We received a new washing machine (CH) today without a plug. The machine can be connected to either 230V or 400V, I want 230V

The cable has 4 wires for the plugs but I only need 3. Do you know how I can connect them to the plug? Can I seal or cut off the black cable or what do I have to do?

The manual says I need earth, N and L3 but L3 is grey and I don't have a grey cable. I assume that's a mistake and should be L1 which is brown. Funnily the diagram doesn't show L1

Thanks in advance for your advice.

by travnett

15 comments

  1. I recommend hiring a professional to avoid getting tzzzzzd

    Edit: and sorry I can’t help

  2. 1. Hire a trained professional to do electrical work

  3. i implore you to have an electrician do it, cuz you really don’t wanna be responsible if worst comes worse

    edit: worst scenario your house can burn down and the insurance would pay you a cent

  4. Hello, as others have mentioned, this type of machine should get a professional. You can easily start a fire even if you get the cables right, just by having an improper connection between the pieces. Getting the cables wrong would break your new machine, at best.

  5. 1.Wenn du davon keine Ahnung hast last die Finger davon!
    Lass das von einer Fachkraft machen lassen!!
    2. What on earth did the engineers think. Why would you use only two phases? You get 3 in (almost) every installation? How do you even get the motor to spin? Can you even use an RCD if you only have 2 phases (non-symetrical load)?
    3. My solution would be just to put it on a 400V CEE 16A plug

  6. first and most important, if you don’t know let the professionals do it or you risk burning your house down or killing yourself….

    this plug only has one phase (230V), 400 V would be a 3-phase plug (T15)… but it’s still strange you only have 2 phases here

  7. Try it with the brown before you cut the black. Just wrap the black one well too prevent any short circuit and you’re good to go. If it works fine, otherwise try the black.

  8. Ground is green-yellow. Live and neutral are blue and brown. The black cable is L2, which is not connected in the 230V configuration in your third picture. Welcome to Europe.

    EDIT: Also, it’s 2025 everyone, there’s RCD/RCBO so no, you won’t die or set anything on fire if you connect it wrong. The worst that can happen is that you pop a fuse in your new washing machine and need to get it serviced (or break warranty).

  9. if you don’t know what you do, hire an electrician.

    Otherwise, best outcome is: you fry the machine. Worst is: you fry your child.

  10. Yellow/Green in the middle. Blue and brown on outside (no matter right or left). Black is not used in 230V configuration.

    However, you should use a reinforced plug to plug a washing machine (squared pins). These can handle more amps.

  11. Black wire is likely another live that for the 400v. Probably can be insulated. Be a hero. Go with youtube.
    Either you burn a fuse or you burn a fuse. Or it works.

  12. As suggested in the comments (and enforced in the manual) you should hire an electrician for this. It’s not that expensive.
    If you have 3 phases at home you should use the 2 phases/400V setup as you’ll nearly double the power available for your washmachine which can be benefitial.

  13. If you value your home insurance get an electrician, it will cost you whatever they will charge you(probably 80-150 CHF but i have no clue towards their hourly rates so don’t quote me on this).

    The electrician will be cheaper than any insurance claim refusals you could get(even if the machine did not cause the fire or whatever issue might pop up)

  15. ask a electrician if you have to go to reddit for infos. makes our life essyer later

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