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I don’t have mains electricity where I live and rely on solar and generator.
My generator will run my washing machine on a cold wash no problem. However, a 40 degree wash draws too much power from my small generator.
Is there a way to reduce the power of the heater? Maybe add a resistor to the live going to the heating element?Cheers for any help,
JamesRe: Can I reduce the heating element power?
Hi James,
This came up a short time ago as, if memory serves me, someone else had the same problem. The outcome I’m sure was that it wasn’t possible and inadvisable to do this.
There are washing machines made specifically for this application and the normal domestic ones are not meant to be suited to the environment as there is, as you say, no mains supply.
K.
Re: Can I reduce the heating element power?
Just an idea.
What about adding a diode in series with the heating element?
Naturally, it would have to be a heavy-duty device, able to cope with the current drawn by the element, but by half-wave rectifying the AC supply to the element it would reduce the current by about 50{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d}.
This is one method that is used to create the lower power setting on electric blankets and the like.
Naturally, great caution should be observed in doing this, to maintain good standards of insulation etc.
I am not necessarily suggesting this be done, but I would be interested to hear others’ thoughts.
That said, if there are machines designed especially for this situation they must surely be a better bet than modifying a standard machine.
Re: Can I reduce the heating element power?
You know your stuff 😉
That would be an alternative if we could advise it 😀Greg
You could certainly reduce heater power by whatever means. I’d guess tho that if it’s a modern machine with electronic temperature control that you’d end up with a fault code if the rate of temperature rise is much slower than the module is expecting.
Indeed if it’s an older machine with a set of ‘stats you might even be able to add a small standalone temp. controller to call the h/w inlet solenoid based on drum temp rather than by program. That might have an effect on wash quality tho…
Re: Can I reduce the heating element power?
I just need to reduce the current that the heater draws. The temperature isn’t a problem, the washing machine can just keep heating for a longer period of time until it gets up to 40 degrees.
Maclee, I like your idea of adding a diode. Any idea where could I find one though?
Cheers,
JamesJames,
What machine is it? If it’s electronic, as DPM points out, it may well not be possible to alter or you will throw up an error.
K.
Re: Can I reduce the heating element power?
This machine has a vari-temp thermostat, I think? Cheapest option would be turn the heat off and get in touch with a janatorial supplies place. There are cold wash powders available. Possibly even in Spain 😀
Penguin45.
Re: Can I reduce the heating element power?
I don’t have a problem washing with cold water only. It’s just the wife – she insists on at least a 40 degree wash for all the kids clothes.
I don’t really want to alter the thermostat – I’m happy with it heating up to 40 degrees. I just need it to take a bit longer to get there by using a lower powered heater.
Is it possible to get a replacement heating element that uses less power?
Or simply add a current limiting resistor?You could certainly limit the existing heater with some kind of series-connected load, either resistive, a high-power diode, or even a dimmer/ speedcontrol of a suitable type.
But a modification like that isn’t something you’re going to get detailed advice on round these parts methinks.Re: Can I reduce the heating element power?
Would anyone know what size rheostat I could use to say half the heating power?
Re: Can I reduce the heating element power?
while I cannot advise or recommend any action, a diode would be much more efficient that any resistor which will be giving off as much heat as the element. Using a proper power controller (like a high powered dimmer) is also an option. Shorting out the thermostat without telling er indoors could solve it?
Re: Can I reduce the heating element power?
I’ve looked for high power dimmer switches but all I can find are standard lighting dimmers and they are only about 6 amps or so. Presumably I would need something like a 20 amp dimmer?
Secretly shorting out the thermostat isn’t a bad idea either. The wife would be so impressed at how quickly the machine could do a 40 degree wash but unfortunately she’s not daft enough not to see through a scam like that.
Re: Can I reduce the heating element power?
avocadocomputers2 wrote:Secretly shorting out the thermostat isn’t a bad idea either.
Oh yes it is, accompanied by a loud bang. 😉
Taking it out of circuit totally would result in the program halting altogether or a fault code and no-go.
To do that you’d have to trick the stats or thermistor.
K.
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