In article , wrote:
On Jun 3, 9:08=A0am, Steve Barker wrote:
Michael A. Terrell wrote:
Bob Larter wrote:
William R. Walsh wrote:
Hi!

The obvious solution to this problem is to buy laundry equipment wit=
h
conventional electro-mechanical controls. (Assuming they're still ma=
de.)
They most certainly are. It's still quite possible to buy (at least i=
n the
US) a washer or dryer with conventional, non-microcontroller-based co=
ntrols.
Even some of these fancy-dancy front loaders are made that way:
http://greyghost.mooo.com/doingthela...er.jpg(494x69=
1,
20KB).

I've been inside it once, and the internals are what you'd expect of =
a
machine much older. The timer is a simple mechanical one, water level=
is
detected by vacuum, and while the drum motor has an electronic contro=
ller,
it looks to be well made.

How it's possible to not make the microcontroller-based controls work
reliably for years and years is beyond me. Makers of microwave ovens =
have
managed to do so for years. I've *never* seen a microwave oven with a=
dead
control panel.
I have, several times.

=A0 =A0Dozens of them.

I've never seen a microwave quit for any reason. =A0AND if it did, i'd ge=
t
out another $69 and buy a new one.


Exactly. I just tossed away a 23 year old Jenn Air microwave that had
electronics and it was still working fine. I'm not convinced the
premise that washers and dryers with electronics are inherently more
prone to failure than other units is valid. I see most people in
this group with actual problems that are in the area of switches,
motors, water level sensors, solenoid water valves, etc.

Also, if you want to go a long way to protecting ALL your appliances
and electronics, you should install a whole house surge protector.

When I moved into my new old house, a supressor was installed
on the electric meter. I did not want to pay for the service and didn't.
I wonder if they took it off ?

I work on stuff all the time where spills will take
out the ecectronics. They build it that way.
Centrifuges and shaker tables in mind.

greg