Fisher and Paykel Topload dryer (Post images below)

[smartdrive1100]

Hi everyone,
I would love to see everyone’s F&P TP dryer as I am planning to get one. I would like to know more about them.

 

[easyspindry]

I've had one for 15 years . . .

Love it!!!

It's gas fired and has worked beautifully the entire time. The tub rotation reverses every few minutes, thus there's no tangling or balling up of the clothing. This is especially useful when drying bedsheets.

I am unable to include a picture because I am not at home at this time.

The dryer looks exactly like the matching washer because it is loaded from the top.

If the interest in a picture of the dryer remains, I will be happy to provide one when I return home the middle of March.

Jerry Gay

 

[smartdrive1100]

Would love some photos!

Seem like there is plenty still doing hard work,

I’ve heard that the bearings are known to fail and that they require 3 phase power (which I don’t have).

I was wondering if I could use it on single phase on air dry and low heat or would that trip my 9 amp fuse.

 

[gizmo]

Were they sold in Australia? I thought they were US market only??

 

Not 3 phase power supply - they use a 3-phase motor, but it uses its own internal electronics to create the 3 phase supply to its motor, the power supply to the machine is single phase.

 

[DADoES]

 
I bought a SmartLoad DEGX1 in Oct 2004 (with an IWL12 washer).  Repaired a bad heating element and cleared lint accumulation from the filter/blower housing in 2014.

I found an LED AquaSmart / AeroSmart DE62T27D pair in August 2018.  Converted them to LCD models by changing the control panels and have been using them as the "daily drivers" since that time.  Passed the DEGX1 to my parents.

Have found two more SmartLoads DE62T27G with matching Eco Smart washers.

So, I have four topload dryers ... two in-use, two spares not yet refurbished.

Two IWL12 Intuitive Eco washers, a WL26CW1 AquaSmart, a WL37T26CW2 AquaSmart, and two WA37T26C Eco Smart washers (not yet refurbished).

 

[DADoES]

 

 

[rapunzel]

"Were they sold in Australia?"

Yes they were. Albeit only for a short while. Australian home laundries are not set up for gas or electric dryers that require a 20 amp outlet. If consumers want that, it costs lots of additional $$$. That is why here in Oz American full-size washer dryer pairs are primarily found in commercial operations, such as hairdressers, mining operations, caravan parks or residential settings like nursing homes.

Speed Queen and Maytag are primarily targeting commercial clients with their matching washer/dryer pairs. There probably wasn't enough demand for F&P's TL dryer to make it viable long-term here, unfortunately.

Unlike the US, in Australia appliance manufacturers never paired up with home building companies to furnish Australian houses with their products. Now we do not even have an appliance industry, only whatever stuff importers decide they want to sell here.

 

[DADoES]

 
Sheets cycle.  Cool down starts at 36 mins, ends at 43:24 and the anti-wrinkle function begins but it runs for only one tumble at 48:20 before I end the recording.  I apparently had the load spin at low speed or they would have dried faster.

 

[brisnat81]

The issue in AU was that they needed a 32amp circuit and to be hard wired. A 20amp dryer circuit is rare a 32amp dryer circuit is non existent.

I wanted one, but the cost of running a circuit was almost as much as the dryer.

 

[smartdrive1100]

Wow,

Seems like they are almost as easy to rip apart like their top load washers.

I wonder if there is a way to make the bearings last longer, maybe put some very high quality synthetic motor oil on the bearings?

 

[rinso]

The F&P top load dryer was my favorite of all the dryers I have ever owned. We had it in our family for over 18 years, and during that time, it only needed 2 very minor service calls, both to reset a circuit breaker. We learned from those that we had to ensure a clean and fairly straight exhaust path, as this beauty loved to breathe freely.

 

[DADoES]

 
There's a resettable overheat protector thermostat on front of the heaterbox.  Reply 5, Pic 3, the thermostat with a red button on green background.  The thermostat above it and the one on lower-front of the heaterbox are to limit the input air temperature to the drum depending which element(s) are active.  A thermistor on the blower outflow housing controls the target drying temperature.

Two heating elements per Pic 10.  1,400 watts and 3,600 watts.  The larger element operates alone for Low and Medium temp.  Both for High temp.  The smaller operates alone in reverse-tumble direction (lower airflow rate).

Gas heating has differences accordingly.

 

[smartdrive1100]

You can change tub speeds!?

Is changing the tub speed some programmable thing or does it come as one of the settings?

 

[DADoES]

 
There's no user adjustment settings for the motor RPM.  The motor is reversing and variable speed.  The controller operates it accordingly to the required function ... closing the drum door, finding "home" position if necessary to prepare for opening, opening the drum door, forward tumble, and reverse tumble for 40 seconds every 4 mins.  Forward and reverse tumble seem to be the same speeds.  Airflow is lower in reverse due to the blower wheel design being optimal for forward direction.

 

[eurekastar]

That design actually makes a lot of sense, especially for older people and those with back problems.

 

[iej]

Just a similar design...

There's a French Vedette very compact top loader condenser dryer - video is of one these machines being dismantled. These are relatively cheap machines.

 



 

These were pretty unique to the French market, I haven't seen them sold much anywhere else. France has always had an option of narrow, taller top loader h-axis washing machines and dryers which were aimed at compact old apartments. The majority of machines sold in France, however, are the same type front loaders as the rest of Europe.

 

[this post was last edited: 2/21/2022-19:25]

 

[iej]

Just to add, had a Google around yesterday and it seems Vedette was probably the last company to make those machines. They’re no longer manufactured and actually seems they may also have been the last french washing machine producer. The Brandt, Vedette and De Dietrich appliances brands are just brands nowadays.
Same with other french brands like Scholtès who used to make very premium cooktops, possibly still do, but they’re all part of bigger groups or brand acquisition outfits.

It’s getting very hard to keep track of who owns what brands these days.

 

[launderess]

La Mère Denis was "spokesperson" for Vedette washing machines in 1970's. A traditional French blanchisseuse (washer woman), one supposes Vedette sought to reassure French housewives their laundry would receive same treatment. Going by how Mère Denis is whacking away at that linen one really should hope not.

http://enenvor.fr/eeo_actu/apresW/la_mere_denis_ou_les_deux_vies_d_une_vedette_bretonne.html





https://www.francebleu.fr/emissions/consomatin/lorraine-nord/la-vie-de-la-mere-denis

Last time one checked Vedette was purchased by CEVITAL

https://www.cevital.com/brandt-algerie-brandt-algeria-en/

 

[iej]

Just as long as it didn’t have « La programme Mère Dénis avec action pulvérisation totale »

They also did a very practical, fully upholstered top loader aimed at bijoux apartments or those who wanted something dedicated to just lingerie cycles, styled by designer Chantal Thomass. I’m not sure if La Mère Denis would have approved, but then again she might have thought it was great, who knows?

The taller, narrower design is also genuinely practical if you just want to make the laundry fit into a small space, out of the way and not be something that any particular bother. Those machines turn the tub around 90° and rearrange the machine so there more height / depth and less width.

Here’s one being installed on an English Narrowboat (canal barge - used for leisure trips.) Despite the very compact size, they’re a capable machine and can manage a fairly respectable amount of laundry in one wash. The only downside is the double doors, although some designs ensure the drum always returns to the correct position etc (Miele for example).

post was last edited: 2/23/2022-11:30]