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Surge Protector for Dishwasher???? How?

edwardh1 | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on November 14, 2009 03:34am

My 1.5 year old dishwasher was worked on by the big box store warranty company technician. They worked on it 5 times in a month and put about $500 in parts in it, NOT COUNTING the labor charge for each trip. The $95 4 year warranty I bought covered it.
Cause is unknown, but the cost of electronic parts and “touchpads” is amazing.
Main brain control board was like $175 and the touch pad was almost as much.

If I wanted to add a surge protector, like a one receptacle kind used on computers, what would I do?
Mount a standard 110v receptacle box under my sink, then cut a 3 inch hole in the side of the dishwasher enclosure, and use a 14 ga rubber cord and plug from the dishwasher over to plug into the recep, where I would have the surge protector already plugged in? would that be code, having a plug/wire going thru the cabinet?

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  1. DanH | Nov 14, 2009 04:04am | #1

    How is the dishwasher currently powered? Some are powered off a plug (to provide the "disconnect") and using a (heavy duty) surge strip would be easy in that case.

    Dunno if it's code-legal to have the cord go through the side of the cabinet, but I'd guess it's done all the time.

    You can get "hard wired" surge protectors, but they tend to be a bit expensive:
    http://www.stopsurges.com/INTERMATIC-IG3240RC-RESIDENTIAL-LIGHT-COMMERCIAL-SURFACE-MNT-IG3240RC.htm

    A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity. --Jimmy Carter
  2. User avater
    CapnMac | Nov 14, 2009 04:13am | #2

    Well, if your jurisdiction allows a plug, rather than 'hard wiring' for the dishwasher, it would seem that a microwave protector would be easier than an entire surge protection strip or the like (and not invite plugging in instant water heaters or the like under the sink).

    You could probably get away with a smaller hole, say 1/2", in the cabinet side, if you use a power tool replacement cord to hook up the d/w.

    And, really, if you are boring a big hole, go 1.25 to fit a standard desktop grommet (or whatever dimension matches the grommets you can get).  Neater install overall, and reusable if/when the d/w expires.

    Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
  3. PedroTheMule | Nov 14, 2009 07:40am | #3

    If I wanted to add a surge protector, like a one receptacle kind used on computers, what would I do?

    Hi edwardh1,

    While I appreciate your approach to this situation.....it raises other concerns...if you really suspect that much surge in that short of a period...then what about your TVs, refrigerator, microwaves....all those devices as well.

    So, with that much power bleeding through, I'd be putting a whole house surge on before I even got to the individual units.

     

    View Image  

  4. Scott | Nov 14, 2009 08:35am | #4

    I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that a surge protector will change anything, but I'm glad you bought the warranty.

    Most extended warranties are cash-cows for the retailer. You landed on the lucky side of this one.

    On the other hand, this machine might be a lemon. I hope you can shake out the bugs before the warranty expires.



    Edited 11/14/2009 12:39 am by Scott

    1. DanH | Nov 14, 2009 04:30pm | #5

      Yeah, if it keeps burning out electronics I'd suspect something along the lines of a bad internal power supply or a loose internal ground connection.
      A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity. --Jimmy Carter

    2. edwardh1 | Nov 14, 2009 06:41pm | #6

      I think many circuits boards are made in china now so you know what that means.
      And some techs now guess at whats wrong

      Edited 11/14/2009 11:15 am ET by edwardh1

      1. DanH | Nov 14, 2009 08:58pm | #7

        Some?
        A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity. --Jimmy Carter

        1. woodway | Nov 14, 2009 09:18pm | #10

          You've got that right! Everything from shoes to computer hard drives, even the damn lens on my Canon camera, which clearly indicates "CANON" on the ring, is made in China. Opps, wait a second...is it really CANON or is it a KNOCK OFF?

          1. DanH | Nov 14, 2009 09:20pm | #12

            I was referring to this line:"And SOME techs now guess at whats wrong"
            A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity. --Jimmy Carter

          2. woodway | Nov 14, 2009 09:54pm | #13

            I'm afraid I don't understand your statement[[I was referring to this line:"And SOME techs now guess at whats wrong"]]

          3. DanH | Nov 14, 2009 10:10pm | #14

            Are there any appliance techs who AREN'T guessing these days?
            A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity. --Jimmy Carter

  5. woodway | Nov 14, 2009 09:15pm | #8

    Judging by the service record, sell the sucker and get the regular old analog dish washer. Really, it's a dish washer for crying out loud!

    PS Save water and do them by hand, they come out cleaner too and less fuss.

    1. DanH | Nov 14, 2009 09:17pm | #9

      Hand washing doesn't generally save water/energy, especially when compared to one of the new high-efficiency DWs.
      A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity. --Jimmy Carter

      1. woodway | Nov 14, 2009 09:18pm | #11

        Please!!!

  6. shiekh | Nov 25, 2014 11:35am | #15

    Bad Neutral

    What I did not realise till recently was a flaw in the American electrical system. In Europe 220V is distributed and used, and to some extent the same is true out here, except that the 220V is divided by holding a neutral half way between to get 110V. The trouble with this is that if that neutral it not well bound to ground, a device can end up getting more than 110V, with dire results.

    So while it is a clever trick, it can lead to issues.

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