Washing machine problem

[braeside]

Can anyone tell me what would cause my washing machine to trip the main fuse (all electrics)? Yet leave the plug fuse intact. Am I right to think it could be a bad earth somewhere? Any help would be appreciated to save me having to fork out for a new washing machine!
Many thanks!

[turboped]

If it's tripping the RCD it means that the earth is working as it should and it seems that there is a fault with the appliance.

Any fault to earth should travel the path of the earth cable until it reaches the point of contact with the ground where the fault current will be allowed to flow thus creating an inbalance causing the trip to 'trip'. This inbalance only has to be relitively small to trip the sensative RCD, there would need to be a large current flow to melt or blow the cartridge fuse in the plugtop.

[braeside]

Many thanks Turboped - looks like I'll have to call a man out!

[alan30]

This has happened to me a number of times over the years and it always has been the heating element failing.

[braeside]

Thanks Alan - this could be it

[BillyNoMates]

A sure sign of a failing element.