Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Re: Questions
Hi
I was thinking that some customers might want to buy their new X on credit. Have you any plans for this or would it be left up to individual business to provide?
Andy
Re: Hoover AM120 Washing Mc
yep – they can be a pain. There’s you, trying to think the problem through and you got this huge orifice in the background spewing forth all maner of pointless drivel. And every now and then you have to mutter something that you just hope is relevent to what they said.
Glad you got it sorted Steve
Andy 🙂
Re: Fuzzy logic
I think you are right about AI Ken. It will be a long while before they produce anything to equal the human brain – if they ever do. If they do succeed it will not be using anything like present technology but rather by copying the neurological design of the human brain. There is already quite a bit of research in this field with the aim of developing computers based on biological rather than electronic digital designs.
have a look at these for example:-
Re: Hoover AM120 Washing Mc
Forgot to say:- On machines like these that have the module at the top of the machine with easy access, it is worth familiarising yourself with where the individual wires on the plugs go to ie. thermistor, tacho, field coil, armature etc . This means that you can check out a lot of circuits for continuity directly from the module plug. This has a big advantage in that you are ‘seeing’ what the module ‘sees’ so the whole circuit is checked in one go – wiring, connectors the lot! Usually – due to the heavy current – most heater circuits terminate in their own socket on the board rather than using an edge connector.
Andy 🙂
Re: Hoover AM120 Washing Mc
Hi Steve
Check the drum rotation speed on wash to see if tacho circuit is OK. If too fast then try to check continuity of the tacho circuit across the two connections on the module plug (easy to get at and checks out the complete circuit in one go)(one of the two sets of pads for the motor plug that has thin tracks coming off them is the tacho – not sure which – the other is probably the thermistor). If the coil and magnet are ok then it might be a connection problem.
If the tacho circuit checks out ok, you have tried in a known good module and the connectors all fit tightly then its down to eliminating componants like NTC thermistor, heater, wiring continuity etc. A pain in the bum. The problem with these is there are no fault codes (that i know of) so if the program aborts its a needle in the haystack job.
best of luck M8
Andy 🙂
Re: Fuzzy logic
kwatt wrote:Seriusly though, there’s too many variables and it’s a well known fact that if you take the control away from people that they will rebel against it, just look at speed camers and burning tyres or GPS tracking. Okay, extreme examples, but you get the picture. So the customer has to have some degree of control.
If you accept that then the point of Fuzzy Logic is pretty much negated, in fact I seem to recall several complaints about it with regard to Bosch, basically the punters didn’t like it. The control had been removed and the damn thing didn’t work. or at least work the way that the punter wanted it to work.
K.I don’t think its going to go away Ken. These are the first tentative steps towards introducing artificial intelligence into the domestic environment. Because this is what fuzzy logic is – handing over more decisions to the machines! Who knows what will be in our homes in another 50 years.
Aaaah! Be alert, the teminator may materialise before your eyes before too long. Better :plug: now before its too late
Re: Fuzzy logic
Thanks for that info Kevin. Thats really interesting about the crystal, r u saying that this is piezoelectric output from the crystal? If so, i did not know that they could be so sensitive to such small pressure changes.
The Zanussi p.s/w uses a variable inductance the core of which is moved directly by the bellows. The output is only three wires so it is either analogue or a serial data stream (A to D conversion done on the device). There are several sm IC’s within the device so option two is a possiblity.
Andy 🙂
Re: Fuzzy logic
Right! we will bin that idea then. It was only something which I was chewing over but I don’t really know much about the properties of detergents which is why i would like the training session at some time.
Kevin – when you mentioned the ‘Frequency’ pressure switches is this what Chris refered to as ‘proportional’ pressure switches?
Are these the same as the electronic presure s/w that Zanussi use? (where tha actual level of water can be determined, rather that having fixed levels). If not could you please explain what you mean?
