Diagnosis faults of Washing Machine

prepare to check-up faults of Washing Machine

 Testing of washing programs in the machine is possible only when it is

connected to the water supply. However, the question arises, how to check the
washing machine when buying or when delivering home, because if this is
not done, then you can purchase non-working goods. In fact, checking the
washing machine needs to pay special attention to how to do this, let's
discuss.
What needs to be checked?
 The first check of the washing machine should take place in the store where
you buy it. It is necessary to check:
Housing for damage and defects;
Drum;
Operability when connected to the network;
Availability of a warranty card and its correct filling.
 Upon delivery of the washing machine by store employees, it is also checked:
The availability of all components;
Legs;
Integrity of the drain and inlet hose;
Transportation bolts in place;
Housing for defects.
Pre-testing procedures of Washing Machines

Washing machine is a complex appliance. Various washing machine

components and parts co-operate with each other to clean the clothes during a
pretty complicated process.

Here we are going to introduce the main washing machine parts and their
function. Since every washing machine has its own design and characteristics, we
will introduce washing machine parts which are common among all of them.

one of the main procedure of Pre-testing procedures of Washing Machines is

properly identify the main washing machine parts and their function.
Main washing machine parts and components
 Drum or tube

Let's start with the biggest washing machine part, the drum or tub.

Do you know your washing machine has two tubs?

 The one that you see and put your clothes in is the inner tube which rotates and has
some holes for water inlet and outlet.
 The outer tub contains the inner one, protects it and prevents the water from leaking to
other washing machine parts. The outer tub is stuck to the appliance body.

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Tip: since the inner tube is moving and vibrating while working, the outer one should be
installed in a way to prevent the movement transfer to other washing machine parts.
 Water inlet valve

After turning on the washing machine and setting the washing program, the inlet valve
opens automatically to enter water into the inner tube.
The water level in the tub is assigned according to the washing machine model and the
selected program.

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 Drain pump

As the name indicates the duty of this washing machine part during washing and
spinning cycles, is water draining.

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The water will leave the washing machine after the washing cycle is completed with
the help of the drain pump and the drain hose. This is a very simple washing machine
part but a very useful one.

Figure 2.5 Drain hose

 Heater element
This washing machine part heats up the water inside the tub to the desired temperature
according to the washing program. It is located under the main tub and is completely
sealed.
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Thermostat

This washing machine part measures the inlet water temperature and orders the
elements to heat the water if necessary. In fact, thermostat is in charge of the
temperature control. When the temperature reaches the desired level, it stops the
electric current to the element.

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 Electronic board
The information in this washing machine part is programmed to help the washing
machine with its operations according to the clothes’ type. This component is in fact
the brain of the washing machine.

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 Hydrostat

This washing machine part is responsible for adjusting the level of inlet water to the
appliance. It stops the water inlet when the water level in the tub reaches the adjusted
level.

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Micro switch

The main duty of this washing machine part is to make sure the washing machine door
is completely closed to start the washing operation. If the door is not closed, it prevents
the electricity from reaching the water inlet valve.

So, water doesn't enter the tub. The micro switches inside the washing machine, control
the water level in the tub, the tub angle and the filters.
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Warning: if the washing machine door opens when the water temperature in the tub
is too high, you may be burnt.
Warning: if the micro switch doesn't work properly and washing machine door opens
while the tub is spinning, inserting your hand inside the tub is too dangerous and can
break your bones.

Pulley

 Pulley is the washing machine part which looks like a big wheel locating at the back
of the tub. It is connected to the motor with a belt around it.
 When pulley starts rotating, the inner tube rotates too. In other words, the small and
big pulleys of the washing machine transfer power between the motor and the tub.
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Belt

This washing machine part connects the motor to the pulley at the back of the
tub and makes it rotate during the washing cycle.
Now that you are almost familiar with washing machine main parts, let's have
a short description of its operation in washing your clothes.
 System defects/ fault symptoms

Common fault symptoms of washing Machine

Washing machine cannot start up

Door cannot be opened
Heating fault
Water leakage
Indicator or does not light.
Detergent residues in the box
Washing effects are not good
Abnormal noise Great vibration
Water injecting problem when washing (water injecting time exceeds
7minutes)
 Test points of washing Machine

The following parts of the washing machines are the main test point during
troubleshooting

 Lid switch  Water pump

 Water level control switch  Belts and pulleys
 Timer troubles  motor
 Valve  Driver belt
 Agitator  Water leaks
 Troubleshooting procedures of washing Machine

