18" dishwasher tale of woe!

[bradfordwhite]

I once rented a place that had something similar to the dw below. While it worked

I was rather surprised that it hummed and when I put my hand near the right side of the console it was quite warm. Obviously the electronic transformer was right behind the panel.

I turned the wall switch off for it.

Don't know what was going on there but it's probably not a unique situation. It's a good example of Fantom energy use. That dishwasher could sit there for years and no one could use it YET

it would still be using electricity and could short out, trip a breaker, or even melt down partially in an unusual situation.

A standard analog timer appliance won't do that.

 

[DADoES]

 
I never routinely power-cycle appliances or computers.

Computers aren't rebooted unless 1) required for an update or 2) a lock-up occurs, which rarely happens any more.  This one has been up since 3/3/2021.

The old iPhone5 once-in-a-while goes wonky and won't send a text so gets power-cycled in that case.

 

[bradfordwhite]

And THIS which most of us know

but Whirlpool for some weird reason wants us to believe otherwise

With it's dial that only selects a cycle and could just as easily be done with a push button

as well as displaying cycle progression with indicator lights

and is turned on/off with the same style push buttons that COULD be used for the cycles.

Is an ELECTRONIC timer and needs to be switched off or unplugged between uses.

 

[bradfordwhite]

This style washer has an ANALOG timer.

No progress lights, no on/off button, and the timer actually turns.

It doesn't need to be protected, though it's still a good idea.

 

[bradfordwhite]

It's just funny that Whirlpool has decided that all their dishwashers should be electronic and have a clean electronic control panel

They've also decided that all their washers should also be electronicly controlled

BUT

It's necessary to obscure those controls ON SOME MACHINES with goofy knobs. (?)

Maybe because the budget dryers still have analog controls and they were concerned about it matching a washer?
It's just insulting to me.

 

[DADoES]

 
The pushbutton on the washer in #21 is not a latching on/off switch.

It's a momentary-contact switch.

The control board is powered continuously when the power cord is connected.

Turning the cycle knob in the proper fashion when the machine is "off" triggers diagnostic mode.  That couldn't happpen if the electronics were OFF / not powered.

There's no need to unplug the machine between uses.

RJ has a 2010-model (2012 serial) VMW at one of the rental properties.  Bought used, has been there since Oct 2016.  It's never unplugged between uses, the tenants would have no concept of a need for it, and wouldn't do it anyway.  Never been any electronic problems with it thus far.

 

[firedome]

well there's a good ending here...

after a 1 hour power disconnect in the basement, which was effectuated by pulling a plug that I had put on heavy gauge romex from the d/w and plugs into an outlet located on the wall beneath where the d/w is in the kitchen upstairs (because we didn't have room in the 100 amp box for another separate breaker), we powered on again. Went up stairs, and still no change upon pushing "Start", and must have left the door closed, because 20 minutes later while on the computer the d/w starts to drain, then begins filling. So I let it go thru a complete normal cycle, and no problems. No idea why that happened, or why it was humming loudly the morning of the initial problem, then every the door was opened then closed, the humming continued, but at a much lower level, and continued to do so every time the door was shut but would not start. Now this. Weird, but I'll take it, fingers crossed. Maybe it's a self-healing machine...go figure.

 

[bradfordwhite]

#24

Glenn,

As has been described and demonstrated, there IS a need to unplug electronic appliances when not in use.

As for an electronic washer in a rental property:
I hope it's written in the lease that tenant is responsible for all repairs to appliances. You or whoever is the owner, will be on the hook to pay for repairs when an idiot tenant inevitably damages an appliance or it simply needs a common repair.

If a tenant knows they are responsible for maintenance, they will most likely follow a simple procedure to turn a switch on when using an appliance.

When I had rentals I would included appliances only as a courtesy and would assume they would be ruined or stolen. Ideally not including any so the tenant has to be responsible for their own possessions.

What ever the choice is, it needs to be spelled out clearly or it would default onto the property owner in most cases.

A landlord including appliances that they expect the tenant to take care of but ultimately the landlord is responsible for service on is like a landlord including ANY utilities.
Very foolish.