Re: Fuzzy logic
Well Kevin it looks like you and me are the only ones that give a monkeys ship about fuzzy logic. Strange really when you consider that probably every appliance produced in the near future will use it. Having said that, apart from any new types of sensors that are employed I don’t suppose from a repairers point of view it will make much difference.
Before this thread sinks down the list into oblivion I want to mention an application of fuzzy logic which I have contemplated that would deal with a fundamental problem which has had quite a bit of forum space lately. As far as i know this has not been done yet but I might be wrong, no doubt it is on the CAD/CAM somewhere.
This problem is the use/misuse of detergents. At the moment it is left up to the operator of the m/c to administer the correct dosage of detergent prior to the wash cycle. As has been mentioned many times this is a very hit and miss affair which probably rarely results in the correct dosage due to the many different factors involved. (the degree of dirt in the load, amount of detergent used etc).
Using fuzzy logic the operator could be removed completely from this process. Instead of using a conventional soap drawer, a hopper type dispenser could be used which is filled with powder by the operator. Detegent is administered by the microcontroller through means of a valve assy into the m/c.
As the detergent is neutralised by the dirt in the clothing more powder can be gradually added until the optimum dosage for that particular load is achieved. The clothes are washed correctly and there is no wastage as the machine constantly adapts the wash program to the needs of that load.
When the hopper needs refilling a front panel warning light alerts the operator.
The only problem is what type of sensor could be used to sense the detergent / water saturation level. Maybe something that could detect a particular level of a chemical used in the detergent??
Andy 😥 😥
Re: Fuzzy logic
It occured to me when I read my previous post in the cold light of day, that I have not made a proper link between my example of the UKWG poll and the control aspect of fuzzy logic (it was in the wee hours).
The results of our poll would at any instant of time be highly subjective depending upon the circumstances prevailing at that moment. For instance – If you have had a bad day, you come home tired and hungry and you answered the poll then you would probably hate the job 90{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d}. If on the other hand you had a brilliant problem free day and your pocket was bulging with cash, the results would be just the opposite.
It is this reaction to circumstances that are continually in a state of flux that forms the basis of fuzzy logic control.
I hope that makes better sense
Andy 🙂
Re: Help Yourself First
Mike
I don’t have a fax machine myself but use a fax to email service. There are plenty available on the web but some can be a bit expensive for the person sending the Fax (30p or more).
I use the Tiscali service which is 10p, so not too bad. There is no cost to the receiver only the sender.
Andy
Re: The secrets out!
Greg
I am sorry if my comments appeared to be directed at you because yours was the last post, but I was not refering to you.
My apologies.
Andy 🙂
Re: The secrets out!
One thing that this post has taught me is that some folks have a problem spotting when somebody is having a bit of fun when it should be obvious.
That is why this post was made in the Rumour mill, based on kevins comments in the other thread – i can’t believe that I have to explain this.
In plain words – it was a bit of a laugh.
Andy 😕
Re: Help Yourself First
Thanks Ken for making that clear.
Re: the warranty thats good news and i am sure that there will be many more than myself who are much happier with the revised terms, i will sign up asap if thats OK. I have never had a customer who was unhappy with the guarantee that I already offer:
Replacement parts warranty – is according to the terms of the suppliers and/or manufacturer – usually 180 days.
Labour warranty – minimum 90 days
In fact most are very happy to have a guarantee at all. Although I only specify 90 days labour minimium, this in practice always extends to equal the parts warranty.
Re: the liability insurance. I went from 1 million to 2 because one of my customers a ‘large manufacturer’ required it in there ‘contractor’ requirements and I think it cost me about £12 a year extra. I pay currently £86 with Fortis (Semploy).
Andy 😀
Re: Help Yourself First
If a warrantied part goes belly up and takes with it other parts are you liable for all the parts under the terms of the charter?
I ask because a week or two ago I attended a Zanussi see thread:-
http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.p … highlight=
It turns out that the motor fault destroyed two modules and an electronic pressure s/w. Now while this might have been a rare occurance at one time, in these days of very sensitive electronic controls I think it will happen more and more.
I think this needs clarifying. Andy
