New GE HydroWave (I love mine)

[gehydrowave]

I just bought a new GE Washer from Sam's Club. I had no idea it was a HydroWave until I got home and had it hooked up and ready to run. It was making brief and slight clicking noises after I had it loaded and started and I could not hear it churning (washing) - I thought it was a dud - but I grabbed the manual and learned that it was leveling the load (the brief and slight clicking noises I was hearing) and that it was actually churning (it is so quiet that you cannot hear it churning)

Anyhow I needed a new machine but I did not want to spend a lot for a new washer. I decided to go with the $328 GE Model that Sam's Club was selling. (the price was right for a 3.2 cubic ft machine and we have never had any problems with past GE Machines)

I decided to Google "HydroWave Washer" after learning my new machine was a Hydrowave machine. Google brought me to your site and to some of the threads on the new HydroWave machines. So I decided to give you my thoughts on my new GE HydroWave machine. (it replaced an 15+ year older GE machine that was still running)

I love my new GE Hydrowave. (Model # S3700G0WW) - it is a true HydroWave Machine.

It is incredibly quiet, even during spin mode and it spins the clothes very dry. (I read on here that some people say they are noisy - mine it is very quiet and you can barely hear it running and when it goes into spin mode - you can hear it but it is very quiet even in spin mode)
It gets the clothes nice and clean.

From the GE website...

Washers with the HydroWave system are designed to provide years of durable operation, with a variable–speed motor that's engineered with far fewer parts than conventional top load washers: fewer parts means fewer things that can go wrong. The auto balance suspension system features a floating rod and spring to keep loads properly balanced.

GE is making waves in the laundry industry with the advanced HydroWave™ wash system, now available for consumers who prefer the convenience of a top load washer. Available in both GE® and GE Profile™ top load washers, the revolutionary wash system cleans clothes with a gentle wave–like action.

Unlike traditional agitators, the HydroWave system gently rotates forward and backward in a 360° arch, rather than the standard 160° arcs that churn clothing through water. Clothes are gently drawn through the water so that even the most delicate fabrics are protected.

Additionally, GE's new drive system has eliminated the need for noisier transmissions, gears and brakes that are behind the operation of traditional washers. This means, the new HydroWave is much quieter than previous models.

GE models offer a large 3.2–cu.–ft., ribbed ExtrAction™ wash basket, with increased surface area that gently squeezes more water from clothes during the spin cycle. The result is a shorter drying time.

 

[gehydrowave]

Pictures

Top

 

[gehydrowave]

Right Panel

 

[gehydrowave]

Left Panel

 

[gehydrowave]

3.2 cu ft drum

 

[gehydrowave]

Oh... it is 16 cycle model (This model is only sold at some Sam's Clubs for $328)

 

[golittlesport]

Thanks for sharing. Do you know how many rpm's the spin cycle is?

 

[gehydrowave]

sorry I don't but it might be on the GE website.
I know it really revs up during the Powerwash spin cycle and the water from the washed clothing is nicely spun out.
(the light blue cycle pictured above in the dial photo is the Powerwash cycle - not every GE HydroWave model offers this Powerwash cycle and the spin cycle in the Powerwash cycle seems to be faster than it is in the Cotton cycle.

 

[jetcone]

I wonder if they are

using the F&P style of motor and agitation?? Since they were building the F&P dryer for awhile here in the States they would have had some access to the technology.

In Australia my cousin's top loader had an agitator that turned all the way around a few times and then back again the other way, it did not oscillate back and forth.

 

[brisnat81]

On all our domestic washers

The motor controls the agitation.

The stroke is at least 360deg, on some cycles up to double that.

All the gearbox does is provides reduction in speed, so the agitator isnt moving at 1440RPM

The older machines just had a standard Brush motor that reversed every few seconds, the new ones are slightly more intelligent ala F&P.

On our domestic machines, spin is acutated by a solenoid which releases the spin brake and allows the tub to spin with the agitator.

Whilst it might sound and seem cheap, this style of machine regularily lasts 10-15 years without problem, and due to the long stroke with slow pauses, tends to be gentle on clothes.