Fisher & Paykel “Smartdrive” washing machine motor control

[peterlonz]

Hello everyone,
My very first post & it concerns a brand sold in New Zealand, Australia & the USA.
I am unsure if the “Fisher & Paykel” brand is distributed in the UK.
Anyway, they utilise an electronic motor power controller to control their patented “pancake” drive motor.
One of the water cooled 3 terminal PWM switches has failed along with several adjacent components.
I have ID’d all but one very small diode like component & would dearly love to repair since a replacement board is $170.
The component is about 2.5 mm body length by about 1.5mm in diam & looks like a diode.
Is it likely anyone here could help, I guess some knowledge of the “F & P” control design would be helpful.
Thanks
Peter O

[iadom]

Re: Fisher & Paykel "Smartdrive" washing machine motor contr

Hi Peter, just spotted this post.

I have moved you to the Australasian forum, due to our resident Fisher & Paykel expert being indisposed you will have a better chance of an answer in here.

Please feel free to bump the topic at any time.

[peterlonz]

Re: Fisher & Paykel "Smartdrive" washing machine motor contr

Quick follow-up:
I eventually obtained all 6 of the replacement components with only a slight doubt about the diode in this thread.
De-soldered all suspect components, cleaned the carbon “blast damage” to the circuit board, & re-fitted the new components.
When the control board was reassembled in the machine & mains power switched on ………………. Bloody nothing !!
Well I guess I asked for it because I have no real way of knowing what caused the initial fault or of testing the repaired board.
I really think Fisher & Paykel should rethink there absurdly restrictive policy of not providing a circuit diagram with reference voltage check points.
This item new is now priced at Aus$339 – about HALF the current cost to replace the complete machine. That does not include the technicians labour charge if you need a repair tech.
Moral of this story is probably: don’t attempt a control board repair unless you are really experienced in such matters.

[Author]

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