Disassembling the Washer

Here are three steps for basic washer disassembly:

Step 1. Removing the control panel, typically located on top of the machine, usually
requires loosening and/or removing a set of retaining screws. These may be located under
a piece of molding or trim that needs to be removed in order to see them. Knobs on the
control panel are usually friction-fit and will pull off, while others are held by small
setscrews, which do not have heads like a typical slotted screw, at the base of the knob.
Loosen the setscrews with a screwdriver or Allen wrench and pull the knobs straight off
the shafts.
Step 2. To remove the service panel, you also need to remove the retaining screws. First,
make sure the machine and the hoses are drained of water. Tip the washer over on its
front or side to gain access through the bottom of the machine, which is generally open
and doesn't have a service panel.
Step 3.To remove the top of the cabinet, insert a stiff-bladed putty knife into the joint
between the top and side panels and give the knife a rap with your fist. This should
release the spring clips so that the top can be removed.
 Lid Switch

 The lid switch on a washer often serves as a safety switch, and if it's not working, or if
the switch opening in the lid is clogged with detergent, the machine will not run.

To check and repair the lid switch:

Step 1.Unplug the machine. You can clean out the lid switch port using a wooden
manicure stick or even a chopstick.
Step 2.If cleaning doesn't help; remove the top of the cabinet to access the switch itself.
With the switch exposed, check to make sure the screws have not become loose. Loose
screws can cause the switch to move when the lid is closed or as the machine goes
through its cycles. Check the terminals of the switch to make sure they're tight.
 Temperature Selector
Switch

 This control panel switch regulates the temperature of the water in the tub. It
also plays a role in controlling the fill cycle. If you suspect this switch is faulty,
remove it and take it to a professional service person for testing because this
takes special equipment.
If there's a problem with both water temperature and tub filling cycles, both the
temperature switch and the timer may be faulty. Procedures for testing the timer
can be found on the following page.
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 Water Level Control Switch

 This is another control panel switch, usually located next to the temperature switch.
There should be a small hose connected to this switch, and sometimes, this hose
becomes loose and falls off the connection.

When this happens, the water in the tub usually overflows. To solve this problem, cut
about 1/2 inch off the end of the hose and use a push fit to reconnect it to the switch.
A push fit is a simple metal fitting that fastens into place by a row of small teeth that grip
the tubing. The switch itself can also malfunction, resulting in tub overflow and other
water-level trouble in the tub. If you suspect this switch is faulty, remove it by backing out
the screws holding it in place and take it to a professional service person for testing.

If you've gotten this far and your washer is still broken, don't give up now. We're only
getting started, and your laundry isn't going anywhere. Keep reading because in the next
section we'll discuss why it may just be bad timing.
 Check and isolate Circuits using testing procedures

 A washing machine is an electrical machine consisting of different types of

electric motors, switches, times, buzzers, etc.
 So, as an electrician, you must know the internal working function of a washing
machine. This will help you a lot to repair a washing machine.
There are different types of washing machines from the different manufacturer are
available in the market, but all the washing machine works almost in the same
principle.

 Washing Machine Wiring and Connection Here, you can see the internal
components and circuit of a washing machine.

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Spin Motor
Spin Motor is also known as a dryer motor. It is used to dry the clothes. A spin motor is
a single-phase induction motor. It has two windings Starting winding and running winding.
It required a capacitor to start. Generally, a capacitor is used with this spin motor. Also, you
can see in the above wiring diagram, a capacitor is connected to the spin motor. The spin
motor is low power rated than the wash motor.

Wash Motor
A Wash motor is used to wash the cloth. It is more powerful than the spin motor because
it has to make the movement of wet clothes with water. The wash motor is also a single-
phase induction motor, it also has two windings - running winding and starting winding.
Here also, a capacitor is required for its operation. The wash motor is subjected to rotate in
both directions and it is done by the wash timer. The speed and torque of the Wash motor
are more than the spin motor.
Spin Timer
Spin Timer is used to operate the Spin motor. A spin timer is a two-terminal device; it is to
be connected with the spin motor and the power supply. Spin motor and Spin timer are used
in both semiautomatic and automatic washing machines.
Wash Timer
The Wash Timer is used to operate the wash motor. The function of the wash timer is to
rotate the wash motor with a preset time, change the direction of the rotation of the motor,
and turn on the buzzer or alarm when washing is completed. There are different types of
wash timers are available such as three-terminal wash timers, four-terminal wash timers,
and six terminal wash timers

