Samsung have the first stock arriving of their new 4 star wells rated top load washing machine. This is the first Asian made 4 star rated top load washing machine in Australia and should be very popular at $899 RRP.
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Water efficient washing machines
If you’re in the market for a new washing machine and you want to do your bit for the environment. A water efficient washing machine will not only save water but it will also save you money.
Water efficient washing machines are the way most people are going when looking for a new machine. If you buy a water efficient washing machine with a water rating of 4 stars or more you will get a rebate from most state governments. These governments
are putting up these rebates to try and encourage more people to purchase a water efficient washing machine.
Most major brands are building water efficient washing machines now as the demand from environmentally savy customers keeps growing. Asko is a market leader in water efficient washing machines producing well made quality products that use minimal water. Miele, Bosch, Fisher & Paykel, Samsung, LG, Westinghouse, Electrolux, Simpson and Maytag are all making top quality water efficient washing machines.
F&P are the first manufacturers to release a top loading water efficient washing machine. The have made a four star water rated top loader the first of its kind. Electrolux have also released early in 2008 their own top loading 4 star rated water efficient washing machine for the water wise top load customers.
Water efficient washing machines are here to stay so next time your in the market make sure you buy a water efficient washing machine with 4 star water rating or higher and you will be doing your bit for the environment.
Some facts from the Australian Government
-Water efficient washing machines use one-third the water of an older less water efficient washing machines.
-By 2016 WELS rated water efficient washing machines will hopefully save over 25 thousand megalitres of water per year. This is enough to fill over 12 thousand Olympic size swimming pools.
-The above points represent a reduction of around 8.8% in water consumption of the clothes washing machines sold 2003 to 2016.
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Samsung have run into a labeling issue on the WDJ1255C and as a result we and other retailers have been asked to temporarily withdraw this model from sale to the marketplace.
We have been assured that they will have the correct labels by Monday afternoon (11.02.08). Then this model can continue to be sold. We are sorry for the inconvenience, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Appliances Online on 1300 000 500.
Samsung has advised the following:
-This Washer/Dryer Combo must not be sold to the public because it does not have a mandatory safety warning label fitted. This label relates to precautions which should be taken when using the dryer function and refers them to the instruction book for further information.
-Retailers are being asked to “withdraw from sale†these units whilst we urgently arrange for an adequate supply of labels for the re-work.
-Retailers need not contact consumers who have already bought the product at this time.
-DSMs should reiterate to their accounts that they must not sell the product to the public until the appropriate label is attached.
The text of the letter being sent to retailers follows below; a brief FAQ follows the text of the letter:
WDJ1255C Washer/Dryer Combo
Missing “Warning†label (Safety Issue)
We have been advised by the Office of Fair Trading (Energy/ Safety section) that it has been reported to them that the above model currently being sold in the market, may not have a mandatory consumer warning label fitted.
The warning label has the international fire hazard symbol in addition to “read the instructions†and relates to precautions which should be observed by the customer when using the dryer function.
The OFT have further advised that under electrical safety legislation it is illegal for units which do not have the label attached to be ‘offered for sale’.
The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the situation and also to advise you of your responsibility concerning this matter. Please refer to the bullet points below.
With immediate effect, please:
-remove all WDJ1255C Washer/Dryers from display; and
-contact your DSM or our Sales Order Desk on 1300 369 600 to advise your “stock on hand†in order to account for the number of units requiring labels.
Samsung Electronics Australia Pty Ltd apologize for this inconvenience and assure you there will be a supply of labels by the end of this week for application to the affected units.
Samsung Korea is currently investigating the cause of this oversight by the factory and will ensure that all future production will be correctly labelled.
In the interim whilst this issue is being resolved, we have suspended sale of the WDJ1255C from our inventory.
You are not required to recall units that have already been sold to customers.
FAQs
Q: Why is the product being withdrawn from sale?
A: The product must have a mandatory consumer warning label attached.
This label has not been attached during production to the product’s front panel.
Q: Is there a fault with the product?
A: There is no fault with the product; it is a labeling compliance issue.
Q: When is it illegal to sell the product?
A: From now until the warning label is attached to the individual unit being “offered for saleâ€.
Q: What do retailers do with the product until the re-work is affected?
A: All products must be immediately removed from display.
Q: What do retailers need to do about people who have already purchased the product?
A: At this point, there is no need for retailers to do anything in regard to consumers. Should a consumer ask the retailer about their purchase, simply refer them to the Customer Care Centre on 1300 362 603.
Q: What am I expected to do?
A: DSMs should contact their accounts and remind them not to sell the product and find out how much stock is on hand. Then work with the customer to affect the rework.
If you have any further questions please contact Appliances Online on 1300 000 500.
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Everyday appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and fridges require proper care and one of the most basic maintenance tasks is cleaning. If you have been looking for an answer to the question ‘how to clean a fridge’ or ‘how to clean a washing machine’ - watch our blog over the next week for the answers. Our first post in this series:
How to Clean a Washing Machine
Contrary to popular belief, even washing machines require a clean now and then. If your clothes are retaining odor or do not come out as clean as they used to, it might be time to clean your washing machine. The first step is emptying the washing machine and getting rid of the odor by adding a cup of white vinegar as the machine fills up with hot water. Now, run the machine through an entire wash and rinse cycle and add 1 cup of borax into the washer as it fills with water, wait for the agitator to begin turning before adding soured laundry to the washer.
If your laundry was soured by the washing machine, you can soak the laundry for about 20-30 minutes to remove any previous odor. Add a detergent with fragrance to add that special touch to your laundry.
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Thank you to Fisher and Paykel customer care for providing this detailed response in regards to their washing machines.
230v - USING ALTERNATE ENERGY GENERATION (Non Mains) TO POWER SMART DRIVE AUTOWASHERS
INTRODUCTION
One of the big benefits of the direct drive motor technology found in Smart Drive Autowashers is that the machine is very efficient in its energy usage. As such we often get enquires about the pros and cons of running a Smart Drive from alternate energy sources.
The following is a brief collection of facts and field observations to assist you making any decisions.
PRODUCT FACTS
Average Power Usage
A 500 series machine typically uses an average power of 156 watts to wash 5kg of clothes. Over a 41 minute cycle this equates to a total energy usage of 107 watt-hours or 0.107 kwatt-hours. (Note: 21.4 watt-hours/Kg washing.)
A 700 series machine typically uses an average power of 173 watts to wash 7kg of clothes. Over a 45 minute cycle this equates to a total energy usage of 130 watt-hours or 0.130 kwatt-hours. (Note: 18.6 watt-hours/Kg washing)
Peak Power Usage
During the course of a cycle the instantaneous power being used by the machine can vary from 5 watts to 650 watts. A power as high as 650 watts occurs very infrequently (typically when spinning an out-of-balance load) and such high loads tend to last for less than 1 minute.
Motor Starting Surge
The Smart Drive Brushless DC Motor is electronically controlled. One of the big benefits of this type of technology is there is no power or current surge when the motor starts. Power is ramped up progressively via the electronics.
Operating Voltage
The Smart Drive is guaranteed to operate on an AC sinusoidal voltage source of 230V rms +/- 10% at 50Hz +/- 5%.
USING A BATTERY DRIVEN INVERTER SUPPLY
There are many different brands and models of Inverters available in the market today and often their output voltage waveform is modified or non-sinusoidal. We sent an enquiry to an Inverter manufacturer about whether an inverter output had to comply with any regulatory standards or guidelines. The reply read:
“There are no guidelines that modified sine wave inverters are required to follow as pertains to the amplitude, quality or shape of the output waveform. The only regulatory guidelines we choose to follow are safety guidelines.”
As such we cannot guarantee the operation of a Smart Drive Autowasher running from an inverter supply if it does not comply with our Operating Voltage requirements listed in the preceding paragraph.
ARE THERE EXISTING CUSTOMERS WHO ARE SUCCESSFULLY RUNNING A SMART DRIVE AUTOWASHER FROM AN INVERTER SUPPLY? - YES!
There are many installations where Smart Drive Autowashers are successfully operating on an inverter supply. In our experience if the following technical criteria are met by an inverter then operation and reliability should not be an issue:
RMS Voltage: 230V +/- 10% (up to -20% may still work provided the pump outlet hose is not too high i.e. pumping a high head of water)
Frequency: 50 Hz +/- 5%
Peak Voltage: 400V peak - This is the major point!!!
Many inverters have an rms voltage inside specification but do so by having short duration high voltage pulses. The Smart Drive treats this high voltage pulse as a voltage transient and clamps the voltage above 400V. The electronics are well rated to absorb this clamp energy on a transient basis but not 50 times a second (50Hz) continuously. If this continuous clamping occurs then it may lead to premature failure of the Smart Drive electronics or the Inverter electronics.
Power Rating: 2kVA (2,000VA) minimum.
While the Smart Drive only consumes about 650W of power maximum, the VA rating can exceed 1kVA. Successful installations have a rating of 2kVA min.
DOES FISHER AND PAYKEL RECOMMEND A BRAND AND MODEL OF INVERTER TO USE? - NO.
Due to the large number of brands and models it is impractical, not to mention inappropriate, for us to attempt to approve or disapprove the use of any particular inverter. We simply recommend that you do everything possible to ensure any inverter you use complies with the preceding technical recommendations.
DOES FISHER AND PAYKEL PROVIDE A GUARANTEE FOR SMART DRIVE ELECTRONIC MODULES WHEN RUN FROM AN INVERTER SUPPLY? - NO.
Even though the design of Inverters has improved immensely over the last few years, and the incidence of reported problems is very low, we do not know the “quirks” of individual inverters. Should an inverter output go outside our voltage recommendations then it may damage the Smart Drive Electronics and this, obviously, is beyond our control.
USING A MOTOR DRIVEN GENERATOR SUPPLY
Motor driven generators typically generate a 230V rms. sinusoidal voltage output. Whilst the voltage shape is better defined than an inverter a generator can still develop high voltage pulses due to such things as:
(i) Noise of brushes
(ii) Surges due to other equipment coming on/off line
(iii) Surges due to start up - power down.
As such the same technical recommendations as have been outlined in the preceding Inverter Supply Section are an excellent guide line if you are planning to use a generator supply. Please read these technical recommendations thoroughly.
SUMMARY
As has been already mentioned there are many successful installations where customers are using Inverters or Generators to power their Smart Drive Washing Machines. Smart Drive has the huge benefits of very low power usage per cycle and no current surge during motor start not to mention excellent wash performance and features.
If our technical recommendations for inverters/generators are adhered to we are not aware of any reasons why you should experience operational or reliability problems.
View Fisher and Paykel Top Load Washers
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Answer - The bowls in the washing machines are designed to extract the water from the clothes during the spin cycle. As the machine spins the water in the clothes is dragged towards and out of the holes in the bowl, this action creates a shadowing effect (water stained appearance) as the water is unevenly extracted from the clothes. Once the items are hung out and are completely dry they will no longer have this appearance.
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Samsung will later this year be launching a washer dryer in the Australian market. This comes after LG has in recent years experienced great success with their large range of washer dryers. It will be very interesting to see how popular the new Samsung 7.5kg wash / 4kg dry machine will go.
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Rumour has it that LG later this year will be bringing out a steam cleaning washing machine to add to their laundry range which currently includes steam washer dryers. We will keep you posted as to dates and specifications etc.
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The washing technology of yesterday has been revamped and revolutionised with the new steam technology of today. By implementing an innovative steam process into the washing procedure, washing is now becoming far more eco-conscious and time efficient.
This internationally recognised technology recently entering the market is based on the popular Korean steaming system. It now enables its users extreme conservation of water and energy while providing better results than in the past, as well as preventing shrinkage and actually extending the life of the garment. A reduction of 44% of water use in each wash has given the new system such a strong and impressive reputation.
The unique movement of the steam washer drum ensures gentle eradication of creases and keeps working to remove particles between washes. Ironing is fast becoming a thing of the past as these changes transform everyday washing. The LG machine offers a 20 minute steam, involving no water or detergent touching the garment. This cycle is perfectly designed for those not-quite-dirty, not-quite-clean articles of clothing.
The user then has the option to treat the laundry in a dual spray routine. The combination of steam and water alleviates the garments of harmful germs as the steam penetrates the fabric throughout the wash over a 40 minute period. The machine’s fast spin provides further efficiency while its incorporated monitor allows the user to view a garment’s progress at a glance.
The design of this new washing technology was based primarily on the desire to conserve water and save energy. A 21% increase in the LG machine’s performance in comparison to their traditional models have been recorded. This, topped with the lack of noise and vibrations as well as its huge 8kg capacity has enabled the new steam technology to pave the way into the washing future.
If you have any questions you can email info@appliancesonline.com.au
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As using a top load washer is significantly different to using a front load washer, here is a step-by-step guide on how to successfully use a front load washing machine, while maximizing the results. Following the steps here will ensure your get the most out of you front load washer.
1. Separate laundry into whites, light colours, dark colours, also into different fabric groups: cottons, delicate woolens/hand wash.
2. Load washer. For cottons full capacity, for delicates, woolens 1/3 to is recommended. Easy care mixed fabrics should not exceed full to avoid creasing. The use of fabric conditioner is also advisable as this will relax the fabric and make ironing easier.
3. Use appropriate low suds front load detergent, these are available in various forms: Tablets, powder (regular or concentrate), or liquid.
4. Liquid detergent is recommended for colours as they contain no bleaching agents;
Liquid wool detergents for delicates and woolens
Powder and tablets which contain oxygen based bleaching agents are suitable for whites and heavily soiled washing.
For lightly soiled washing you can reduce the amount of detergent by 1/3.
5. Wash temperatures is important for good wash results, as a rule of thumb:
60 degrees for whites
40 degrees for colours
30 degrees for dark colour reds, delicates, woolens, silks
Cold water washes are not recommended as they do not allow the detergent to work effectively and gives you poor soil and stain removal. Detergent enzymes activate at 30 to 40 degrees.
Front loaders allow you to wash at very high temperatures (90 degrees) this is only reserved for whites and laundry you want to sanitise eg. Sheets, towels, table linen and tea towels.
6. Wash options: For light to normal soiling without visible staining a ’short’ or ‘quick wash’ option should be sufficient as this saves you time when an extended cycle is not required.
If you normally soak laundry before washing the extended wash times with pre wash option will allow you to eliminate the need for this. In this case divide detergent between compartments 1 and 2.
7. At the end of each programme leave the door and detergent dispenser ajar to dry them out.
For any further information please refer to your instruction book or email us at
info@appliancesonline.com.au
View Front Load Washing Machines
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