Dishwasher Ghost

readydave8

readydave8

re member
Location
Clarkesville, Georgia
Occupation
electrician
This is at daughter's house

receptacle in sink cabinet for dishwasher to plug in to

Dishwasher will sometimes not start, other times stop in middle of cycle, other times work fine.

I checked for loose connections a few years ago

They found out that plugging dishwasher into short cord, and plugging into countertop receptacle, never a problem with dishwasher. With all the digital controls I wondered if it was the cord that solved it and not the receptacle, so experimented with plugging cord into original receptacle below sink, same problem with cord as without.

So last time I was there, I fished from the countertop receptacle and added receptacle in sink cabinet (flush mount, original was surface mount handy box)

Dishwasher does same thing, even though is on circuit that it works fine on when plugged in above counter

Dishwasher is LG, model #DUA414TTASTEEUS
 
You didn't mentioned having done enough "experiments" to be able to point to, or to point away from, any possible causes. Specifically, (1) it sometimes works when plugged into the original outlet, and (2) it worked at least one time when plugged into the countertop outlet via an extension cord. But did you leave it plugged in using the cord for a significant number of cycles? It is possible, given only what you described, that it worked using the cord only because it works sometimes anyway. The principal behavior of ghost problems is that they reveal themselves whenever they choose, whether or not that is convenient to the troubleshooter.

My inference is that the common factor to all failures lies in the dishwasher itself. In that, I am agreeing with ActionDave.
 
(In response to Action Dav÷ post #1, forgot to quote)
I don't remember, assume that I did 1st time a few years ago

Dubious but will check next trip, it would have to do with tension on cord, and coil under sink probably doesn't move much when plugging in above counter
 
charlie b said:
You didn't mentioned having done enough "experiments" to be able to point to, or to point away from, any possible causes. Specifically, (1) it sometimes works when plugged into the original outlet, and (2) it worked at least one time when plugged into the countertop outlet via an extension cord. But did you leave it plugged in using the cord for a significant number of cycles? It is possible, given only what you described, that it worked using the cord only because it works sometimes anyway. The principal behavior of ghost problems is that they reveal themselves whenever they choose, whether or not that is convenient to the troubleshooter.

My inference is that the common factor to all failures lies in the dishwasher itself. In that, I am agreeing with ActionDave.
Click to expand...
Not at all, worked for years plugged in above counter, probably 3-4 days at most when I advised plugging into extension cord to original receptacle (several years ago)

Plugged into new receptacle, problem resurfaced in less than a week
 
ActionDave said:
You checked connections inside the dishwasher make up box, yes? Changed the pigtail? I've seen molded cords that have loose connections that could only be found with an autopsy.
Click to expand...
Thinking back, I doubt that I changed the pigtail, 1k miles away but will try anyway in a few weeks when I'm back
 
readydave8 said:
Plugged into new receptacle, problem resurfaced in less than a week.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the additional info.

What can we now point to as a common factor in the failures when plugged into receptacle outlet in the sink cabinet, when (for years) plugged into the countertop outlet via an extension cord, and when plugged into the sink cabinet outlet using (if I read this part right) the same extension cord?

To my way of thinking, it is the DW's pigtail. But perhaps the problem lies within the DW make up box, as AD suggested, rather than the pigtail itself.
 
My brother bought new appliances when he did his kitchen 12 years ago. All Maytag. Microwave, stove , dw and fridge.

The fridge is ok, microwave works but is extremely loud so they don't use it. one of the stove oven elements has failed and DW doesn't work.

But sometimes in the middle of the night the DW will start.
 
charlie b said:
Thanks for the additional info.

What can we now point to as a common factor in the failures when plugged into receptacle outlet in the sink cabinet, when (for years) plugged into the countertop outlet via an extension cord, and when plugged into the sink cabinet outlet using (if I read this part right) the same extension cord?

To my way of thinking, it is the DW's pigtail. But perhaps the problem lies within the DW make up box, as AD suggested, rather than the pigtail itself.
Click to expand...
Not sure that I follow your logic

It is same pigtail and makeup, same extension cord. Works very reliably when cord is plugged in above counter, intermittent problem when plugged in under sink, whether in original receptacle or new one I added, extended circuit from the receptacle above counter.

It worked the 2-3 times while I was still there (wife asked if that meant I had fixed it, I said didn't know yet). Failed more than once the following week. Maybe it only works when I'm around?

But yes, I plan to change pigtail next trip just to definitely rule out.
 
charlie b said:
Thanks for the additional info.
Click to expand...
Yes it's harder than I thought to describe completely on 1st try, I waited a couple weeks for a calm, idle day but still didn't explain thoroughly. Wish I had asked daughter to log in information each day so I could make a chart (she'd probably have rather just kept using receptacle above counter)
 
Sounds like something flaky in the pigtail or its connection that gets mitigated somehow when it gets repositioned for connection to the countertop receptacle.
 
readydave8 said:
This is at daughter's house

receptacle in sink cabinet for dishwasher to plug in to
Click to expand...
Is this dishwasher receptacle on its own individual circuit? If not I'd start with running a new circuit for the dishwasher.

readydave8 said:
Dishwasher will sometimes not start, other times stop in middle of cycle, other times work fine.

I checked for loose connections a few years ago
Click to expand...
Did you check the internal wiring harnesses under the dishwasher?
readydave8 said:
Dishwasher does same thing, even though is on circuit that it works fine on when plugged in above counter
Click to expand...
I'd do Larry's suggestion but pigtail a cord off the actual power junction box on the dishwasher and plug a test lamp into that. Or pigtail on one of those rubber sockets for a temp lamp and run it a few times.
 
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