Door Switch
The door switch provides the function to operate the washing machine when the door is
only in closed condition. You can see the door switch is connected in series with the spin
motor so, until the door is closed, the spin motor will not work.
Nowadays, commercially available washing machines are provided with features like the
auto-off timer, reversible impeller, etc. Most of them have mechanical timers, reverses, etc.
Some are equipped with electronic timers. But they are very expensive and out of reach of
the average consumer.
 Electronic Washing Machine Control circuit

It provides all the facilities provided by reputed companies and even more. The
circuit has a timer circuit that can be set to any duration from 0 to 15 minutes and can
be extended to any length of time by merely changing a capacitor.
The circuit has switching circuits that run the impeller in one direction for 25 seconds
and stop the motor for five seconds.
This cycle repeats until the time set in the timer has elapsed.
An optional switch is provided to select normal/strong washes. During ‘normal’
washing, the impeller rotates in both directions alternatively with the five-second gap
between reversals. This type of wash is suitable for delicate clothes.
During ‘strong’ washing, the impeller rotates in one direction only with a five-second
push after every 25 seconds.
Another switch is provided to select the ‘continuous’ facilities. In this mode, the
impeller rotates in one direction only continuously. This mode is suitable for blankets,
rugs, etc. You can also check another washing machine motor control circuit.
Circuit Description of Electronics Washing Machine Control
Figure . Washing Machine Control circuit
 Circuit Description of Electronics Washing Machine Control

 The heart of the circuit is IC3 which is a CMOS decade counter cum decoder.
 The IC provides ten outputs that go high one at a time for every clock pulse applied at
pin 14.
 The clock pulses are obtained by IC1 NE555 wired in astable multivibrator mode.
 The second, third, fourth, and fifth outputs are OR’ed by four 1N4148 diodes (D 1 –
D4).

 Similarly, the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th outputs are OR, ed by another four 1N4148 diodes
(D5 – D8). The first and sixth outputs are left unused.
 When IC3 starts counting, the first pulse is not received by any diode, and during that
period transistors T3 and T2 are off and the relays are also off, disabling the motor.
 During counts from the second to the fifth pulse, T 3 is on and T2 is off. The motor runs
in one direction for four clock pulses .
 During the sixth pulse, once again T3 and T2 are off and the motor stops.
 During seventh to tenth pulses, T3 and T2 are on and the motor runs in the opposite
directions due to the switching of winding by relay RL 1 contacts.
The timer is based on IC2 CD4060 which divides by 16384 counters.
The timer can be set by a 1M potentiometer. After the set-time T 1 switches T2 and
T3 off, thus disabling the motor. The 4060 can be reset by the push-to-on switch
provided.
Capacitor C4 is a starting capacitor already fixed to the motor. Relay RL 1 and
RL2 are 6V, 100 Ω, and 6A rated relays. The circuit can be assembled on the general-
purpose PCB. Mains wiring should be made with high current stranded copper wire.
The circuit being fairly simple does not pose any problem.
Note: SW1 = Normal/Strong Selector
SW2 = Continuous Selector
SW4 = Reset
PARTS LIST of Electronic Washing Machine Control

Resistors (all ¼-watt, ± 5% Carbon)

R1, R6 = 1 KΩ
R2, R4 = 100 KΩ
R3 = 1 MΩ
R5 = 4.7 KΩ
R7 = 10 KΩ
R8, R12, R13 = 470 Ω
R9-R11 = 750
VR1 = 1 MΩ Lin.

Capacitors

C1 = 47 µF, 25V (Electrolytic Capacitor)

C2, C5, C6 = 0.01 µF (Ceramic Disc)
C3 = 1 µF, 25V (Electrolytic Capacitor)
C4 = starting capacitor already connected with motor
C6 = 1000 µF, 25V (Electrolytic Capacitor)
C8 = 0.1 µF (Ceramic Disc)

Semiconductors

IC1 = NE555 (Timer IC)

IC2 = CD4060 (14-stage Binary Ripple Counter IC)
IC3 = CD4017 (Decade Counter IC)
T1 – T3 = BC148B (General Purpose NON Transistor)
D1 – D11, D13, D15 = 1N4148 (Signal Switching Signal Diode)
D12, D14, D16 – D19 = 1N4001 (Rectifier Diode)

