Is a ground fault circuit breaker nessesary for a washing machine?

Answer 1

A ground fault circuit breaker essentially senses the difference currents flowing in the incomming & return wire of an electrical supply circuit.

In normal cases ideally the difference must be zero or very close to it. Whenever there is a fault & the electrical path also takes any other route e.g a operator who has accidentaly touched any live part of the equipment, there is a current flow imbalance in the input & return path of the electrical supply circuit. This imbalance is sensed & used to trip the main electrical circuit & thereby limits the Intensity & Duration of the Electrical current flowing through the operator. This results in the operator feeing a small jolt instead of a nasty or hazardous electrical shock.

From the above it is obvious that ground fault circuit breaker is essential for safety of the operator especially where the applicance is working with water or in watery surroundings & there is every chance of the water or operator accidentally comming into contact with a live electrical circuit & thereby create a safety.