Washing machine: Electro-mechanical Vs. Digital

[R. Rajesh Jeba Anbiah]

I'm not sure, if it's the right group. But, anyway, is there anyone to
compare electro-mechanical washing machines with digital?

When I came across
<http://www.ifbappliances.com/home_appliances/washing/elite_5kg.htm>
and
<http://www.ifbappliances.com/home_appliances/washing/digital_6kg.htm>,
I wanted to know the difference (which is better and why). The shop
keepers say that digital is prone to problem and needs more water;
whereas the representative of IFB website says digital is better with
more options.

While googling I could only came across this discussion
<http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.misc/msg/010162436aa32182>,
but that's not close to what I'm looking for.

Any comments is much appreciated. TIA

 

[Al]

I'm not sure, if it's the right group. But, anyway, is there anyone to
compare electro-mechanical washing machines with digital?

When I came across
<http://www.ifbappliances.com/home_appliances/washing/elite_5kg.htm>
and
<http://www.ifbappliances.com/home_appliances/washing/digital_6kg.htm>,
I wanted to know the difference (which is better and why). The shop
keepers say that digital is prone to problem and needs more water;
whereas the representative of IFB website says digital is better with
more options.

While googling I could only came across this discussion
<http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.misc/msg/010162436aa32182>,
but that's not close to what I'm looking for.

Any comments is much appreciated. TIA

We have only bought Electro-mechanical ones and have had no problems
other than rust through after 15 years or so.

I doubt if the electronics will last that long. If you could talk to
someone who works in the field of electronic reliability, you will find
that most consumer electronics are designed for a 3 year lifetime.
That's not much better than most warrenties.

It's planned obsolescence.

Al

 

[[email protected]]

I'm not sure, if it's the right group. But, anyway, is there anyone to
compare electro-mechanical washing machines with digital?

When I came across
<http://www.ifbappliances.com/home_appliances/washing/elite_5kg.htm>
and
<http://www.ifbappliances.com/home_appliances/washing/digital_6kg.htm>,
I wanted to know the difference (which is better and why). The shop
keepers say that digital is prone to problem and needs more water;
whereas the representative of IFB website says digital is better with
more options.

While googling I could only came across this discussion
<http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.misc/msg/010162436aa32182>,
but that's not close to what I'm looking for.

Any comments is much appreciated. TIA

Most new machines are digital and not just the program controller. With
no moving contacts and intellegent motor control they should easily
outlast an electromechanical one.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

I'm not sure, if it's the right group. But, anyway, is there anyone to
compare electro-mechanical washing machines with digital?

Electro-mechanical last until they rust out. You'd almost need to buy a
spare electronics package to keep the other type going.

 

[Michael Kennedy]

I can say from experince that digital washing machines are more trouble than
they are worth. I havn't had any reliablilty issues yet, but the machine
will stop and start stop and start sometimes trying to balance the load.. My
old electro-mechanical washer is much simpler and always works the way it
should. The digital can be very frustrating at times.

- Mike

 

[R. Rajesh Jeba Anbiah]

(Many thanks for everyone who shared their comments here in this
thread.)

I can say from experince that digital washing machines are more trouble than
they are worth. I havn't had any reliablilty issues yet, but the machine
will stop and start stop and start sometimes trying to balance the load.. My
old electro-mechanical washer is much simpler and always works the way it
should. The digital can be very frustrating at times.

<snip>

Thanks for your comments. Do you find any advantage in digital?

 

[R. Rajesh Jeba Anbiah]

Al wrote:

We have only bought Electro-mechanical ones and have had no problems
other than rust through after 15 years or so.

<snip>

15 years is really solid. So, I'm just curious to know if it's
front-loading or top-loading (Again, as I heard front-loading is better
than top-loading)

 

[R. Rajesh Jeba Anbiah]

Most new machines are digital and not just the program controller. With
no moving contacts and intellegent motor control they should easily
outlast an electromechanical one.

Thanks for your different thoughts. But, as I heard many people
prefer (even shopkeepers suggest electro mechanical) and only the
company guys suggesting digital.

 

[Al]

Al wrote:

<snip>

15 years is really solid. So, I'm just curious to know if it's
front-loading or top-loading (Again, as I heard front-loading is better
than top-loading)

Top Loader.

Al

 

[Michael Kennedy]

Thanks for your comments. Do you find any advantage in digital?

No none that I can think of..

 

[Frithiof Andreas Jensen]

I'm not sure, if it's the right group. But, anyway, is there anyone to
compare electro-mechanical washing machines with digital?

