Reliable washers.

[Refugee]

How ling did the motors last before the slip rings went through?
I always used to believe that commercial machines had induction motors.

[tiv48]

My brother still works for an independent white goods shop.
What has made has made a lot of washing m/c s uneconomic to repair is not the common bearings door boot or motor brushes.
ITS you guest it its the electronics .replacement boards costing up to £250!
They have got more complex with sensors all over the place to help them conform to eco regs.
years ago when I was in the trade the only test gear you needed to fix a washing m/c was an avo 8 NOW you need a laptop computer which plugs in the same as on a car.
Rob T

[AlanBeckett]

It's long fascinated me that Launderette Machines have a couple of options whereas modern Domestic ones have a plethora. I'm also unconvinced about the 'Green' credentials of Cold Fill. Finally, I liked the old 'Washtub' Symbols - very useful for an amateur like me.

Alan

[tiv48]

Alan I think that like micro wave ovens once they moved away from mechanical timers it cost nothing to add these features .
the fact that no one would use them makes no difference its some thing the marketing men can use like putting power meters on cheap music systems.
Rob T

[AlanBeckett]

I suspect you're dead right Rob. Once it's a matter of changing the Software it's easy to add apparent Bells, Whistles and Gongs for very little Cost. It also allows them to produce a multiplicity of supposed different Models just to add to the confusion.
We've recently bought a new Dryer. It's labeled Hoover - no problem. However, careful reading of the Manual reveals two places there they missed substituting 'Hoover' for 'Candy'. So, what sort of Doppleganger do we have?
Actually it's working fine.

Alan

[Refugee]

The worst part I have ever found on a white appliance was the door timer on a Colston washer/dryer. It was made of a sort of mixture of cardboard and icing sugar and was blackened. The contact was about half the size of the one in a light switch.
I restuffed the thing with a V5 micro switch. The machine was given to me after the warranty ran out. It was on its fourth door timer from new.
I kept in touch with the guy I sold it to and he had no more trouble with it. It would have gone to the tip if I did not take it away.

[boater sam]

How ling did the motors last before the slip rings went through?
I always used to believe that commercial machines had induction motors.

They are com motors, that's how the speed modules control for wash and spin speeds. The coms never wore out! They had knock off brushes, they switch off when worn out before the spring scores the com.
They were made as domestic machines, just so well engineered that they would stand the over use, and had a 5 year guarantee.

[Refugee]

They sound like good machines.

[tiv48]

Quit a few domestic M/Cs used induction motors but I cant think of a British built one.
Rob T

[Refugee]

We had a Bendix LT drier that was equipped with an induction motor and a solenoid operated two speed gear box for spin/wash gearing.
It lasted from the mid 1960s to the mid 1980s with me rebuilding the gearbox every three years or so towards the end.