Danby Opinions?

[launderess]

Underarms stains on shirts need to be treated BEFORE laundering for best results. White vinegar for old stains, liquid detergent or pre-treatment product for fresh. If you use liquid detergent, subtract the amount used for pre-treatment from the total for laundry. Or, just pre-soak your shirts in a tub with a good enzyme product for an hour.

Regarding commercial untis: there are "soft mount" commercial washing machines about which have built in pump/drain systems and some even run on 120v/single phase power.

If you want "more" water for washing shirts, get yourself a twin tub washer, vintage or modern. Not exactly "automatic" washing, but you have more control over the washing process.

Launderess

 

[washoholic]

Steve, welcome to our club!

Jon is right about the Danby not having a way to raise the water level in the rinse. The water plus button raises the water level in the cotton wash cycle. The water level is automatically raised in the other cycles, the rinse and in the pre-wash.

Steve, I’m not sure where you’re getting your information about the government not letting Danby raise the water level anymore, but my Danby has the water plus button rather than the gentle wash button and it’s energy star compliant. I purchased it from a Danby dealer. I have seen the ones with the gentle wash button at places like Home Depot and have only seen the ones with the water plus button at dealers. The dealer told me that dealers are the only ones that carry the model with this option, and do still have them (my information is coming from what the dealer said which may or may not be correct). I tend to believe Laundress more since I’ve never seen Laundress write anything that was incorrect or grammatically incorrect on this site.

Jeff

 

[washoholic]

Correction

That’s Launderess not Laundress.

 

[mistervain]

JEFF thanks for the info....what's the highest your water level gets? Could you post a picture of it during the wash? And when did you buy your Danby?

 

[stephenr0]

Jeff,

Well, when I got my Danby, I noticed the difference between my machine and the manual on the Danby web site. When I called Danby to find out why they were different, that's what they told me. Of course, I'm glossing over a lot of discussion with them about it, but that's what they came up with. They agreed that it was unfortunate that they hadn't updated their web site. Actually, they still haven't changed their web site. I suppose they fall back on their disclaimer that the specifications could change. However, I'm very interested in how your machine is wired. I suspect that the change they made was a relatively simple wiring change. From examination of my wiring diagram, it appears that the water level switch has more than one level available. Is there any way that you could make a picture of your wiring diagram available to me? It's on the under side of the top of the machine.

Steve

 

[washoholic]

I bought mine about a year and a half ago, and I love it. It holds more than you would think. It holds a 10 lb. cotton load. I put 10 lbs. of towels in and it seems to work a little hard, but they all came out clean. The drum volume is 1.69 cu. Ft. My Neptune is 3.34 cu. Ft. (1.69 + 1.69 = 3.38) so it’s about half the size of the Neptune. I tried to put a king sized comforter in it, but it just won’t fit through the door (the drum is bigger than the door opening).

Here is the water level on the cotton cycle. It is well below the door (washing is a long john top and bottom on each picture).

 

[washoholic]

The water level on the cotton cycle with the water plus button pushed. It is just at the door and the door can still be opened without a flood. I use this for washing my 2 roommates work clothes. They are plumbers and sometimes their clothes are covered in dirt, mud, sweat, or plumbing glue. The Danby does take out odors, too. The water plus button seems to cause a showering effect which is great for washing work clothes. I do not use with towels since it seems to cause excessive foam.

 

[washoholic]

The water level in the perm press cycle is just above the door. The machine will always let you open the door about 1 to 2 minutes after the power button is in the off position, but if you open it now you better have a mop handy. Also, I have noticed that when a full load is washing the machine uses more water. The clothes absorb the water and if you stop the washer for a few minutes the water drains out of the clothes and the water level rises.

 

[washoholic]

Steve, I’ve seen the inside of the machine and I have noticed that there are 2 water levels and they seem to be adjustable, but I did not mess with them since there are many places to adjust them. I think three screws on each one. Wait until the long johns finish and I’ll see what I can do.

 

[stephenr0]

Jeff, by two water levels, I assume you mean two water level pressure switches. I noticed that. I believe the one with the red dot is to make sure that the heater doesn't turn on without enough water in the drum. I currently believe the one with the green dot is the one for the normal wash, but I suspect that it is capable of returning more than one level depending on how it is switched. That's my current theory anyway. I saw all the adjustment screws on the switches and the glyptol on them and was scared off messing with them. I'll be interested in what you find out.

Steve

 

[mistervain]

Thanks for the photos Jeff. The perm press cycle has the kind of water level I am looking for. Hopefully these models are still available?

 

[washoholic]

Exactly Steve, I meant water level switches like these:

 

[washoholic]

Steve, I e-mailed you the wiring diagram. Its 8 pictures and I did not want to take up a lot of space on the site. Did you get it?

Jeff

 

[stephenr0]

Yes, I did. Thanks. Now to see what I can figure out.

Steve

 

[stephenr0]

Well, it's pretty obvious. The only problem is that my machine has a simple open and close switch and yours has a single post, double throw switch. I guess I'll have to figure out if my machine really has a switch like yours and is used in a more simple fashion so I can rewire it or if I'm going to have to find (maybe order) a more complicated switch. We'll have to see how it goes.

Steve

 

[washoholic]

Mistervain, I’m not sure if these models are still available. It sounds like the dealer may have sold me an old machine, but that’s okay because I like this one better. I called the dealer today and they are out of business. They only do service now. The availability probably depends on your area. Put your zip code in the dealer locater page at the Danby website, or check with your local Home Depot. The link is the Danby site.

Good luck, Steve. I thought about adjusting the screws on the water level control, but I’ve never seen one like that before. Let me know what you end up doing.

Jeff

http://www.danby.com/en/locate.asp

 

[launderess]

Water level switch was indeed the "first" Danby washer to sell in the US. Subsequent models had the water plus button switched out. Proof of this is that the new models still used (or still use for all one knows)the same owners manual as the previous one which list features like the extra water buttton which is no longer there.

L.

 

[Kenmorepeter5]

About Video for Danby

Hello I'm deaf.

Can you make the video (movie) about the Danby's wash action (activity), rinse and spin? (run wash tumble of 2 directions drive)....is that OK? Thanks! ;-)

- Peter (kenmorepeter5)

 

[mistervain]

Jeff I am definitely going to check out some of the dealers in my area. I appreciate the tip and everyone's feedback. This topic has taken on a life of its own!

I'm very interested to find out what happens from playing with the wiring on the water level switches....

 

[stephenr0]

It seems to work...

I made the modification. From Jeff's clear descriptions, I have the same water level that he does when he pushes the water plus button. I couldn't use the gentle wash button because it is a simpler switch than what Jeff has. So I chose to buy a switch and mount it on the back of the machine. I found a switch that fit the left shipping rod hole. The way that I've wired it, up gives me more water and down gives me less. Seems logical. It would also be possible to simply wire it to always have the extra water on the cotton cycles and not bother with a switch. That would be a simple wiring change. Of course, you could drill a hole in the front of the machine and make the switch more accessible, if you want. I'm still in the middle of the first wash. I need to try it both ways some more to make sure that I don't smoke something. But I think I have it right. If you think that watching your Danby from the front with a flashlight is fun, you should try watching it with the top off. It's quite cute inside.

Steve