This came up in my YouTube feed.
Wax Motor Dissection
- Thread starter DADoES
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This came up in my YouTube feed.
Love BigClive and all of his content. Always educational.
arbilab
Well-known member
Fascinating Glenn, thanks. I've 'read' how they work but seeing is more informative.
Given his accent, are we to assume this motor is out of something other than a Maytag? I have not heard of wax motors other than the trouble they caused with Maytag's early Neptune models.
Also, is it safe to assume that by now any Neptunes still in use that were originally equipped with these motors have had them replaced? I ask this because my MLG2000AWW stacked pair is 16 years old and while I'm thinking the washer's original wax motor must be ancient history, the door's locking and unlocking process is silent, so that has me wondering.
Also, is it safe to assume that by now any Neptunes still in use that were originally equipped with these motors have had them replaced? I ask this because my MLG2000AWW stacked pair is 16 years old and while I'm thinking the washer's original wax motor must be ancient history, the door's locking and unlocking process is silent, so that has me wondering.
Regards to appliances ... some dishwasher rinse aid dispenser incorporate wax motors. Fisher & Paykel used one for the recirculation diverter valve on EcoSmart toploaders for years, until IIRC one of the engineering revisions changed the pump to the SmartPump that AquaSmart/HE toploaders use which involves a passive flapper for flow direction control.
There may be others.
Um my Neptune MAH7500 is about 20 years old and the wax motors are still working just fine. Mostly I can hear them for the door lock/unlock. I don't know if they are used for the water valves. But there's not problem with that, either, I'm guessing wax motors are more reliable and longer lasting than solenoids. They are also slower, but in a wash cycle that already can take well over an hour, not a big issue.
Or did I misinterpret something? Wouldn't be the first time.
Or did I misinterpret something? Wouldn't be the first time.
Wax motors are not used for water inlet valves due to the slow motion they produce.
Early Neptunes used them for the bleach and softener dispenser, IIRC.
MAH7500 door lock may have had the updated wax motor design from the beginning of production, to the point that it was changed to a solenoid. RJ's MAH6500 has a solenoid for the door lock.
Well now I assumed the MAH7500 had wax motors for door locks, but then I've never inspected them to check. It could be that they are solenoids. As long as they work, I don't really care, do U?
arbilab
Well-known member
~1998 E'lux FLs have both solenoid and wax on the door latch. Solenoid is latched any time machine is on. But you can switch it off and open/add items as long as it is in the 'tumble' range. Wax is only on for spin, so door stays latched for a l-o-o-o-n-g time after powered off. Bother if you have to redistribute for balance; that didn't happen all that often.
Wax Motors Vs Solenoids
Wax motors are always silent and slow in operation, they are cheap to build, but do fail as they have a cheap ceramic heater in them.
Solenoids are instant acting generally much longer lived but can have humming-buzzing issues if operated on A/C power.
John L.
Wax motors are always silent and slow in operation, they are cheap to build, but do fail as they have a cheap ceramic heater in them.
Solenoids are instant acting generally much longer lived but can have humming-buzzing issues if operated on A/C power.
John L.
