Washing Machine Fill Level

John.G wrote:I have two Zanussi machines, one, a 2006 ZWF1221G model works perfectly either on mains or CWST (cold water storage tank), with a empty drum the filling volume is 16 litres, only difference is that the filling time is, as expected, far longer on CWST, If I divert some water via the soap tray space into a bucket, it will increase the fill time and still fill the drum with 16 litres of water, all as expected as a pressure switch monitors the level.

The other machine a 2013 ZWG6141P works OK on mains fill with a fill volume of 14.4 Litres BUT with a fixed filling time of 124 secs, if I divert some water via the soap tray space into a bucket, it will still only give a timed fill of 124 secs irrespective of how much water is diverted. This is normally not a problem but occasionally in the summer, we have to run both machines on the CWST and this machine will still only give a timed “fill” of 124 secs which results in a filling volume of 5.9 litres (too little), if I divert some water like above, the fill time is still only 124 secs.

Either machine, if started with the fill valve shut will shut off the fill solenoid valve(s) after 5 minutes accompanied by a flashing run light and the programme is (obviously) stopped.

I have posted this on numerous sites but no seems to think that a timed fill is ever used in any make of washing machine????.

Can now confirm that a brand new ZWF7254B4PW behaves exactly as the ZWG6141P, ie both machines do a timed fill so fill level is dependent on water pressure so if one user has a mains pressure of 2 bar vs another with a pressure of 4 bar then the fill level will only be 71{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} and if supplied from a attic tank only 35{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d}. of that at 4 bar pressure. Both these machines have exactly the same (analogue) level sensor whereas my old ZWF1221G has the contacts type level (pressure) switch.

Not sure what you mean by initial fill but on the above Zanussi, it initially fills for 35 secs (prewash) and then for a further 89 secs via the powder dispersant drawer (total of 124 secs). These filling times appear to be fixed on this particular machine (60 min programme) with or without clothes at my normal mains pressure of ~ 2.5 bar.

You should get ~ 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} increase in flow at 3 bar vs 2.5 bar, my measured (pumped out) volume was 14.4 litres and assuming roughly proportionate flows for both machines then your machine might only contain ~ 27/124*1.1*14.4 or 3.5 litres, enough to cover the heating element but I would guess very little showing in the drum?, the zanussi fills with almost 6 litres from the attic header tank (0.5bar).

If you put your normal clothes load in the machine is more water added to allow for clothes soakage and for how long?.

Briefly, flow is reasonably proportional to the sq.root of dynamic pressure but the crux of my problem is that while we all agree that any washing machine fill level is or should not be a timed fill but should fill to the same programmed level consistently, irrespective of the pressure, my machine should do this between pressures of 0.5bar and 8 bar.
Yes, my machine does have different fill times for the different programmes, a “mini 30” programme will give a fill time of 124 secs irrespective of supply pressure of 0.5 bar or 2.5 bar so, obviously the fill levels are different, a “cottons” programme will give a fixed fill time of 94 secs again irrespective of the supply pressures again with different fill levels, these “fixed” times remained the same despite changing the analogue pressure switch. My very old (2006) ZWF1221G model which has the old type pressure type level switch does give consistent fill levels irrespective of the supply pressure, the filling time just takes longer on the attic supply.