Washer pulsates (Flickers-Pulsates House Lights)
#1
11-05-04, 06:11 AM
GE Washer pulsates -pulsates-pulsates
3 year old GE washer pulsates when it gets to the spin cycle, causing all the lights in my house to flicker/pulsate in unison. I used an extension cord to plug the unit into a different circuit so that I could determine whether or not the problem was in my house wiring or in the washer. The problem is deffinitely in the washer.............?
#2
11-07-04, 07:31 PM
Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 513
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Do the lights flicker in any room or just 1 or 2 rooms? The problem may be that the washer circuit is on the same service leg {phase} in the main panel.For example,if the lights are on circuit #1 and the washer circuit is #3 they may be on the same phase.The reason the lights flicker is becase of the high current draw of the washer putting an extra load on that side of the service
#4
11-07-04, 09:29 PM
Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 50
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
I have a similar problem. My panel was upgraded when I moved in and I know they are on different breakers. The problem was 10 times worse before the upgrade. Is this normal? I know the power in my neighborhood is not that great out light in the house blink occasionally when the neighbors draw allot of power
#5
11-08-04, 04:37 AM
lights flicker all over the house, especially noticable in the kitchen where we have recessed lighting. I know it is not on the same circuit with the other lights, and I have ruled out that there may be a problem with the circuit breaker by plugging the unit into a different circuit. (The house is 16 years old).
When the pulsating begins, I hear a click of a switch within the washer that engages just before the spin cycle starts. After the click, the rotor begins to spin. But, just as soon as it stars spinning, there is another click, the sound of a switch disengaging, and the spin stops. Then the cycle starts all over. With every cycle, the drain on the power dims the lights. Normally, the unit would continue on its spin cycle, and maybe the lights would dim for a moment or so but I do not know. That would have been almost unnoticable as it would only happen a few times during the entire wash and rinse cycle.
Any ideas on the repair................???????????
When the pulsating begins, I hear a click of a switch within the washer that engages just before the spin cycle starts. After the click, the rotor begins to spin. But, just as soon as it stars spinning, there is another click, the sound of a switch disengaging, and the spin stops. Then the cycle starts all over. With every cycle, the drain on the power dims the lights. Normally, the unit would continue on its spin cycle, and maybe the lights would dim for a moment or so but I do not know. That would have been almost unnoticable as it would only happen a few times during the entire wash and rinse cycle.
Any ideas on the repair................???????????
#10
02-09-05, 08:07 PM
I had an old Whirlpool washer that would engage/disengage constantly during the wash cycle, the repairman wanted $100 plus labor to replace the timer. When I asked what tests he had performed to determine it was the timer failing, he got really testy... Turns out, he didn't actually perform any tests, it was just a wild stab.
After he was gone, I went into the washer and found out what the problem was. There was a 115v solenoid that engaged a clutch to spin the tub located underneath the tub that had two wires going to it, the solenoid was on a part of the mechinism that it would rock back and forth, and this had caused the wires to the solenoid to begin to break at the "faston" crimp connectors. I Replaced the wires, and it cured the problem completely.
It sounds like the GEs could have a similar problem (although the Whirlpool was a lot older at the time). It's an easy repair, it's just a little hard to troubleshoot since the solenoid is 115 v, so be careful.
Of course, the GE might be a completely different configuration. In that case, nevermind.
After he was gone, I went into the washer and found out what the problem was. There was a 115v solenoid that engaged a clutch to spin the tub located underneath the tub that had two wires going to it, the solenoid was on a part of the mechinism that it would rock back and forth, and this had caused the wires to the solenoid to begin to break at the "faston" crimp connectors. I Replaced the wires, and it cured the problem completely.
It sounds like the GEs could have a similar problem (although the Whirlpool was a lot older at the time). It's an easy repair, it's just a little hard to troubleshoot since the solenoid is 115 v, so be careful.
Of course, the GE might be a completely different configuration. In that case, nevermind.
#11
02-11-05, 06:35 AM
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 89
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
If you can plug in a high-amps appliance into this receptacle and not experience the flicker, you've pretty much ruled out the house wiring.
You might want to post your question in one of the appliance-repair forums such as http://forum.doityourself.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1 for more specific advice.
You might want to post your question in one of the appliance-repair forums such as http://forum.doityourself.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1 for more specific advice.
