Defeating a lid switch

[automagic]

Long story short My BF’s building is almost done revamping the laundry room, out with the old SQ’s in with the new Whirlpools. Although the renovation is not complete I did a little Gladys Kravits style investigating and got to look at the new machines for a few seconds, till the work men escorted me out. The machines appear to be a mol commerical Whirlpool top loader with a hidden lid switch. Does any one know if there is an easy way around this? I would love to see the machine in action.

 

[DADoES]

If there's not some kind of tricky circuitry like on some current Maytags, or the Calypso that requires toggling the lid switch to start another cycle . . it could probably be 'permanently' bypassed by connecting the wires together. Otherwise, check if there's room to reach between the tub and top to the lid hinge and trip the switch with a finger (could be dangerous from an electrical angle, though).

 

[Designgeek]

Yes, they are getting more & more clever at making sure us geeks don't defeat the pesky interlocks. Now if they wanted to make peace with the interlock-hackers, they should really provide clear see-through lids.

 

[bpetersxx]

On the Maytag Atlantis 9750 I use popsickle sticks

 

[Designgeek]

On the old Hotpoint top loader I can stick a ballpoint pen or virtually anything else of similar dimensions in there to override the switch with the lid open, and it stays put, so it works for the entire operation. This is good because it would otherwise stop during the wash cycle.

The new Danby twin tub spinner has a clever interlock with a cutoff switch and a brake, which are under tension with a spring, and operate like a deadman control: releasing the link turns off the action. I took a look at this and decided Danby had me out-smarted so I left it alone. However the washtub is designed to operate normally with the lid off. And one can lift the spin lid about 3/4 of an inch and get a tolerable view of the 1600-rpm blur going on in there.

A couple of companies have started making micro-washers in transparent plastics. One of them is rectangular with a pulsator at the bottom, which often turns up on Ebay for about $70. Another is a micro twin tub with a pulsator on the wash side and a spin cylinder (so far only available in the UK). Both sit on the kitchen counter, and have drain hoses you stick in the sink. No need to hack the switches on either of these, you can see everything from all sides.

 

[tolivac]

I wouldn't want to defeat the lid switch in a spinner-the very high tub speeds are VERY dangerous.Also not much to see-just the spinning tub.
Are the Transparent machines(micro-washers) salesman "demo" machines to show prospects how a full sized one would work?

 

[westytoploader]

Wow, a MICRO TWIN-TUB??? Do you have a website? I want one!!

 

[arrrooohhh]

Micro twin tub

There arent any on Ebay at the moment, but they are so cute I want one, would cost a fortune to ship from the UK.

Its like those ego egg style washing machines, an impellered container about 1kg. in capacity, only with an extra chamber attached that contains a spinner.

Its advertised as being great for camping etc, and with the addition of a spinner (even if its not very powerful) makes it much more usable and practical IMO. Whats the point of washing small amounts of clothes in a dorm room if they are going to drip everywhere?

 

[Designgeek]

So as to not digress this topic thread, see my reply in the new topic "Micro twin-tubs." We can pick up the discussion there.