When I came across
<http://www.ifbappliances.com/home_appliances/washing/elite_5kg.htm>
and
<http://www.ifbappliances.com/home_appliances/washing/digital_6kg.htm>,
I wanted to know the difference (which is better and why). The shop
keepers say that digital is prone to problem and needs more water;
whereas the representative of IFB website says digital is better with
more options.

Sigh! The shop keeper will hawk whatever product that carries the largest margin
for him (or the dud stuff that he needs to get rid off to clear the warehouse)!

*All* new machines this side of the water" *are* "digital" and front-loading.
Mine is a six year old AEG "eco_lavamat 6525". It uses 16 liters of water per
wash and the only fault it ever had was that I had to change the brushes on the
motor once.

Those things cost the equivalent of USD 700 new. It is expected that after a
maximum of 8-10 years - or two professional repairs, whichever comes first - one
simply junks the thing and buy a new one.

People keeping ye olde klunky washing appliance/dishwasher running for decades
are just wasting electricity, water and hard-earned money *and* making the
kitchen/furnace room look ugly to boot.

My decisionmaking is simply to set a budget for the appliance, then go buy
whatever quality brand happens to be on offer when the old one goes tits-up.

 

[R. Rajesh Jeba Anbiah]

"R. Rajesh Jeba Anbiah" <[email protected]> wrote:

Top Loader.

Thanks, it looks like what I heard is wrong. Thanks.

 

[R. Rajesh Jeba Anbiah]

No none that I can think of..

Thanks.

 

[R. Rajesh Jeba Anbiah]

Sigh! The shop keeper will hawk whatever product that carries the largest margin
for him (or the dud stuff that he needs to get rid off to clear the warehouse)!

<snip>

Thanks for the headsup; I'll remember this. And, I still think,
digital carries larger margin.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Thanks, it looks like what I heard is wrong. Thanks.

Front loading supposedly uses less power and hot water.

 

[Al]

Front loading supposedly uses less power and hot water.

It's the total life cycle that is important.

Have you saved anything if you had to buy two front loaders while I had
to buy only one top loader during the same period of time?

I run the wheels off my cars. I still drive a 15 year old jeep. I know
people who have traded in their cars every 3 years. Which is better for
the environment and for my pocketbook?

Al

 

[Homer J Simpson]

It's the total life cycle that is important.

Have you saved anything if you had to buy two front loaders while I had
to buy only one top loader during the same period of time?

I used to own an old Bendix I bought used and kept going with the odd part.
It was a front loader.

 

[Jon Elson]

Most new machines are digital and not just the program controller. With
no moving contacts and intellegent motor control they should easily
outlast an electromechanical one.

Until the first lightning storm! Actually, our dryer is partly digital
(still has an electromechanical timer knob) and it has survived several
strong lightning strikes that fried other appliances. Our dishwasher
is all digital, no problems yet. But, it is something I worry about when
this sort of discussion comes up. I think the manufacturers have gotten
transient protection under much better control than the first generation
of digital appliance controls.

Jon

 

[Jon Elson]

Those things cost the equivalent of USD 700 new. It is expected that after a
maximum of 8-10 years - or two professional repairs, whichever comes first - one
simply junks the thing and buy a new one.

People keeping ye olde klunky washing appliance/dishwasher running for decades
are just wasting electricity, water and hard-earned money *and* making the
kitchen/furnace room look ugly to boot.

Well, maybe. We've repaired our clothes washer several times, I think 3
new pumps,
new water inlet valves a couple times, wash/drain valve once, etc. The
transmission
is obviously wearing out, and I think that will be the one that finally
kills it. I bought
it in 1979! It has at least a chance of making it to 30 years! I do
all the repairs on it,
which saves a lot of money. Our dishwasher had several repairs, too,
until my wife
just abandoned the thing for 3 months with dirty water locked inside.
When she
finally opened it up, it made everyone leave the house quickly! I made
some attempts
to clean the sludge out, but it seemed unlikely to ever stop stinking,
so we had to
have it replaced. The clothes dryer had a number of breakdowns, and a
few years ago
we replaced the electrically-heated one with a gas-heated one, hoping it
would cut
energy costs. Then natural gas went up in price! Wouldn't you know it
would happen!
One downside to the gas dryer is you can't bleed off the exhaust to heat
and humidify
the house in winter. We used to do this with the electric one.


Jon

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Our dishwasher had several repairs, too, until my wife
just abandoned the thing for 3 months with dirty water locked inside. When
she
finally opened it up, it made everyone leave the house quickly! I made
some attempts
to clean the sludge out, but it seemed unlikely to ever stop stinking,

Just run a few cycles with bleach and no clothes.







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