Have advertisers dropped the IEC fudge factor?

[sudsmaster]

I've been noticing a change in how washer capacity is advertised, specifically for front loaders and high efficiency top loaders.

For example, recently, I saw the Electrolux front loader advertised as having 4.0 cu ft capacity. As I recall, when it came out, it was advertised at 4.7 cu ft. The difference seems to me that they have dropped the IEC fudge factor, which adds in the volume that MIGHT be lost to an agitator, and are now just listing the actual volume.

Similarly, the Maytag Bravos is listed at 3.4 cu ft, not 4.0 as previously.

Am I right, or is there something else going on?

 

[runematic]

Companies are now using a DOE (Dept of energy) formula instead of the IEC.  It's enough to drive you bonkers trying to keep up with the sizes et al.   There was a thread here some time ago. 

 

[dj-gabriele]

Why don't they simply write the ACTUAL drum volume like elsewhere?!

 

[sudsmaster]

What is the DOE volume formula?

Is it different from actual volume?

 

[sudsmaster]

OK I answer my own question...

Here's the DOE procedure for measuring washer basket volume. It is essentially the maximum actual volume of the washer basket (or drum). No fudge factors appear to be used, unlike the problematic IEC measurement system.

For those who like a summary, the procedure for a front loader would have the washer tipped on its back. Then the clothes drum is lined with plastic (a trash bag would probably work well). The washer is weighed. Then water is added to the drum to the door seal area with the door open. The washer is then weighed again. The difference in weight is the weight of the water used to fill the drum/basket. It's a relatively simple calculation to figure out the volume of water involved, using the density of water at room temperature.

3. Test Measurements
3.1 Clothes container capacity. Measure the entire volume which a clothes load could occupy within the clothes container during active mode washer operation according to the following procedures:
3.1.1 Place the clothes washer in such a position that the uppermost edge of the clothes container opening is leveled horizontally, so that the container will hold the maximum amount of water. For front-loading clothes washers, the shipping bolts and door seal shall remain in place during the capacity measurement.
3.1.2 Line the inside of the clothes container with 2 mil (0.051 mm) plastic sheet. All clothes washer components which occupy space within the clothes container and which are recommended for use with the energy test cycle shall be in place and shall be lined with 2 mil (0.051 mm) plastic sheet to prevent water from entering any void space.
3.1.3 Record the total weight of the machine before adding water.
3.1.4 Fill the clothes container manually with either 60 °F ± 5 °F (15.6 °C ± 2.8 °C) or 100 °F ± 10 °F (37.8 °C ± 5.5 °C) water, with the door open. For a top-loading, vertical-axis clothes washer, fill the clothes container to the uppermost edge of the rotating portion, including any balance ring. For a front-loading, horizontal-axis clothes washer, fill the clothes container to the uppermost edge that is in contact with the door seal. For all clothes washers, any volume which cannot be occupied by the clothing load during operation must be excluded from the measurement. Measure and record the weight of water, W, in pounds.
3.1.5 The clothes container capacity is calculated as follows: C = W/d
Where:
C = Capacity in cubic feet (liters).
W = Mass of water in pounds (kilograms).
d = Density of water (62.0 lbs/ft3 for 100 °F (993 kg/m3 for 37.8 °C) or 62.3 lbs/ft3 for 60 °F (998 kg/m3 for 15.6 °C)).

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/pdfs/rcw_tp_final_rule_fr.pdf