble of building in surge protection, is there any point adding more?
Carell
13 years ago
Using a back up battery for the washing machine, I donÃ¯Â¿Â½t think so if that back up battery can carry the voltage of the washing machine. But if you worried in the power supply of the washing machine, try to use an AVR.

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Surge protector for Washing machine

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Surge protector for Washing machine

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