Modern vs Mechanical Controls

[rinso]

I still think it is madness to put electronics such as control boards and touch controls, in an appliance that exposes them to heat and moisture. Ranges, Dishwashers, Microwave Ovens, Washers and Dryers will usually suffer electronics failures before any of their other mechanical parts break. Bring back the mechanical timer knobs, bring back mechanical switches for options, bring back rotary mechanical controls for ranges. Example: On a dishwasher with a mechanical timer, you could load clean dishes and set the knob for the dry cycle. Voila! A very handy plate warmer. Try and find that on one of the new machines with "gee-whiz" touch pads. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

 

[qsd-dan]

Agreed but the last generation of mechanical timers were cheaply made and didn't hold up that well.

 

[ea56]

Oh if only they would do this Eugene! I couldn’t agree with you more. However as long as the younger crowd thinks analog controls are old fashioned I doubt this will happen. Now if they were to somehow discover analog controls as something new then they’d all want them.

Also appliance manufactures like the electronic controls because they crap out and are most likely one of the major reasons owners buy new appliances, because the cost to repair/replace these electronic controls is almost as much as a new appliance costs. So why spend hundreds of dollars to replace the mother board and then later on have something else fail on the appliance.

Its akin to the planned obsolescence of of American cars in the 50’s and 60’s. Come out with a completely new design every year and people will buy a new car every other year. Makes them more money than a new transmission makes them.

Just because the last generation of mechanical timers were poorly built doesn’t mean that they couldn’t be built better like they once were. If they could build reliable analog controls 50+ years ago, they can do it again.

Eddie

 

[ozzie908]

Just a shame

That none of the old reliable manufacturers are no longer in existing so no one to try new/old ways of doing things its never like to make a come back either as too many millennials don't have a clue how to cook let alone launder.So will no doubt just keep buying cheap Chinese made machines that hardly do a good job. Just my opinion YMMV

 

[mattl]

I don't agree.  I have a TOL Kenmore washer and dryer set from the mid 90s, all electronic controls 27 years later still totally functional.  There is nothing intrinsically wrong with electronic controls and they will function for decades with zero issues. Cars are filled with electronics that are subjected to 10x worse conditions than appliances are and are fully functional year after year. Problems do arise when manufacturers cheap out on design or component quality, I will concede that point.

 

[combo52]

Electronic vs Mechanical Controls On Appliances

Reply #4,

 

Hi Matt you are right on the money, properly built electronic controls are far more durable than mechanical controls could ever be and at far less cost to build and smaller size as well.

 

Your comparison to automobiles is a good one, every US car sold from the mid 80s on has a computer controlling the engine and more and yet 30+ years later you seldom see a failure in these controls even though cars are in extreme heat and humidity.

 

John L.

 

[launderess]

There is nothing evil or adherently bad with digital controls for laundry appliances, dishwashers, and other white goods. This even those that are made in Asia or elsewhere overseas.

People either swore by or at GE dishwashers, but "computer for a brain" caught on then and now with consumers.

Digital controls such as motherboards and what not are no different than any other part of an appliance. If garbage goes in, that is what will come out. Asian and other places build things to specs that customer (appliance makers') specs, designs and requirements.

 

[bradfordwhite]

My parents put in the GE 2800 in their new 1985 home and in 1999 when I went to upgrade to a 1995 KA Superba.... the GE was a bit messy because the console was not easy to clean, some of the racks had rust spots, and the wash arm would squeak on and off when washing but the motor still ran, and the computer still worked fine.

I like the electronic controls because a computer can do things that an analog timer/controller can't.

I like the electronic controller on my Air conditioner because:
1. I can set a timer
2. it has a gradual ramp up for the fan motor
3. it has an energy saver feature that will also turn the fan on occasionally just to test the temperature.
4. I have a remote control.
5. a washer dryer with wifi can send notifications to my phone.

Now days there are appliances connected with WIFI and can be controlled remotely. Something an analog timer can't do.

 

[qsd-dan]

"I have a TOL Kenmore washer and dryer set from the mid 90s, all electronic controls 27 years later still totally functional."

There are also members here who owned this set and had nothing but problem with them.

Electronic controls CAN be built to last, but they aren't, especially in this day and age.

 

[Chetlaham]

Electronics In Appliances

Like the pushbutton and rapid advance timer system in Kitchen-Aids and other TOL machines are unnecessary; merely coming across as offering solutions to problems which do not exist.

 

[Chetlaham]

Computers In Cars

Are wonderful until you consider cases where the controls have gotten stuck in acceleration with the brakes, off ignition and PRNDL stick locked out with no way to kill the power to the engine. Lucky individuals able on a high way have been able to dial 911 for police to either do put maneuvers or to let the car run out of gas.

Electronics are wonderful at playing out what humans have not considered or thought unlikely.

 

[gizmo]

Fisher & Paykel Gentle Annie

I own a Fisher and Paykel Gentle Annie washer from about 1990. It has had no electronic faults ever. It still functions perfectly. It is in almost daily use by friends of mine.

