Front Load Going Directly Into Spin

[Chetlaham]

What would happen if a front load not tumbling all of a sudden started to accelerate toward spin? What happens to EU machines if the power is cut and then re-applied as they enter spin?

The scenario I have in mind is where the machine is tumbling, just begins to accelerate toawrd spin as it would normally, there is a trip and reclose on the overhead line where the clothes settle to the bottom of the basket then the machine is re-powered right in the spin increment of the cycle.

What happens?

 

[vacbear58]

It depends of the age and particular characteristics of the machine particularly how they are programmed for out of balance situations. On older machines with mechanical timers generally they would just go straight back into spin although I know, from experience, that some just drain until the end of the cycle. Modern machines with electronic control will, in my experience, do at least a couple of tumbles to distribute the clothes and then resume the spin to the end of the cycle.

 

[Chetlaham]

When going straight back into spin, how do the machines handle it? I'd imagine all the wet clothes would end up on one side of the drum?

 

[launderess]

My "electronic" Miele will pick up wherever mechanical timer tells it to if power is cut then restored. If load has become unbalance or whatever during pause it will still spin; banging and clanging away.

My fully computer controlled AEG washers are a mixed bag; they do remember where they were before a power cut. So one merely has to hit a button or two to restart programme once power is restored. OTOH this is not an indefinite period. Depending upon how long machine is without power programme may be erased. That is when power is restored any fault code will need to be cleared, and new programme started.

If there is water in drum, and machine is going to need a restart at fresh programme it can be set to "drain". This may not be necessary always since AEG washers always have short drain period upon start of cycle before beginning to fill with water.

If power is not expected to be restored for any length of time and or if one wants wash out of machine for various reasons, in both old and new washers same applies. There is a manual drain spigot so water can be drained into a vessel or floor drain. Once all water is out one uses manual door release to open machine.

 

[Chetlaham]

Interesting, thanks! I like the idea of banging and clanging away. How fast does this machine spin? Tub displacement switches? I like the idea of a front load that can still keep going and won't stop. Kind of like Speed Queen TLs, they'll keep going even if the tub is hitting the cabinet.

 

[tomturbomatic]

There were commercial front loaders like the Troy Big Boy that accelerated from tumble into spin while full of water by means of powering a separate high speed motor. Some Milnors in coin ops, jumped into a distribution spin, too, and, like the Troy Big Boys, used the swirling water to distribute the load before opening the drain valve. They shifted into a higher spin speed, too, after the water had drained. I do not know if they used the separate motor for the spin speed, but they were exciting to watch.