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Forum Index : Windmills : Washing machines
| Author | Message | ||||
| Peter.J.H Newbie  Joined: 25/04/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2 |
Hi, I need advice. My mum is over 80 and badly affected by arthritis and can no longer use her twin tub washing machine, so I'm looking for an automatic washing machine that will run on a genset with AVR and or a sinewave inverter. Any suggestions would be appreciated |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5124 |
Hi Peter How big is the sinewave inverter? Just about any washing machine will work OK with a sine wave inverter, if the inverter is big enough. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| davef Guru  Joined: 14/05/2006 Location: New ZealandPosts: 499 |
Pure sine wave or modified sine wave inverter? |
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GWatPE Senior Member  Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
A sinewave inverter is just that, within a few %. The modified variety is really a modified squarewave, but referring it to a sinewave sounds better. Gordon. become more energy aware |
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| grub Senior Member Joined: 27/11/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 169 |
I have met a few people who do run washing machines from generators. First make sure the generator is powerful enough to start a washing machine. Next stay away from machines with electronic boards as these seem to have more trouble running on generators. A medium sized machine would be fine. One person I met ran a large whirlpool washing machine from a generator and every couple of years they had motor problems. I think their generator could not supply enough omph for the initial start of the motor and eventually they burnt it out. I had another one who ran a F&P from generated power until their circuit board burnt out. Older style machines with mechanical timers are more reliable. One more thing to be aware of is that presently you will get about 6 years out of a washing machine before it is stuffed. I repair washing machines for an eked out living. |
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| RossW Guru Joined: 25/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 495 |
Those seem terrible over-generalisations. I've been running a very expensive Miele front-loading washing machine here, with all the electronics under the sun - off my home-made generator and sinewave inverter. Granted it's only been 4 years and 7 months so far. |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Peter I have run a hoover front loader for many years off inverter, power, and generator and it has kept going, it uses a control board but doesn't seem sensitive to any type of power, but it is on a 5000 watt inverter and 5000 watt diesel generator it did fun for a while on a 3500 watt modified square wave inverter it was a bit noisier but never died, From what I hear the new Asian machines last a lot less no matter what you run them on. The only advantage is to get a LG or F&P and when the board dies you can use the motor for a wind turbine All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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oztules Guru Joined: 26/07/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1686 |
Interesting discussion. Yesterday I visited a temporary neighbor (only comes over here intermittently). He was running a 2500 mod square wave into a "normal" washing machine. After a few washes, it blew the inverter. I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon and night fixing it back up for him. The trouble was in the current sense array for the HV mosfets. ( it blew up a zener..) The mosfets seemed fine on both the LV side and the HV side. It was the control system that seems to have not survived the spikes that seem to have shown up in the current sense resistor array. The odd thing was that the Zener didn't short or go open, it meter tested perfectly, but leaked 3.5v across the junction, which confused the overcurrent sensing on the lm393. This in turn sent wayward signals to the tl494 which they used to control the 8 X 300 watt step up sections. These things are nice and simple, no computers, all analogue. The long time to find the fault was due to the tricky zener, and unraveling the inter dependent control lines to the TL494, via the LM393 and a lm324. 6 op amps inter dependent takes some unraveling... particularly when the zener tests ok and the voltages seem to come from nowhere. So at first blush, if the washer can take it, it seems to be the HV side of the inverter that may suffer..... and luckily the control section in this case, not the Fets (they looked expensive). Bob, we could just fix the board of the F&P and build a new axial for the price of a new washer 
..............oztules Village idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth |
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Downwind Guru Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
Hi Peter, Due to the fact your mum suffers from arthritis it might be wise to look towards a front loader as they are often said to be more power efficent and you mum will not need to lift the heavy wet clothes out of the machine and can open the door and drag them out into the basket. Although frontloaders will seem to be very slow at doing a load compared to the old twin tubs, but you soon get use to it. (what is it with older people and their love for the old twin tubs) Pete. Sometimes it just works |
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shawn Senior Member Joined: 30/03/2010 Location: New ZealandPosts: 210 |
Hi I have been running 8 year old f&p washer for 3 years on cheap chinese generator but the gen is 6kva so runs dryer at same time never had a problem (touch wood) does a load every day. |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Oz I am eagerly waiting for the new axial machine, I was going to put up a old 32 volt 56 amp excited field unit I have but have put that project on hold pending the new design from Glenn I like what I see so far. I agree with Pete on the front loader as I have used one for years now just set and forget not fast but reliable and uses less power as a bonus All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178 |
My LG frontloader was about $600 brand new and has survived a fair punishment of use. big advantage is low power and low water use thus cant imagine it would have too many issues. If you are in Melbourne, the Hills reco centre in moorabbin has a full range of machines 2nd hand and refurbished (as new) for peanuts. If you bought one from him it still carries a good warranty and he'll fix it if you break it! Karl Luck favours the well prepared |
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| dwyer Guru Joined: 19/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 574 |
hi Peter.J.H where are you ? every member has send you feed back? no replied from you 
Dwyer |
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| Peter.J.H Newbie Joined: 25/04/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2 |
Thanks for the replies, Being a new member, still trying to figure out logging on/off etc (getting username right, and password too!!). The power source is a 4800watt GenSet, Sinewave inverter planned as soon as possible. A Whirpool machine running on the GenSet has just failed after 1 1/2 yrs (and already been repaired once), and basically looking for a replacement that someone can recommend. Front loading (as mentioned) preferable. Location is Tenterfield, so some supply in town, but I am in Toowoomba. |
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| dwyer Guru Joined: 19/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 574 |
Peter just be carefull when you buy 4800 watt gen sinewave inverter just to make sure is well know brand model not cheap chinese gen as voltage with modified sinewave or pure sinewaves and voltage often getting out of control soon as you start the engine because engine speed is control by air vane can damage the electronic control circuit board as l think best for your money is Honda Generater has inverter technology allows the most sensitive electronics such as computers,TV, medical equiment and micowave with electronic clock and timer,electronic control washing machine and power-sensitive testing equipment but fews dollar more and the better on the long run plus less worried as l have a friend who own Honda Dealer shop in Toowoomba might able give you good advise however there is other well known eletric repair company sell gen in Toowoomba but l dont trust them 
Dwyer the bushman |
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| Downwind Guru Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
Honda has always made good equipment that has stood up to what they rate it to be. If you ever want to know what is the best in reliability and preformance, take a look at what the hire places have, like Kennards etc for a similar output to your needs. They only have the proven equipment because they work to what there claim to do, and dont break down with constant use. (gotta be a lesson in their somewhere) Dwyer, Good advice is free everywhere, friends who own dealer shops give "good prices to friends" or friends of, as their product is always better so why ask. Its the dollars that talk. 
Pete. Sometimes it just works |
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| Downwind Guru Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
Peter, As for logging in, all you need to do is except the cookies from this site and then add the forum index page to your favorites list. When you go to logon, all you do is click the link in your favorites and you will access the site with no further need to enter anything. If you use a different computer each time then it wont work. Also you dont need to click logout when you leave the site, just close the page, it will log you off automaticaly, but if you logout manually then you will need to log on each time. Pete. Sometimes it just works |
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| dwyer Guru Joined: 19/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 574 |
Hi Glen Off this Topic but can you remove this forum from "Windmill" to "Other stuff" as everyone should start to learn to send their messages in the correct forum as "Windmill" is only to discuss about windmills whereas "Other Stuff" is good to discuss other things apart from "Windmill". This is getting out of control. I don't know why other discussions are being said in other forums that are irrelevant to that particular forum?
Dwyer the bushman |
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