Speed Queen Washing Machine - Export Model Differences

[MickGearz]

Hi everyone. New to the Automatic Washer forums and this is my first post. I posted this over in Reddit on r/Appliances, but figured it would do better here.

Whilst researching Speed Queen washing machines to replace our ancient set, I noticed a few large differences between the American market and Australian market models. I'm in Australia and our Speed Queen market is quite small. They're well known in the commercial scene, but it is an otherwise obscure brand in the domestic market.

I decided upon the AWNA62 top load washing machine and matching natural gas dryer. Here's the spec sheet: AWNA62 Australia Specifications

My question, is this an Australia-only export model? Or is it available in the States? I can't seem to find any information on American forums.

These are the differences:

Wash temperature: Aus: hot, warm, cold. US: cold, cool, warm, hot.

'Load size' selector (small, medium, and, large) instead of 'options' (off, extra rinse, extra rinse/pre-soak, and heavy soil). There is no automatic level sense.

No 'deep fill' option, just 'regular' and 'high efficiency'.

Cycle selection: Aus: 'off', 'normal', 'perm press', 'delicate', 'rinse & spin', and, 'spin only'.

Cycle selection: US: 'normal eco', 'perm press', 'heavy duty', 'bulky/sheet', 'spin', and, 'delicate'

I believe the biggest difference is mechanical. The Australian model has the 'classic clean' system; a belt-driven transmission and a separate electric water pump. From what I have read, the TC series in the States doesn't have an electric water pump; it uses the one motor to drive the agitator in one direction then drive the pump in the opposite direction.

I would love to hear back for those who can confirm these differences as well as people's experience with these machine.

Edit: updated photos

 

[DADoES]

Wash temperature: Aus: hot, warm cold. US: cold, cool, warm, hot.

'Load size' selector (small, medium, and, large) instead of 'options' (off, extra rinse, extra rinse/pre-soak, and heavy soil)'. There is not automatic level sense.

No 'deep fill' option, just 'regular' and 'high efficiency'.

Cycle selection: Aus: 'off', 'normal', 'perm press', 'delicate', 'rinse & spin', and, 'spin only'.

Cycle selection: US: 'normal eco', 'perm press', 'heavy duty', 'bulky/sheet', 'spin', and, 'delicate'

I believe the biggest difference is mechanical. The Australian model has the 'classic clean' system; a belt-driven transmission and a separate, electric water pump. From what I have read, the TC series in the States doesn't have an electric water pump; it uses the one motor to drive the agitator in one direction then drive the pump in the opposite direction.

I would love to hear back for those whose can confirm these differences as well as people's experience with these machine.

Regards to temp choices, perhaps Aus is less restrictive than U.S. regulations? The Normal Eco cycle on the US model produces what is essentially cold or cool on all temp choices.

Regular presumably is equivalent to deep fill. The US TC5 model does not have automatic load size sensing. It has only two fixed fill levels for the various cycles. Regular level (without Deep Fill selected) is approx 1/2 to 2/3 depending on the cycle. Deep Fill adds 3 to 5 gallons more (on a 2019 info reference, the specifics may or may not have been modified since then).

The electric pump on the Aus model surely is to provide neutral drain vs. the US model which is spin-drain. There has long been debate on this board between the virtues of spin-drain vs. neutral drain. It has been noted that US spin-drain mechanical designs are typically modified to provide a neutral drain for the Aus market.

 

[hvtech42]

Yes that's an Australia-only export model, as designated by the A in the 4th position of the model number: AWNA62

Mechanically, it's the same as the TC model in the US with the exception of adding an electric drain pump to provide neutral drain. Neutral drain has been the preference in the Australian market for ~40 years because you guys don't use dryers as much, so lint deposits on clothes tends to be an issue with spin drain machines.

The cycle and load size differences are mainly to do with energy efficiency regulations in the two countries.

The water temperature option difference is mainly to do with climate. The "cool" option is for tempering the fill water to a "reasonable" temperature in climates where it comes in too cold to wash with in the winter. But you guys are a warm climate so don't really need that.

 

[MickGearz]

Thank you both for your insightful replies. You pointed out obvious factors which I completed missed. Very interesting reading.

Regards to temp choices, perhaps Aus is less restrictive than U.S. regulations? The Normal Eco cycle on the US model produces what is essentially cold or cool on all temp choices.