Miscellaneous
 Defects and faults of washing machine

1. The Electrical Circuit

Samsung front load washers have been recalled due to the risk of tripping a household
electrical circuit. The main reason was the internal water leakage in the machine. If water
spills on the washer’s electrical connections, it might cause the circuit board to burn,
posing a fire hazard in your home. Samsung received various complaints on this issue,
but luckily no injuries or deaths are reported.
Solution
If this is the case, you must immediately unplug your washer from the electrical outlet
until you receive a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt (GFCI) breaker from Samsung. The
new ground fault circuit interrupt breaker will prevent potential fire hazards to
consumers.
2. Washer is not spinning
Your washing machine’s spin performance may not be as good as it should be for
several reasons. The machine has sensors that detect a problem and automatically slow
or stop the spin cycle. Suspension wear, drain pump failure, faulty door lock, drum nut
loosening, and maybe a broken plastic bracket at the back of the machine can all
influence the spinning cycle.
The solution: Before calling a technician, you must detect the problem by yourself. To
check this:
You need to run a spin cycle with no load and no detergent.
Once the cycle begins, keep an eye on the drum as initially the machine fills the water,
and look carefully through the door to see if the drum is spinning. It is normal for
the machine to stop and start several times during the rotation.
Then, try out putting small and large loads to detect the spin cycle. Some Samsung
washers operate well on large loads and require more water during the spin cycle to
compensate for the small loads.
If the drum still does not rotate during the wash cycles, it is a major issue requiring a
technician’s services.
 3. Washer Leaking Water
Water leakage is another prevalent issue reported by homeowners.
During the wash cycle, it frequently leaks, and there could be several reasons for this.
How to check and fix water leakage?
In this case, double-check that the door is properly closed and make sure the hose
connections are fully tight.
Also, check the drain hose connection to the drainage system as it often causes leakage
in the washer. Using too much or wrong detergent, which causes excess foaming, might
also lead to leaks.So, reduce the detergent quantity or try another detergent brand to
detect the real problem.
If your washing machine uses too much water during the wash cycle, it can also cause
a leak in the machine’s inner lines. So, try to lower the water level to avoid puncturing
the drain pipes.

4. The Detergent Remains in the Dispenser after the Wash Cycle

This problem occurs when there is insufficient water pressure to wash the detergent
thoroughly.
If you are using old detergent in the machine, it can also cause blockage in the
dispenser. So, you may need a proper cleaning of the detergent drawer.
How to clean the detergent drawer in Samsung Washing Machine?

Check out the following steps for cleaning the detergent drawer in the Samsung
washers.
Firstly, open the detergent drawer.
There will be a release lever (A) on the inside of the drawer; press it
Pull out the detergent drawer at the same time you press it.
After that, remove the liquid detergent guide (optional) and the softener division
from the drawer.
Now, all parts should be washed under running water.
Clean the blockage in the detergent drawer with an old toothbrush.
Now, firmly push the liquid detergent guide and the softener division into the
detergent drawer.
Finally, push the detergent drawer back where it belongs.
5. Washer Not Starting
This is a common problem with front load washers, and there could be several
reasons for it.
Make sure your washer is plugged in, and the door is firmly closed. Also, double-
check that the water faucets are turned on. If these don’t work, the problem could be
a blown fuse.
So, you might need to reset the electrical circuit breaker to start the machine. If the
problem persists, you should seek help from a technician.
 Check Control settings/adjustments.
Your washing machine has three main settings: agitation, length, and temperature. These
are the main features your machine has which allow you to tailor your wash to the fabrics
you’re cleaning.
Setting Agitation. For delicates, you need less agitation. Sturdy items, cotton, synthetics,
and heavily soiled garments need the most.
Setting length. Fast cycles are great for lightly soiled garments and emergency washes.
Setting temperature. With Ariel, you can wash at different temperature settings and get
brilliant stain removal while saving energy. You cannot set the temperature higher than the
wash default, only lower.
However, most washing machines also come with other useful features such as a:
Digital display. This display tells you how much time remains on your wash program.
Time delay. This setting is useful if you want to run a wash cycle at night when electricity
is cheaper, or you want the machine to wash your clothes just before you get home.
Load detection. Some washing machines detect the washing load weight in the drum and
can select the optimal cycle. This feature helps you save water and energy but is a feature
found on premium models only.
Child lock. This feature helps keeps curious little hands from using the controls or
playing with the doors