How to wire a dishwasher
How to wire a dishwasher. When installing a dishwasher in a home that already has one or multiple existing appliances, minor changes usually need to be made.
For example, if a water line comes out of the wall on the right side of a sink, this line would be perfect for connecting up the drain tube of the new dishwasher.
In addition, if the sink has an overflow drain hose connected to it and this is not being used, it can click to the other end of dishing washer’s drain hose.
There are usually not any major alterations required. However, if running wires such as through walls is necessary depending on where the installation will take place and local building codes, this could require more than just plugging an appliance into a wall outlet.
How to wire a dishwasher
We will discuss here the steps of installing the dishwasher.
Breaker Installation
Due to the high level of power that your dishwasher uses during the cycle, it needs a reliable energy source.
Access to its circuit breaker eliminates the potential for any mysterious short circuits in your kitchen before you even realize there was anything wrong.
This doesn’t come without a few precautions, though. For example, if you’ve never installed a new breaker in your breaker box before, you may want to consider enlisting an electrician’s aid to ensure it is done correctly.
Installing a new circuit breaker isn’t something you typically will have to do every day, so it’s important to know everything is working as intended and that nothing unexpected happens during installation.
Running the Cable
To determine where to put the new dishwasher, head to the breaker panel and pull out your measuring tape. Use this handy guide to ensure you can run the power cable three feet away from the breaker box.
This way, you’ll have room if you need to replace your dishwasher later down the road. If there is extra wire, don’t worry! You’re allowed a little slack if something doesn’t work out as planned!
Locate the side of the Junction Box
Once your dishwasher’s wire cover is removed, locate the side of the junction box containing the knockout, usually a large circular hole.
Depending on your specific model and make, you will need to push aside some wires to get to it. Take care not to damage any of these while they are exposed.
You can then take something small and handy such as a screwdriver or pliers that you can use to knock the knockout out.
Ensure you’re bracing yourself against the dishwasher unit, as pounding on it from a distance could damage other components.
Installing a New Dishwasher
With the knockout removed, you are now free to insert the wire connector through the hole and secure it with a lock nut.
Make sure it’s tight, so you don’t find your device accidentally unplugged at an inopportune time. Use your wire stripper to remove any plastic covering the wires running through them, and then use your wire crimper to strip away approximately an inch of insulation on each wire near one end.
Now connect them to the connector. Start by connecting ground first, then work toward positive ends last (R-red, G-green, and W-white).
If you need to run power lines outside your wall between outlets or devices in a single row, consider using a gang box for easier installation and wiring.
FAQs
What kind of wiring does a dishwasher require?
If a dishwasher is run over 20 times a week, there should be at least two dedicated circuits for the appliance.
One course is for the dishwasher’s hot and neutral lines, which are fed with 14-gauge/2-wire NM wire and have a ground. You may run another circuit for the dishwasher’s pipe, which runs on 12-gauge/2-wire NM wire.
Is it necessary to have a dedicated circuit for a dishwasher?
The national building code and the local electrical code state that a washing machine should be connected to its line that is independent of other circuits.
This way, it has access to all of the electricity that it needs without causing problems or shutdowns in the first place. For this line to work properly, there must also be a separate circuit breaker with at least 15 amps.
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