Why Does My Siemens Washing Machine Keep Tripping the Electrics?
Unplug the machine, wait 10 minutes, then plug it into a different wall socket on a separate circuit to rule out a faulty socket or overloaded circuit — if the breaker holds, the original socket or circuit is the problem (takes about 5 minutes).
Fault description
When a Siemens washing machine trips the electrics, it means the appliance is drawing a fault current large enough to trigger your home's RCD (residual current device) or circuit breaker. This is a safety mechanism working exactly as intended — it cuts power to prevent electric shock or fire. The trip may happen the moment you switch the machine on, as soon as water enters, or part-way through a cycle when the heating element activates.
The fault almost always originates in one of three systems: the electrical supply and wiring, the heating circuit, or the motor and control electronics. On some Siemens models the control board may log error code E68, which points specifically to a current-leakage fault detected by the machine's own monitoring circuit. Regardless of whether a code appears, a tripping machine should never be ignored or repeatedly reset — continued use risks damage to your home wiring and poses a genuine safety hazard.
Causes
- Faulty heating element — The heating element is the most common cause. Over time the element's insulation breaks down, allowing current to leak to the machine's metal body and triggering the RCD. The trip typically occurs a few minutes into a cycle once the element is asked to heat water.
- Damaged or degraded wiring inside the machine — Wiring harnesses can chafe against the drum, cabinet edges, or moving parts over years of use, wearing through the insulation. A bare wire touching the chassis creates an immediate earth fault that trips the breaker.
- Faulty motor or motor brushes — Carbon brushes wear down and can leave conductive dust inside the motor housing, causing leakage current. A failing motor winding can also develop an earth fault, often causing the trip to occur when the drum begins to spin.
- Water ingress into electrical components — A leaking door seal, pump, or hose connection can allow water to reach the control board, wiring connectors, or motor. Even a small amount of moisture in the wrong place is enough to cause a current leak and trip the RCD.
- Defective control board or capacitor — A failed capacitor or short-circuit on the main PCB can draw excessive current or create a leakage path to earth. This type of fault often causes the trip at power-on rather than mid-cycle.
- Overloaded or faulty household circuit — If other high-draw appliances share the same circuit, the combined load can trip a breaker that is already weakened with age. A worn RCD can also become overly sensitive and trip on normal leakage levels that would not affect a newer device.
Step-by-Step Fix
- 1
Isolate the machine and test the socket
Unplug the washing machine immediately and reset the breaker or RCD. Plug a different appliance — a lamp or phone charger — into the same socket to confirm the socket itself is working. Then plug the washing machine into a socket on a completely different circuit. If the breaker no longer trips, the original circuit or socket is the issue, not the machine.
- 2
Check for visible water leaks around electrical parts
Pull the machine forward and inspect underneath and behind it for signs of water pooling. Check the door seal, the soap drawer recess, and the area around the pump filter at the front. If you find water near any wiring or the motor, dry the area thoroughly and identify the source of the leak before proceeding. Do not run the machine again until it is completely dry.
- 3
Inspect the power cable and plug
Examine the full length of the mains cable for cuts, kinks, scorch marks, or areas where the outer sheath has worn through. Check the plug for signs of burning or a loose connection inside. A damaged cable must be replaced — do not use tape as a repair. This is a straightforward part to source and replace.
- 4
Test the heating element for earth leakage
With the machine unplugged, access the element from the rear panel. Disconnect the element's wiring connectors and use a multimeter set to resistance (or a dedicated insulation tester) to measure between each element terminal and the machine's metal body. A reading of anything less than several megaohms indicates the element insulation has failed and the element needs replacing. This is one of the most cost-effective repairs for this fault.
- 5
Inspect motor brushes and motor body
Access the motor — usually located at the bottom rear of the machine. Remove the carbon brushes and check their length; brushes worn to less than 5 mm should be replaced. Look inside the brush holders for heavy carbon dust deposits and clean them out with a dry cloth. Refit new brushes and test whether the fault clears.
- 6
Check wiring harnesses for chafing or damage
With the machine unplugged and panels removed, trace the main wiring looms and look for areas where cables run close to the drum, sharp metal edges, or moving components. Gently flex each section and look for cracked insulation or exposed copper. Any damaged section of loom should be replaced rather than taped, as tape repairs are not reliable long-term.
- 7
Assess the control board
If all the above checks pass and the machine still trips, the control board is the likely culprit. Visually inspect the PCB for burnt components, swollen capacitors, or scorch marks. Error code E68 on compatible Siemens models specifically flags a current-leakage fault detected by the board's monitoring circuit, which can indicate either a genuine downstream fault or a board that is misreporting. Board replacement or professional diagnosis is the appropriate next step.
When to call a service technician
You should contact a qualified service technician if the machine trips the RCD instantly every time it is plugged in, if you can smell burning or see scorch marks anywhere on the appliance, or if you have tested the heating element and motor and both appear sound. These scenarios suggest a fault inside the control board or a wiring issue that requires specialist test equipment to locate safely.
Because this fault involves live mains electricity and potential shock risk, any repair that goes beyond replacing the element or brushes — such as rewiring, board replacement, or motor replacement — is best carried out by a technician with the correct tools and safety training. Do not continue to reset and run the machine while the fault is unresolved.
Prevention
The parts most commonly replaced when a Siemens washing machine trips the electrics are the heating element (the single most frequent cause of RCD trips in washing machines), the carbon motor brushes, and the main power cable. In cases involving water ingress, the door seal is also often replaced at the same time to prevent a recurrence. Keeping the door seal clean and free of debris, and checking hose connections annually for weeping joints, significantly reduces the chance of water reaching electrical components.
If your RCD is more than 10 years old, it is worth having it tested by an electrician — older devices can become either overly sensitive or, conversely, slow to trip, neither of which is desirable. Running the washing machine on its own dedicated circuit is best practice for a high-draw appliance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to keep resetting the breaker and using the machine?
No. A tripping RCD or breaker is a warning that current is leaking somewhere it should not be. Repeatedly resetting and running the machine risks electric shock, damage to your home wiring, and potentially fire. The machine should remain unplugged until the fault is identified and fixed.
Why does my Siemens washing machine only trip the electrics when it starts heating?
This pattern strongly points to a failed heating element. The element only draws significant current when it is asked to heat water, so the leakage fault only becomes large enough to trip the RCD at that point in the cycle. Testing the element with a multimeter as described in the steps above will confirm this.
What does error code E68 mean on a Siemens washing machine?
E68 indicates that the machine's internal monitoring circuit has detected an abnormal leakage current — essentially the machine's own self-diagnosis agreeing with what your RCD is telling you. It does not pinpoint the exact component at fault, so you still need to work through the likely causes, starting with the heating element.
Could the problem be with my house electrics rather than the washing machine?
It is possible but less common. Try the machine on a different circuit as described in Step 1. If it trips every circuit you try, the fault is in the machine. If it only trips one circuit, have an electrician inspect that circuit and the RCD unit itself, particularly if the RCD is old or has been tripping frequently for other appliances too.
How much does it typically cost to fix a washing machine that trips the electrics?
If the heating element is the cause, it is one of the more affordable washing machine repairs — the part itself is relatively inexpensive and the labour time is modest. Motor brushes are even cheaper. A control board replacement is significantly more costly, which is why it is worth ruling out the simpler components first before committing to a board.