KitchenAid on the news

[mysteryclock]

Interesting thing is, this is the ~second~ control board to die. The original one made it until last July until it was just electrically dead, but it showed no obvious signs of burning, etc. This one only made it 6 1/2 months before doing this! Since this one came out of a more recent manufacturing run (it was a different color than the first one IIRC) I'm wondering if there is some change they made since 2004 which caused this to happen and that could be responsible for the other incidents we keep hearing about? I've seen blown caps on a board before, but the only other time I've seen a melted power connection was on an electric kids car we got from a friend of ours, and *that* connector was hooked up to a gigantic, heavy battery (a big DC power source.) In all my years working with computers I've never seen a power lead do this. And even with blown caps I've never seen them de-solder themselves.

The fact that the scorching / arcing had continued all the way up through the connector on the the brown (?) wire is particularly alarming.

Here's hoping the Bosch is better. I'm really exited to get a DW with a softener, so I don't have to add STPP or LemiShine with every load.

 

[mysteryclock]

Update - the new Bosch is installed! This is the ADA version which was the only one with a built-in softener available from Sears (where we had replacement credit) so the tub is about 2-3" shorter than the old KA. Everything except our big pasta-cooker insert for the stock pot seems to fit just fine w/o having to remove the top rack. Being a little higher does make loading / unloading easier!

Didn't realize that most Euro-style DWs are actually shallower than US ones but again, that doesn't seem to impact capacity except for really oversized items and isn't an issue.

Design is excellent - love the little combo top rack pull & tab-tray where the detergent tab can land and dissolve completely w/o sticking to the door or the silverware basket. And final rinse temps, softener level, rinse-aid level and power options can all be adjusted electronically from the control panel.

Performance is also great - everything is coming out squeaky clean and completely streak & spot free. Even glasses put in the farthest corners of the top rack are perfect w/o any "crumbles", which the old KA was never good at even when new. And it is very quiet to boot!

The only minor downside of all this high performance and energy efficiency is cycle time - it is LONG! The old KA would blast through a load in 60-90 minutes even with Sani selected, no matter how grimy it was. The Bosch on "Automatic" took 2:20-ish with a full load and Sanitize. There is a timed (not sensor-driven) "Express" cycle that'll run in 30 minutes flat that also does a good job and would be a viable option during a party, etc.


Recommended.



http://www.bosch-home.com/us/SGE63E15UC.html

 

[combo52]

New Dishwasher

Congratulations on your new DW, I love the idea of the built-in water softener, I wish more DWs would offer this option.

 

I do find the smaller interior size on the three European style DWs that I have had to be a big drawback, any DW I have I always wish it were a little bigger as a try to pack more into it. I also never want another DW with a filter as I an far too spoiled with the older WP Power-Clean machines I have. When I load I do not even scrape off the dishes, I just turn them side ways and if it falls into the disposer great, other wise it goes into the DW.

 

In the last two days I sold four new DWs [ all WP ] and  three of the ones being replaced are Bosch machines all under 10 years of age. KitchenAid is not the only company having trouble with DWs [ Bosch is also in the middle of a recall for DW fires ]. If any one wants any used Bosch DWs or parts of contact me, I also saw a three year old really nice looking Miele all SS DW on the junk pile yesterday that I can get cheap if someone wants it.

 

[48bencix]

Mechanical Timer

I really think the problem stems from two things: 1. No mechanical timer, so there is an electronic board to control everything. More components with the possibility of failure. 2. The board is always on ready to accept a new command. Some more expensive machines seem to have more reliable boards, but usually have a manual clean filter, which I find pretty gross.

At least with the mechanical timer, when it was off, it was off.

If I could get a new dishwasher with mechanical timer, nylon racks and a self cleaning filter, I might get one. I still have my 10 year old Ultrawash, but the racks, being pvc coated are pretty bad. At least it won't burn down my house, which I could care less about, I just don't want to die or have my pets or partner die in the fire.

Martin

 

[hunter]

cycle time variations

I'd be curious to find out if your cycle time will vary.

On my Bosch, when I start it up as an Autowash with Sanitize, it starts at at 143 minutes (2 hours, 23 minutes). But it then senses the dirt in the water, and adjusts, usually to between 80 and 100 minutes.

Does yours do the same?

 

[mysteryclock]

Yes, mine with Autowash and Sanitize starts out at 3:00 but seems to get done in 30-45 less than that, so far. Clearly my dishes must have less gunk than the ones the engineers test with!