Regular presumably is equivalent to deep fill. The US TC5 model does not have automatic load size sensing. It has only two fixed fill levels for the various cycles. Regular level (without Deep Fill selected) is approx 1/2 to 2/3 depending on the cycle. Deep Fill adds 3 to 5 gallons more (on a 2019 info reference, the specifics may or may not have been modified since then).

The electric pump on the Aus model surely is to provide neutral drain vs. the US model which is spin-drain. There has long been debate on this board between the virtues of spin-drain vs. neutral drain. It has been noted that US spin-drain mechanical designs are typically modified to provide a neutral drain for the Aus market.

I will be finding our Australian Standard for automatic clothes washers (or its equivalent) and will be doing some reading. We do have washers here that will fill the tub partly with hot, then fill with cold even when 'hot' is selected on a 'regular' / 'normal' cycle. It's standard fare to have to select 'heavy duty' or 'allergy' to get a full tub of hot water.

That's my mistake. Is there a model that does have an auto-fill? Or am I misremembering?

Prior to owning this Speed Queen, I was unaware of the existence of spin-drain. I've pulled many Australian washing machines apart and have not seen this style. Is there a benefit to spin-drain setups? I would assume it is less complex, as an electric motor and its related circuity are omitted.

As an aside, I don't believe the TR (perfect wash) series is sold here. There is only one top load model sold to residential customers (AWNA62), and two top load models (LWNA62 and SWNMN2) sold only to those with an ABN (i.e. laundromats, hotels, and so on).

Yes that's an Australia-only export model, as designated by the A in the 4th position of the model number: AWNA62

Mechanically, it's the same as the TC model in the US with the exception of adding an electric drain pump to provide neutral drain. Neutral drain has been the preference in the Australian market for ~40 years because you guys don't use dryers as much, so lint deposits on clothes tends to be an issue with spin drain machines.

The cycle and load size differences are mainly to do with energy efficiency regulations in the two countries.

The water temperature option difference is mainly to do with climate. The "cool" option is for tempering the fill water to a "reasonable" temperature in climates where it comes in too cold to wash with in the winter. But you guys are a warm climate so don't really need that.

Thank you for the information.

I spoke with a sales rep regarding the differences between the LWNA62 and the AWNA62 and he made a point: the pumping system is different; the LWNA62 is a commercial machine where laundry is typically transferred to a dryer immediately after washing, and so lint isn't pumped out. whereas the AWNA62 is targeted to the domestic market where laundry is typically hung out to dry on a clothes line. At the time, the differences in the water pump was not explained. After reading both of your replies, the spin-drain machine might be sold in Australian under the LWNA62 (LWS52) and SWNMN2.

I have read that your Department of Energy mandated changes a few years ago and there was quite a stir when the 2018 (?) model was released.

That's a great point and one I hadn't thought of. I can imagine water during your winter would be too cold to be effective. I can't imagine 10 degree water effectively washing and cleaning clothes. I'm in Melbourne, Victoria, and the coldest days we get are above zero, although still single digits.


An unrelated question and one I have had a lot of trouble finding an answer: does Speed Queen (or any other manufacturer) still produce a machine with an electromechanical timer? I have read about the TV2, but do not know if it is in production. We haven't had an electromechanically controlled washing machine for sale in Australia for many years. Even in 2016, when friends bought theirs, there was no electromechanical option.

Another point of difference is pricing; it is obscene in the Australian market. I paid $3,495 (USD $2,262 for an AWNA62 and $3,300 (USD $2,135) for an ADG3TR

 

[DADoES]

TC5 Normal Eco cycle reportedly adds a few/several seconds of hot water at start of the fill then switches to cold for the remainder, regardless of the selected temp choice. Don't have one, can't directly confirm it.

Spin-drain is simpler mechanicals vs. designing so that the single drive motor can run a pump without also spinning the basket. Whirlpool was long-known for their funky "wig-wag" shift mechanism that provded for separate agitation, drain, and spin modes. US toploaders rarely had separate electric pumps until F&P got on the market, and then the mainstream introduction of HE models.

SQ offered commercial/on-premise models with mechanical timers for a while after switching residential models to electronic ... not sure if they do still, possibly so. GE/Hotpoint also did but no longer AFAIK.