your favorite HE top loads :)

[cfz2882]

my top fave is the calypso with it's nutating washplate and recirculating water jet- the Neptune top load with it's twin angled spiral "lifter"discs at bottom of stainless steel tub in place as 2nd fave.Neither machine is in my fleet so far though.So far the only HE top load I have is a 2010 VMW cabrio:actually seems to wash decent,though I suspect this one might be a little harder on laundry as generates more lint than many of my other machines...may modify for slightly higher water levels later I do like the VMW mechanism-many potential"problem"components have been eliminated,and it does spin well.

 

[joeypete]

I've never used a Calypso but from what I understand it's probably one of the best machines out there. It's too bad it was plagued with problems because it cleaned very well and used little water.

My favorite is the F&P design DD models with recirculating wash spray...which includes the WP machines. My Kenmore 28102 cleaned the dickens out of everything!

 

[Swhirl]

Oasis

We had the agitator model Kenmore Oasis for a while and it was a really nice machine. F&P design so it was really quiet, but the wash action was just too gentle for us. Clothes didn't always come out clean as they should have. Definitely better than the VMW in terms of noise and features though. I would have liked to see this design end up in the bol washers too. F&P design might have been cost prohibitive in a bol machine though.

 

[logixx]

#1 the Calypso (especially if it had a heater).

#2 the F&P washers because they still have an actual wash plate vs. these "bumps" that the current Whirlpools have.

 

[DADoES]

 
LOVE my Calypso.  An on-board heater would make it perfect.  Water usage is frugal for each fill but total consumption per cycle is probably more than one would expect ... they rinse quite thoroughly.

I have a Neptune TL FAV6800.  It performs nicely on medium- to large-size loads involving heavy-enough fabrics that the tumblers can get a 'grip' to consistently roll the load. Small loads, lightweight fabrics, even LARGE loads of lightweight fabric (such as 23 casual cotton/synthetic button-down shirts) may not roll even once through the entire wash period.  The locking lid provides 100% blockage to observing the action so the typical consumer would have no clue what's (not) happening without taking steps to get around the lid, such as removing the latch-clips for the top so it can be raised with the lid locked (which can't be done due to spillage if the bleach and/or softener dispensers are used).  Tricking the lid latch is possible but is a HUGE trick, LOL.  The TOL model FAV9800 has water heating and the same LCD touchscreen interface as the MAH7500 Neptune frontloader.

I don't consider by F&P agitator toploaders to be HE although they can reduce water usage via the shower rinse option.

I would like to try an HE impeller-type machine for a while to see how it handles a range of load conditions.

 

[henene4]

Didn't someone once measure something like 3 gallons of water per drain on the Calypso?
Can't remember the exact context, but with 3 fills (I does 2 "deep" rinses by default, or am I wrong there?), some water for the laundry to absorb, its several spray sequences and such, I doubt the usage should be beyond the 15gal mark, which seems actually quite OK for a supposedly 8-10 pound load.

The F&P wash-plate designs just really were the innovators in terms of HE TL laundry. In the (short) time they ran together with the topload dryers, they could have really earned a big market share due to their logic appeal to a customer: "I buy a topload, so I don't have to bend, and the dryer aids that. The washer is HE, but the salesman said if I dislike the HE washing, this enabels me to use more water."

The WP design was kind of clone-ish at first, but really grew distance over time. To this day and my knowledge, F&P never actually integrated any of the dry sensing methods into their cycle design.
WP went from a verry basic recirculation soak pattern to this monster of 30 minutes pretty much 100% dynamic load sensing and soaking. And now, they seem to settle back towards a more basic variation again.
But they have a heater now, so that's nice.

I think, yeah, the Calypso still wins, due to its kind-of refference to the famous fiberglass tub washer, and its advanced idea of HE washing.
The F&P is second due to its best of both approach.
And, the 3rd goes to the "previous" WP design.

 

[DADoES]

Calypso water usage

 
Tested.

Takes 5 quarts of water to trigger the pressure switch with the pump off, smidgeon more or less depending on how well-drained is the sump at the start.

Turning the pump on to recirculate drops the sump level enough to call for more filling.  Additional 2 quarts to re-trigger the pressure switch with no nutation or basket rotation.

Adding basket rotation, which has an effect of swirling the water in the outer tub, calls for another 2 quarts.

Pump + basket rotation immediately together after initial fill confirms the additional 1 gallon.

Pump + nutation also calls more fill after the initial but I didn't check exactly how much, probably is 1-ish gallon.

So, 2.25 gallons to keep the pressure switch happy during either spin-shower or nutation-shower ... plus what the load absorbs.

Rinsing is a combination of 60-rpm saturation/flush showers with concurrent draining, extractions, spin sprays, and nutated filled/"deep" rinses.  The sequence varies per cycle.  It's a little tricky to determine what exactly constitutes each discrete rinse.  Technically there are 4 to 5 rinses (maybe 6 on Whitest Whites) per the outlined cycle sequences, not including the Extra Rinse option.  The final rinse takes more water with a neutral fill to satisfy the pressure switch then flushes the softener dispenser for 45(?) seconds, lets it siphon empty, then flush again for 15(?) seconds.

Years ago I ran an "average-sized" load of towels/cottons on Whitest Whites and drained it into my KitchenAid toploader.  It filled the KA to the rim of the basket.

 

[murando531]

@dadoes - That picture of your KitchenAid hits me right in the heart. That was the washer I grew up with until about 11 years old. LOVED that machine, and still do. I'd love to find one in reasonable shape similar to ours.

 

[yogitunes]

yeah DADoES is about correct on water useage of a Calypso.....

we did a test once at a wash-in on how much water is pumped out after a wash period, and it fell around 3 gallons....

you have to factor in, first, saturation of the load, and then enough water to keep the waterfall flowing.....

it does a number of dispenser flushes....to me it keeps the dispensers clean, and flushes any suds or heavy soil/sand towards the sump....

depending on the cycle, there can be 3 to 6 rinses....

factor in, which you will find rare on an HE machine, spin sprays......

I really think all HE machines should have a sprinkler/waterfall, and "ON" the whole time the machine is washing!.....

the Calypso is just a fascinating machine to watch in action....probably one of the most foolproof machines for loading, heavy duty enough for the most rugged denim load, yet a Gentle cycle beyond handwash care....

imagine washing a roll of paper towels, and not destroying a single sheet!

my second choice, and not exactly HE, but can be set to operate either way is a portable Avanti 1.7, but there is a bigger model for a permanent install.....this model I have holds a 12lb load, equal to a GE V12 of the time, the variations of cycles and options is endless, it is an impellor machine, has a manual lint filter, and two waterfalls, spins speeds up to 800rpm....