Can I have a dishwasher on a timer to run on Shabbat?
Answer:
If the dirty dished were placed before Shabbos and it will run on Shabbos without human intervention, this would be permitted, assuming the diswasher does not make excessive noise. However, to load dishes on Shabbos in a dishwasher which will go on is problematic, as obviously it would not go on if not for one closing the door. Hence, he is causing it’s activation in a non direct way [grama] which is Rabbinically prohibited.
