Automatic Dry settings on BOL models

[daveamkrayoguy]

Which dryers would have in addition to just the standard timers?

Usually you associate bottom of the line with timer only drying but what dryers also offer automatic settings?

— Dave

 

[turquoisedude]

It really depended on how BOL you went...  I remember that a good selection of Sears Kenmore dryers, even the lower-end ones, had an automatic dry setting.    Most dryers had a very 'basic' model with timed drying only - the more MOL models would often have an automatic dry setting.  

 

Just thinking back about the 64 GE dryer my folks had - I have since acquired a user booklet for the Canadian 1964 GE line and of the 4 models offered,  the one next up from the very basic model (which my cheapskate parents had...LOL) that had an automatic drying option.  

 

[tomturbomatic]

To comply with energy star standards, dryers had to have at least one auto-dry terminating cycle. The ironic thing was that 120 volt electric compact dryers had to have an electronic dry control for the auto-terminate cycle because 120 volt dryers did not get hot enough for a time/temp termination auto dry cycle to function properly. There were some really cheapo dryers that would have the usual time dry cycles and one cycle with a mark labeled "DRY" and that was the cycle that was the auto dry.

 

[Chetlaham]

Sadly, for at least 25 years all dryers now have come with an auto dry cycle. And the timed dry cycle has been shortened down to 70 minutes.

IIRC, I have never seen a Whirlpool dryer from the 70s onward that did not have an auto dry cycle.

Though to be fair auto dry does not add any appreciable complexity to a dryer.

The ones who did timed dry on several BOL models with common features than added an auto dry on the next step up was GE/Hotpoint. These I think these were by far the best timed dry dryers in existence giving you extra large capacity, temps, and at least 135 minutes of dry time- great for 120 volt conversions and very large/bulky loads being dried on knit/low settings.

 

[DADoES]

Whirlpool Timed-Only Dryers

 
The XXX5700s were the go-to models at the dealer where I worked.

1) LDE5700 (1976-77) ... the cord hides some of the timer but it's the same layout as 2/3 and 5 which looks like some sort of autodry based on fabric weight but trust me, it's timed.

2) 3) Circa 1972

4) LE4440XWW0 (1990-91)

5) LHI5701 (1980-81)

 

[Chetlaham]

I guess they do exist!

You're positive the cycle segments without numerals are timed dry? I always assumed they were auto dry, but given the amount of space on the timer dial I guess they are timed dry after all.

Either way, pic #4 does proves that these do indeed exist and hits really, really hard for me. It makes me so sad and mad that these are no longer made. 120 minutes of timed dry is wonderful feature. Two heating elements would make these dryers perfect.

Wish I had these model numbers when service matters was still public.

Any idea on the capacity? Hamper doors? Drum light?

 

[turquoisedude]

Deceptive dials....

Funny but there were some dryers that 'looked' like they offered auto-dry but the 'cycles' were in fact timed.  My 1966 Inglis Sterling is a case in point - when I first got it, I mistakenly thought the programmes (yes, we Canuks used British spelling back then) were auto-dry setting but nope.  They are timed! 

 

My apologies that the picture does not show the programmed section of the timer dial more clearly.  

 

[Chetlaham]

Same timers

After plugging in the model numbers LHI5701 and LE4440XWW0, it seems like both models have the same timer WP348320. Ebay listing show 2 poles, and 4 wires indicating most likely a time only model without taking inputs from the cycling stat.

Way to cool!

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Thanks for the response!!!!

Yes, seems as though side-opening door Whirlpools are what I see as an easy buy to get automatic drying via thermostat or humidistat sensing versus an electronic direct-dryness sensor, and a few Kenmore, though have seen timer-only models offered there...

Even a pic of the day shows a General Electric pair with its washer offering the basic three water levels and three temperatures with a single speed, while the dryer gives a high and low temperature setting (but none if those lows even being near a true delicate setting) and another auto-dry off the traditional clockwork timer operation dial-setting...

-- Dave