I have a 5yr old Zanussi DX6453 dishwasher - when I turn it on it causes my electrics to trip. I have removed the plug changed the fuse made sure the wires are secure and no breaks etc but it still trips the electrics. I have tried it in different sockets - but same result. Up until now it has been working fine. there is no smell of burning, and until the electrics tripped it was not making any unusual noises. What could be causing this?

Danny, September 2009

Obviously something is shorting out. Could be any one of many reasons. Anything from a damaged wire touching a metal part of the machine through to shorted out pump, motor, element, inlet valves etc. If you don't have the test equipment to check with or the knowledge of how & where to look then you are better off calling someone in. To try to describe how & what to check via a site like this would be too involved.

Lincoln Appliance NZ, September 2009

Obviously an electrical fault in the appliance - if it just trips the breaker for the sockets then a short between live and neutral causing overcurrent and if it trips sockets and lights then a short to earth.

The cause could be several things - you may be able to make a guess about the probable cause by observing at which point in the machine's cycle that the trip happens.

Water comes in (water inlet solenoid)
Circulating pump splashes water about (pump)
Element heats the water (heating element)
Detergent flap opens (detergent solenoid)
Drain pump empties machine (drain pump)

All these are guesses - I have no particular expertise - but I would lay money on it being the heating element.

Good luck...

Peccavi, September 2009