3 Speed Hotpoint Washer?

[Chetlaham]

I came across this picture in another thread and I noticed Handwash and Delicate are two distinct selections.

I'm guessing:

Normal= fast/fast
Permanent Press= fast/slow
Wool/Knits= slow/fast
Delicate=slow/slow
Handwash= (?) extra slow (?)/slow

Does this mean this washer had a 3 speed clutch? Or some type of SIS slow agitation? GE never used multi speed motors in their washers, right? How does handwash differ from delicate?

 

[gelaundry4ever]

interesting

I've never seen a 3-speed hotpoint, let alone a 3-speed GE filter-flo.

 

[DADoES]

 
There definitely were 3-speed FilterFlos but I doubt this Hotpoint is such.

 

[appnut]

I think that handwash setting on the selector was indicating the user was to use the Hand Wash agitator.

 

[Chetlaham]

HandWash Indicator

That could be it- slow/slow same as delicate. Though it would be so cool if it was some 3rd speed or even an SIS.

 

[DADoES]

 
I'm wondering if it speed up the timer to make for shorter cycle sequences, like MiniQuick ... although the Handwash timer label is in the Perm Press cycle which has shorter spins anyway.

 

[Chetlaham]

I'm wondering just as much as you. This is one reason I wish tech sheet databases were online free of charge. Whirlpool's used to be publicly available until 2007/2008 on their service matter's site. I know GE customer reps can pull up any tech sheet and associated revisions with just the model number at their computer going back to about 1970. They have them as scanned volume book sets. What I would give to have access to one of their offices with several external hardrives lol.

 

[jons1077]

Hmm

Interesting that it is badged as a “multi-speed washer” though. Makes me wonder if they paired a two-speed clutch with a two speed motor or something like that. Pretty sure the multi-speed clutches were rather brief in their production due to being problematic.[this post was last edited: 2/13/2022-07:23]

 

[DADoES]

 
Multi Speed probably is marketing speak for combinations of high and low.

There also was a variable speed GE clutch, which has been discussed.  Did the variable speed Hotpoint that came up on a recent Pic of the Day use that clutch?

 

[Chetlaham]

A service tech like Combo, Loraine or Repairguy might know. Hopefully they will chime in.

 

[repairguy]

I agree with Glenn about the marketing. By the time this washer was built there were only one and two speed clutches with single speed motors on these machines. The multi speed clutches and variable speed machines were not made for too many years.

I know whirlpool was using speech like this on direct drive machines. A one speed would state multiple combinations even though it was a single speed. Pulse agitation was considered a speed.

 

[Chetlaham]

Pulse agitation is considered a speed? I can live with that!

I like the idea of pulsing over the complexity of multi speed motors or clutches.

 

[henene4]

Thing is that pulsing really isn't the same as a lower speed.
Especially with fragile items - like knits or thin synthetic curtains - the higher speed still is problematic as it can be to forceful and stretch things.

 

[DADoES]

 
I do not consider intermittent or pulsating agitation to be a discrete speed selection.  A type of action, yes.  Speed, no.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Seems as though this intermittent speed was an exclusive feature on Hotpoint washers…

Not really offered on GE…

— Dave

 

[combo52]

Multi speed Ge Filter Flow washers

GE of course from the mid 50s made one and two speed washing machines, then in the mid 60s they introduced a four speed clutch on the Filter Flow washers. 

 

the Four-speed clutch either allowed you to have four or three agitation speeds depending on the model the machine, even though the three speed models really had four speeds but you couldn’t utilize them.

 

Around 1968 when electronic technology advanced GE had a variable speed clutch but didn’t really offer any virtue over three or four speeds so that didn’t last long,

 

several other manufacturers tried infinite speed agitation and it was also a total bust there was no advantage and therefore no great sales.

 

I don’t think it’s been established that the Hotpoint in question in this thread has intermittent agitation the setting on this machine might just be a silly duplicate setting.

 

John L

 

[bajaespuma]

Bob is right. The HANDWASH selection is the slow speed and directs the owner to use the inner handwash agitator.

 

[DADoES]

 
Like those Kenmore dryers with 5 Fabricare selections but really two temperatures.

