Are there any new mechanical timer washers & dryers being sold

[bradfordwhite]

Example of an electronic appliance with a hard wired disconnect.
Oster Kitchen center from around 1982

 

[bradfordwhite]

#29

"sleep-mode" just means the main appliance components aren't running and power to the LED screen is off.
The main computer is still ON, using electric, and susceptible to damages.

My much liked electronic air conditioner controller is always on even though the LED is off. Even when the screen is dark it still gives off a bit of heat and when you plug it in, it makes a beep sound.

Whenever I plug in my electronic Air Fry oven it beeps but there is no lights on the LED screen.

Some computers, when first plugging them in, the power lights will flash briefly but the computer won't come on until you push the power button.

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For whoever stated that powering up an electronic timer/controller is enough to cause it to fail- NO.
If that happened it's because the piece was already damaged, probably from being left in the ON position for too long.

 

[ryner1988]

Reply #28

Eddie,

For me, that strangeness with the lid lock usually happened when the machine would finish a load, the lid had unlocked but I hadn't yet opened the lid to remove the laundry. Someone would turn the bathroom light off at this point, and sometimes the lid would relock. Was kind of a PITA to get it back open.

Aside from this, I will say the machine gave me very few issues until it died a few months ago. Didn't much care for the sound of it, but apparently that's an irritation unique to me as others don't seem to have the problem. Or maybe I just had a particularly noisy machine.

Ryne

 

[kb0nes]

I can't imagine settling for the mediocrity of a simple mechanical timer today. Giving up the advantages of sensors and control capability based on some notion that they will last longer seems short sighted. I'll take the electronic controls over a timer for longevity today anytime. My electronic Kitchenaid DW is at least 25 years old now and that control works perfectly as it always has.

As for unplugging electronics or gosh powering off a cell phone daily (??!!), that is the best chuckle I've had today. I've owned 4 cell phones total since 1998 and never turned off a one of them! Never a failure on any of them... They don't need to rest

Surges are blamed for scads of electronics failures, but really seldom ever cause any damage. Put a whole house impulse suppressor in the service panel and don't worry about it anymore.

 

[good-shepherd]

and just gives another reason not to "upgrade".

We are going to be forced to "upgrade" out cell phones before the end of the year.

Verizon is shutting off 3G service and I won't be able to use my excellent LG flip phone anymore.

Any suggestions for basic phones? All the Verizon offerings have horrible reviews.

 

[ea56]

Douglas,

I had to upgrade my LG flip phone early this year because Tracfone, which is now owned by Verizon no longer uses the 3G network. I got an Alcatel Flip phone that uses the 4G network and I like it just fine. My husband had to do the same thing two months ago, and he went with the same Alcatel flip phone as I did.

Eddie

https://support.tracfone.com/devicehome?device=alcatel-myflip-2-a406dl

 

[bradfordwhite]

#34

My AT&T LG B470 I paid $20 for at Walmart in 2016 has been a super trooper all this time. Never had a problem. It worked on both ATT and T-Mobile.

Earlier this year ATT shut down their 3G so it no longer will work with ATT. I had already upgraded to a smart phone about a year earlier and so glad I did but I kept the phone for texting only and still have it on T-Mobile. Found out that in Oct They will be shutting their 3G network. ;-(...

That's progress.

 

[windrivers]

Basic Cell Phone

Just like you want washers and dryers with the old traditional mechanical controls, you want cell phones with the the old traditional rotary pulse dialers, like the Bell System Princess phones that came out in 1959. I think the Princess phones were extremely durable, I don't recall one ever breaking down in normal use.

But then, what do I know? I'm the last Luddite left in the world without a cellphone, so take my advice for what it's worth. My answer just seems to fit with the subject on this thread.

 

[ea56]

Jeff

I hardly ever use my Tracfone. I’ve had a Tracfone since 2002 and I have over 7000 mins of airtime. I just take it with me when I leave the home for a walk or to drive somewhere, since there aren’t pay phones around in most places now. I only use it for emergencies or when I need to text for some business or medical need.

I guess that makes me a semi-Luddite, LOL! My Tracfone Flip phone has internet capability, but I don’t use it.

What’s good about Tracfone is no monthly bill. I just buy a 1 year airtime and service card every year, and as long as my service stays active the airtime mins accumulate and are retained. I maybe make 10 calls a year on it, if that. Before I had unlimited long distance on my home phone I made all my long distance calls on the Tracfone, and even at that I never needed to add any mins between my annual card renewal.

Eddie[this post was last edited: 9/13/2022-20:38]

 

[windrivers]

I guess the only thing about Ma Bell Princess phones is that they generally weren't that easy to just unplug each night to give them a rest.

 

[windrivers]

Thanks Eddie

I keep thinking that I should look into Tracfones or such.

I know I'm not always real wise going up in the mountains to cut firewood and such without letting anyone know when and where I'm going. I should figure out how much coverage those things have around where I go.

Thanks for the suggestion, sounds like a good idea.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Wow

It's like we've approached the real life Grizzly Adams.

Never dealt with cel phones. Doesn't know that AT&T hasn't wired phones direct since the 60s given the modular plugs. Cuts wood "in the mountains". Doesn't realize a Princess phone is not electronic and thus doesn't need to be disconnected.

The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams



Yet you've managed to meander to a computer randomly found under a brush pile, found this website, and you know what a Princess phone is. hmmmmmmm.
Are you still wanted by the law?
Oh, the DRAMA!

 

[windrivers]

bradfordwhite

I see you have a sense of humor also, lol.

You caught me, I actually was confused as to what a Princess phone was, I think it was actually the Model 500 which came out earlier than the Princess that I was thinking of. Thanks for straightening me out on that, though I think they were both very similar and dependable phones.

The thing is, as I recall, all those phones had transformers that were constantly energized, yet didn't seem to wear down. The idea that I got from your above posts is that even things that aren't electronic need to have power disconnected to give them a rest.

I think some of the confusion may be that you refer to things such as analog clocks that are always running and compare them to electronics. The thing there may be the conflation of mechanical wear with electronic degradation.

 

[good-shepherd]

I'm really pissed about not being able to use my LG flip phone in a few months, years of rock solid reliability, palm size, one hand operation just by feel of the keypad. The pinnacle of flip phones IMO.

I would be okay with a smart phone if it wasn't a surveillance device that also makes phone calls and text.

 

[miele4life]

in the UK, mechanical timer tumble dryers from Hotpoint and Indesit are still being made and they got an update last year, available as vented or condenser models from both brands.