Amana HE Topload washer

[cam2s]

I’m pet sitting for a friend over the weekend, he recently moved into a new apartment that was supplied with an HE Amana topload washer. This is the first time I’ve used a modern top loading machine so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I did one load last night so far, a large blanket. I used the bulky/sheets cycle, auto sense with extra rinse, and a hot fill. I’ll make some observations about how it performed...

It did not temper the hot water.
It filled all the way to the top of the basket... it did not appear to do any sensing.
It took a looong time to fill up for both the wash and rinse. I don’t know if it was poor water pressure or if the inlets are restricted that much.
It was a little disconcerting to see the basket sink that much under the weight of the water.
The agitation alternated between shorter strokes and longer strokes. Overall it appeared much gentler than a traditional DD
It used a neutral drain.
They were no spin spray rinses.
It used two deep rinses, but the water level was lower for both rinses. This was ok as the blanket probably didn’t need a whole tub of water, but again it didn’t seem to do any sensing it just hit its level and started chugging away.
I didn’t time the cycle, but it took well over An hour.

Compared to my Maxima XL 7000, I don’t feel like it was any faster. Also it seemed that the detergent would have been much more diluted in that huge amount of water . Also the spin speed seemed very slow compared to what I’m used to.

Hopefully I’ll have a chance to use some of the other cycles and see how they perform.

Cameron.

 

[wishwash]

Your selected cycle is bulky/sheets, which will likely due a full fill without any sensing. The normal or casual cycles are different.

The fill is indeed restricted. I believe Whirlpool did this so that they could get a longer spray rinse that soaked the clothes evenly without dumping a full fill of water in the tub. Hot is especially restricted to get a lower "warm" temperature, although I believe the inlet water is temperature controlled. Not sure what the point of that was. The warm setting actually fills pretty quickly.

The basket sinks quite a bit by design. The basket assembly is hung from four suspension rods around the cabinet and sits on springs. The springs compress under the weight of the water so the basket drops. Nothing to be concerned about.

These machines are indeed gentler than direct drives. However, the new Maytag Commercial series alternates between longer strokes and short fast strokes similar to the direct drive, for those who really want their laundry scrubbed.

The spin spray rinses are omitted on these machines for a spray rinse with the tub slowly turning. Another cycle will use this setting. Its interesting to see how they pulse the motor on and off for brief periods of time.

These are indeed made to fit a price point. They so far seem very reliable and do the job well, but aren't the most efficient in terms of energy or washing capability. Seems like the new ones are getting better. I would love to tear one of these apart and build my own controller using an Arduino and relays, but time will tell. These machines could easily be more efficient using some signal processing, which is probably how the F&P machines change based on load parameters.

 

[henene4]

Signal processing

The higher end Direct Drive versions of these have the 3-phase motors which allow for direct use of motor data for sensing purposes.

These lower end belt driven versions use a different motor technology which is simpler and cheaper, but dosen't have the capabilities of Direct Drive &#92 SmartDrive motors have.

One example is the pulsing of the motor you mentioned. They have a limited amount of actual motor speeds (I think it's 4 or 5, high and low each for spinning and agitating) and thus can't continously rotate the basket at a low speedlike the direct drive motors could.
Stroke lengths are independent of actual agitation speed, though.

Sensing is also different. The sensing on these is mostly time based (how long the basket needs to accelerate to a certain speed) while DD motors use actual data from the inverter as well.

Further, best way to see that difference: F&P SmartDrive (and WP VMW DD machines, for that matter) can activley decelerate the basket via the motor.
Those BDs can not.

 

[wishwash]

If I remember correctly, the GE Hydrowave also uses the motor as a spin brake. Are these also three phase?

 

[48bencix]

Deep Water

I like that model because you can select a Deep Water wash and Rinse. The price is a nice $299 and would be fun to have to see how it lasts. Probably as good quality as units twice the price.

 

[cuffs054]

If that's a MT/WP bastard child the 'deep wash' is still going to be sensored per WP.

 

[vacman1961]

For what the price is on this machine it is probably the best value for the dollar out there. I would take this over any Cabrio or Bravos washer any day.