 

[henene4]

I think temperature and heater power are somewhat similar to agitation speed and frequency/time on a washer.

A to high heating output on a dryer can scorch items - with the same air flow, more power mean higher inlet air temp. That can be problematic for items especially heat sensitive. This dryers might have a heater made up of 2 heaters.

On a washer, that is analogous to the agitation speed.
Even if exposed to to much very briefly, damage can occur.

On the other hand, dryer temp is usually measured at the drum outlet and reflects the overall laundry temp more closely than air inlet temp.
Here, a to high temp can still damage laundry. But usually, that takes longer.

On a washer, to much agitation regardless of speed can wear out clothing.
Like overdrying on a high temp setting.

For example, wool firbres aren't fragile per se. They can put up with a lot of force. But to much agitation can cause felting. There, shorter agitation times are key while action itself can be varied and us usually just kept lower to prevent damage due to the typical made up of the items.
Thus, an intermittent agitation for hand wash items makes sense.

On the dryer side, synthetic items often aren't temp sensitive per se - most stay perfectly intact up to typical Cottons dry temps.
However, a hot inlet air stream could easily be over the temp limit for such.

 

[DADoES]

 
A particular 1978 Kenmore model that I had, refurbed and sold, has five Fabricare heat choices -- Cotton/Sturdy, Permanent Press, Touch Up, Knit, Delicate.

It has one heating element.  Two bimetal temperature thermostats of 150°F (high) and 140°F (low).  I would have figured 155°F and 135°F but looking up the original part numbers indicates 150°F (65.5°C) and 140°F (60°C).

Cotton/Sturdy, Permanent Press, and Touch Up are high.

Knit and Delicate are low.

 

[Chetlaham]

Dryer Temps With A Single Heater

I have to disagree on this one. The water in the fabric prevents the fabric itself from overheating, regardless of the input power. As the fabric loses moisture, it begins to steadily heat up, and the remaining water which evaporates out of it becomes gradually hotter. This is reflected on the exhaust temperature to the extent delicate drops the heater at a lower exhaust temperature, while normal drops the heater at a higher temperature. In simple terms the exhaust temperature is always equal to the fabric temperature.

I know this because I've used Whirlpool based dryers for 15 years now. Delicate really is delicate, medium really is medium, and high really does the clothes very, very hot. The fabric temperature before cool down, even when the time dry cycle has been reset, always reflects the temperature knob no matter the fabric inside. Same for the door, the door is warm during delicate heat, painfully hot on high heat.

In fact, whether or not the dryer is overloaded with towels or has only a few delicate items the heater does not shut off at all for the first 10 - 40 minutes of drying- with larger loads taking longer for the heater to turn off. Only when the fabric gets to very roughly 35% moisture does the heater finally turn off. It comes back on soon though. As the clothes get dryer the heater on time steadily decreases, while the heater off time increases. This is how/why auto dry works, in that the timer does not advance until the exhaust temps open the cycling stat, indicating the load is close to being finished. The more time the cycling stat spends open, the less moisture there is the fabric to keep exhaust temps down.

GE dryers are another story, and a perfect example of GE being to smart for their own good. GE advertising brags how GE dryers do not yo-yo their temps as much as competitors but it does nothing to increase performance or fabric care. I had a GE dryer, my opinion of it is about that of its companion washer. It had two heaters, and upon starting the cycle the drum inlet thermostat would remove the first heater abut 5 minutes into the drying. This left only one heater, which greatly increased drying time as less BTUs was being put into the drum.

 

[DADoES]

 
The point is that it presents with five heat settings, six if no-heat Air is included, but really has only two thermostats for heat control.

 

[jons1077]

Like the GE dryers…

Honestly, no difference between the top two buttons. Both high heat. Both function the same no matter where you set the time.

 

[Chetlaham]

@dadoes, I know I was referring to Henene's reply that a dryer must have two heaters not to scorch items. Whirlpool dryers have one heater, with a high inlet temp, but IMO have the best fabric care in the world. The more I look at dryers, the most I like Whirlpool, by far.

Regarding the washer my vote is that the Handwash setting is simply an identical slow/slow setting with the user needing to pull out the normal agi when doing handwash items.