 

There is nothing wrong with electronic controls, in fact they make possible features, efficiencies that just can't be done with mechanical controls. F&P machines are great at self-preservation, by monitoring the load they can adjust their own cycle to allow for overloading, out of balance and so on.

 

Unreliable electronic controls aren't an indicator of an inherent fault in electronic controls, they are an indicator of poor engineering or penny-pinching.  There are some bloody unreliable mechanical timers out there, too.

 

[combo52]

Reply # 10

Is total BS, that never could happen, there is nothing stopping a driver just putting there foot on the brake, engaging the parking brake, shutting off the ignition Etc Etc.

 

Yes I have heard of people panicking when something goes wrong but it has nothing to do with electronic controls on the car.

 

I would rather be in a new car any day when things go wrong than an old death trap any day, when I think about the 56 Ford we had as kids, my Moms 64 Dodge Dart, or the 64 VW  its a miracle we ever made it to adult hood.

 

John L.

 

[ea56]

Mechanical Controls Saved My Life 22 Years Ago

I had just bought a new 2000 Honda Civic Coupe and was on my way to work the next day heading north on hwy 101. I took the hwy 12 off ramp which went up and around to hwy 12. As I approached the wide curve in the off ramp at about 55 mph and applied the brakes the car continued to accelerate and I couldn’t slow it down. Being a long time driver I had the presence of mind to immediately put the transmission in neutral and by literally standing on the brake I was able to pull off the highway and stop the car as the engine continued to roar.

The floor mat had gotten caught over the accelerator and caused it to stay down when I removed my foot from it. Had I been in a newer car with all electronic controls and not been able to put the transmission into neutral I wouldn’t be here today typing this. There was very heavy traffic on hwy12 during the commute hour and without being able to slow down the car to merge and then stop the car on the shoulder there would most certainly have been a very bad accident.

To each his own. But after all the stories that I hear on a regular basis about Tesla’s going out of control I’ll keep my 15 year old Honda Civic with the old fashioned, reliable mechanical controls. I’ve driven one of the newer Civic’s, a 2019 with the all electronic controls as a loaner and I didn’t like it at all.

Eddie

 

[combo52]

Reply 13

Hi Eddie, you should’ve also switch the ignition off with the engine was roaring when you had that mishap.

That same type of an event in a car with electronic controls would have made no difference you can still switch it off you can still turn the thing into neutral you can still put your foot on the brake you could apply the parking brake on.

Self driving cars cannot cause an accident if you’re paying attention the only Accidents that have occurred with them as when people were using at the self driving mode and not paying attention.

You still have full control of the car.

John

 

[ea56]

John,

My first thought was to not add insult to injury and maybe lock the steering wheel by turning the ignition key too far in my panicked state. As soon as I got the car pulled off the highway off course I turned off the ignition. I had a split second to react and I believe that I did the correct thing.

By putting the transmission in neutral I interpreted the power from reaching the wheels thereby allowing me to stop the car with the brakes. Even though the engine that was still running and roaring it was no longer driving the wheels. As soon as I got the car stopped, of course I turned off the ignition.

In one of the newer electronic push button start cars will you be able to turn the ignition off if there is a failure in the onboard computer? Maybe, maybe not?

You may dispute my emergency response actions, but bottom line I got the car under control. If you like electronic controls on your car more power too you, its still a free country, but for how much longer is anybodies guess.

Eddie[this post was last edited: 6/29/2022-11:54]

 

[circlew]

I agree with Eddie, as turning off the ignition switch could have locked the steering, and would have disabled the power brakes, making it harder to stop the car.

 

[ea56]

Power Windows

I feel the same way about power windows too. I used to think they were the last word back when they were an expensive option. Just couldn’t wait to be able to afford to own a car with power windows. Now they ALL have them, with no option for manual, roll up windows.

Well think about what would happen if you accidentally go into deep water in an accident. As soon as the water reaches the battery you will lose all power to those nifty windows that have now turned your car into a death trap. If you can kick out the windshield or rear window you may be able to escape or if you have one of those special window breaking tools you can break your way out, if not start saying your prayers.

About 4-5 years ago in one week here in Sonoma County there were two incidents, two days apart where mothers were driving their children to school in the morning and their cars went into high water, one into the Russian River and one into a deep creek in Petaluma. In each case the two little girls in each of those cars drowned, the mother in one of the cars escaped, the the mom in the other drowned with her daughters.

There are both good and bad things about modern technology and conveniences. Its up to the individual consumer/buyer to weigh the risks vs convenience.

I’m far from being a luddite but I am sensible.

Eddie

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[kb0nes]

Remember that an automobiles brakes are VASTLY more powerful than its engine is. Even with the throttle full wide open and the car going at speed the brakes will stop the car reasonably quickly.

This was proved in tests in the late 80's when the Audi 5000's were wrongly accused of sudden acceleration incidents. Tests were done on the cars at speed with the throttle WFO and the brakes easily stopped the cars. As a memory refresher, the Audi 5000 "problem" was due to pedal misapplication. The throttle linkages in some of the cars were broken by the driver stepping on them with great pressure thinking they were on the brakes...