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I really need some expert opinion here, please.
I want to buy a simple, well made washer,
I have some particular & specific requirements that I will come to in a moment.
The ISE AW23 looked IDEAL until I checked the manual & saw…..
cold fill only. I mention this so you get where I am coming from.
I live on a narrowboat, equipped with a sophisticated self-contained power system.
For the last 9 years this system has happily run a Hotpoint Aquarius WM65 every day with no problems at all. I am aware of the waveform problems associated with running washers on inverter based systems. Indeed I have tested other boaters’ washers on my system. It has always succeeded in running washing machines (complete with their electronic programmers) where other systems have failed, so I am pretty confident in that aspect of its performance.
Now that the Hotpoint has finally died I need a replacement.
I need a machine ;
with a max water heating element rating of 2400 Watts. I gather that few modern machines are likely to exceed this anyway.
the power system can cope with delivering this level power, plus the start up & running loading of a universal motor. An induction motor is pushing the surge handling ability of the system & I must avoid.
Hot water fill if possible. This is because the boat normally has a supply of very hot water available that has cost a lot less than electrical heating will cost. Also hot filling dramatically reduces the loading on the power system by reducing the time the heating element is on. The Hotpoint, for instance, would usually have the element on for 2x 5 minute bursts (approx) on a 40 C synthetic cycle. This meant that I could run the washer solely on battery power if I wanted, saving diesel & wear & tear on engine or genset.
I am reluctant to buy another Hotpoint after reading the poor opinions expressed in this forum & elsewhere, although I have no complaints about the performance of my last one. If I could be sure of a similar performance in a new machine I wouldn’t hesitate in buying Hotpoint again, but I don’t see how things can have got cheaper without sacrificing quality.
So please, can someone suggest a nice, simple, well made hot fill machine? I will pay a reasonable premium for quality & efficiency.
Many thanks.Re: Unusual requirements; expert advice needed!
No modern machines with electronics in them have proven trustworthy off the mains grid. Full stop, end of story.
We’ve had a few instances where they’ve been used on boats as well as well water, self-generated electricity and give problems due to inconsistencies in the mains supplies. Basically, they’re not designed for such environments and don’t tend to cope well in them.
Most likely your old Hotpoint will have old mains switched stats, pressure switch and timer, new ones don’t and it’s in these electronic components that the problems seem to lie.
There’s not a machine I can think of that I’d recommend for such an application, I certainly wouldn’t recommend a normal domestic appliance.
I’m sure that there are specials for boats though, I’m sure I saw them somewhere.
On a ship with pukka power and water, no problem. But small craft and many, many off grid installations… no hope.
Sorry if that’s not what you wanted to hear.
HTH
K.
Re: Unusual requirements; expert advice needed!
What is actually wrong with the Hotpoint you have?
I have hundreds of Hotpoint machines over 20 years and much older still going strong. Unless it has had a major failure such as requiring a new outer drum then most other repairs can be done for much less than the cost of a new machine.
AFAIK there are no H&C fill machines on the market now.
Jim.
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