The Miele is home

[bajaespuma]

Now here are some questions for any helpful expert. First off, I need to connect the thing to power.

 

The machine has been working on a US  20 amp, 250 volt, 60 Hz. circuit(the kind used for large powerful air conditioners) for 20 years even though it is officially rated at 50 Hz.. Martin (the husband) assured me that the machine operates on both and he fitted it with one of those plugs that looks like an emoticon winking at you with mouth open. I assume it's two hot poles with a ground pin.

My question that you might be able to answer for me if you'd be so kind is: can I just adapt my 220 volt, 30 amp dryer outlet (3 pole) to this kind of plug to operate this machine, or am I going to have to hire an electrician to run a whole new line from the box? I've fashioned many adapters successfully by taking dryer cords and attaching female outlets to the dryer ends of the cords and that's what I'm hoping I can do with this one. I guess my worry is that the 30 amp circuit might be too much for the Miele because they seem to be rated at 20 amps. What do I do with the neutral wire?

 

This German model is outfitted with a special electrical cold water inlet hose that automatically shuts off the flow of water when the machine finishes the cycle. It's their idea of a fail-safe to prevent a laundry room flood.  According to the owner, they kept this hose attached to the unit, even though they by-passed the whole thing because if they disconnected it, the machine read it as an error and didn't work.

 

 

[bajaespuma]

Of course the manual is in German and I am translating it page by page with the help of Google translate (so much appliance jargon that the translater has NO CLUE to). There are two pressing questions that I'd like to put to y'all:

 

First, is there a secret way to open the door when the machine is unplugged?

 

[bajaespuma]

Second question, I have pictured here the dispenser drawer and I am aware that the compartment on the RH side is for pre-wash detergent, the compartment on the LH side is for main wash detergent and that the horizontal compartment at the front is for fabric softener, but what's the little wheel with the numbers 1-4 do? Is it some way to change the amount of water that goes into the rinse dispenser? Is it a reminder of how many children are in the house???

 

[luxflairguy]

New to you Miele!

I'll answer both questions! See the little door down at the bottom on the left? Put a flathead screwdriver in the right side and swing the door out. You'll see a gray or yellow pull thingy in there. Pull it down and the door will swing open with a snap!
The little dial on the fabric softener lets you decide how little or how much fabric softener you want to use. Mine's at one, but I have never ever used fabric softener in my life! Greg

 

[foraloysius]

1. Yes, behind the little flap/door at the bottom there is a latch (sort of a ring where you can put your finger in) that you can use to open the door in case of an emergency. Sometimes you can't see it, on my Miele it's always hiding on the right, behind the front panel.

2. The little wheel does nothing. You can set it to remember the hardness of the water, but it isn't connected to anything. There are only a few models that have this wheel, soon after the introduction Miele changed the layout of the detergent drawer and the wheel disappeared as fast as it came.

 

[foraloysius]

BTW, it's perfectly OK to use a 20 Amps machine on a 30 Amps circuit. The other way around would lead to overheating of the circuit and the wires.

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

Ken, CONGRATULATIONS on the new-to-you Miele, I'm sure you will enjoy it!

 

I can't answer your question about wiring a different plug.   But I can tell the washer will work fine on a 20, 30, 40, 50 amp circuit, it's makes no difference, the washer will only pull as much power as it needs.   However it's better to have it on a 20, 25 or 30 amp circuit, because if something goes wonky and it starts drawing more current than it's supposed to, the breaker will trip and you'll know something is wrong. 

 

Congrats again and good luck!

Kevin

 

 

 

[luxflairguy]

Louis! You're right! Its been years since I opened my literature!

 

[askolover]

My Miele actually has a big dryer type plug on it from the factory.  You could make an adapter for it using a dryer cord and attaching it to the proper receptacle on the other end or you could change the plug itself to fit the dryer outlet.

 

[combo52]

Power Requirements For Your New Miele Washer

It will run fine on your 240 volt [ you do not have 220 volts ] 30 amp circuit BUT you should add extra fuses for 20 amps for greatest safety. The neutral just becomes a cabinet ground.

 

If the machine was not modified for 60 cycle power it will tumble and spin 15% faster and while this can be a good thing for the spin cycle it may tumble too fast for best washing, but really no 24" washer really cleans as well as FL washers with diameter larger tubs where you get a higher drop. I have had a 1984 German 24" Frigidaire branded washer [ this is a German labeled cold water supply only machine ] at my W Va house for more than 20 years and it works OK, but it has always tumbled too fast, the clothing really clings to the cylinder.

 

[henene4]

The tumbling speed thing is true for a dryer without speed control of any sorts, but these washers have variable speed motors (though I'm not sure how they managed it). Thus, the electronics should regulate the speeds accordingly...

 

[mattl]

It may be easier to simply change the cord than finding a matching outlet.  Kind of a toss up, either way it will work.  Enjoy the machine!

 

[foraloysius]

There are two speeds in every tumble spequence and a pause, IIRC every 30 seconds which is regulated by the electronics in your machine. 40 rpm for wetting and 55 rpm for cleaning. I don't think this is affected by the 60 cycle power. But if it does, you will get 48 rpm and 66 rpm, the 48 rpm will still give a decent tumble. On 66 rpm the clothes might stick to the side of the drum a bit, but I don't expect this to happen. [this post was last edited: 6/22/2016-00:43]

 

[miele_ge]

still have the dryer here and 1918 washer if you want them

Just let me know.

Congrats.

 

[bajaespuma]

Good information

Big thanks to all of you who've chimed in and I will keep you posted.

 

Here's an illustration of exactly what I have and what I'm planning on doing with the cord. I understand that with a conventional 240V, 30amp US dryer connection you have two hot leads, one red, one black each 120v that add up to 240 and that the dryer can use them singly with the neutral lead to power the electrics, or doubly to power the heating coils, but I don't quite remember whether that white neutral lead can be used as a ground? My question still, (even though a couple of you have answered it) is whether I connect the green ground wire on the Miele to the white neutral on the US connection, or whether I just tape off the white lead, and connect the green wire on the Miele to another ground such as a cold water pipe?

 

[combo52]

Green wire gets connected to white wire

 

[bajaespuma]

Thank you John.

 

[bajaespuma]

Here we go!

Well, the adapter cord, after several false moves, is ready for action:

 

[bajaespuma]

First test

Plugged the male end into the dryer outlet; still alive and nothing has tripped or sparked: