power limitations
US power availability does limit the front load built in heater market. How and why we choose to run home branch circuits at 120 still blows my mind. In this day and age no justification exists.
Most front loaders are shipped with a NEMA 5-15 plug which only gives 1800 watts max. Most heaters end up being about 1000 to 1200 watts. About 300 to 400 watts are left over for the motor since tumble and heat is needed. While 1000 watts will still heat the water it takes a lot of time, and from cold to a boil wash that can take over an hour alone for the wash. Compact machines none to bad, but give them a full size and consumers will be asking why. A Euro plug on the other hand can pull 13 or 16 amps at 230 volts. 3000 watts to 3700 watts of available power. A euro washer can easily be equipped with a 2000 to 3000 watt heater, in this example will say 2500 watts. That's 2 and 1/2 times more heating power which makes the consumer happier. Most euro machines are more leaning toward compact, so it adds to the time reduction even more. However, if we wanted to get similar results in our full size front loads I would estimate about a 3500 to 4200 watts of heating power would be needed.
The good news for us: literally 96% of houses can get 4800 watts of power at their washer outlets without upgrading any wiring. The NEC has required for decades a dedicated 20 amp 12 gauge circuit be run to the laundry area for the washer. 96% of houses have a dedicated number 12 from the panel to the washer's receptacle. By code that circuit cant leave the laundry area, and technically cant be run to any light fixtures. All one needs to do is swap the single pole breaker to a double and change the outlet to a NEMA 6-20r. Presto 4800 watts of power. Appliance makers can then add NEMA 6-20p plugs to washers and in turn stronger heaters. Imagine a Duet with a 4500 watt heater
Major time savings on a sani wash.
Bosch btw has a neat trick up its sleeve. Some of their home dryers for the US market plug into a standard 240 volt 30 amp dryer circuit. A 15 amp 240 volt plug is provided at the back of the dryer for a 240 volt front load with heater. But if one wanted just the washer they could do the above mentioned too.
IMO, a front load with no heater is half a washer.
US power availability does limit the front load built in heater market. How and why we choose to run home branch circuits at 120 still blows my mind. In this day and age no justification exists.
Most front loaders are shipped with a NEMA 5-15 plug which only gives 1800 watts max. Most heaters end up being about 1000 to 1200 watts. About 300 to 400 watts are left over for the motor since tumble and heat is needed. While 1000 watts will still heat the water it takes a lot of time, and from cold to a boil wash that can take over an hour alone for the wash. Compact machines none to bad, but give them a full size and consumers will be asking why. A Euro plug on the other hand can pull 13 or 16 amps at 230 volts. 3000 watts to 3700 watts of available power. A euro washer can easily be equipped with a 2000 to 3000 watt heater, in this example will say 2500 watts. That's 2 and 1/2 times more heating power which makes the consumer happier. Most euro machines are more leaning toward compact, so it adds to the time reduction even more. However, if we wanted to get similar results in our full size front loads I would estimate about a 3500 to 4200 watts of heating power would be needed.
The good news for us: literally 96% of houses can get 4800 watts of power at their washer outlets without upgrading any wiring. The NEC has required for decades a dedicated 20 amp 12 gauge circuit be run to the laundry area for the washer. 96% of houses have a dedicated number 12 from the panel to the washer's receptacle. By code that circuit cant leave the laundry area, and technically cant be run to any light fixtures. All one needs to do is swap the single pole breaker to a double and change the outlet to a NEMA 6-20r. Presto 4800 watts of power. Appliance makers can then add NEMA 6-20p plugs to washers and in turn stronger heaters. Imagine a Duet with a 4500 watt heater
Major time savings on a sani wash.Bosch btw has a neat trick up its sleeve. Some of their home dryers for the US market plug into a standard 240 volt 30 amp dryer circuit. A 15 amp 240 volt plug is provided at the back of the dryer for a 240 volt front load with heater. But if one wanted just the washer they could do the above mentioned too.
IMO, a front load with no heater is half a washer.
