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Thread Number: 61008
/ Tag: Modern Dryers
Difference Between Dryers Sold in UK and the Continent. |
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Post# 836287 8/12/2015 at 17:22 (3,172 days old) by Launderess  (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Post# 836293 , Reply# 1 8/12/2015 at 17:52 (3,172 days old) by Vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK) |
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UK vs Europe 
Laundress
I am surprised there is a difference - I would have thought that manufacturers would have made them uniform for economies of scale. Louis would probably know better but I expect it is down to the UK have a maximum socket outlet draw of 13amp, where in Europe the rating for a socket for a large appliance would be 16amp - as I am sure you are aware our domestic wiring systems are different. Of course for years we were running appliances of 3kw on 13amp sockets as the fuse in the plug had a little more flexibility. It's a curious thing though that where you have a dedicated circuit for a fixed appliance like a wall heater the breaker on the board will be fused at 16amp but the termination by the appliance (generally not a socket) is still 13amp. However where you have something like a storage heater or immersion heater (for hot water tanks) where the draw is 3kw for a protracted period then it is not terminated with a fused outlet but simply a switched outlet, this usually being rated at 20amp but the breaker at the board is still 16amp. Did you just do a comparison with France or with other European countries? The reason I ask is that I have always been struck with how limited the cross over between the UK and French markets are. It would be interesting to know how the Italian and German machines compare as they have far more penetration into the UK market. Or even the likes of Beko. On a slightly different note I was struck with how my new Miele dishwasher was rated at only 2kw (I will check again at the weekend as I need to pull it out in any case) and I wondered if that was to allow the same machine to be sold in UK and Aus/NZ where I believe the max socket rating is 10amp Interesting question | ||
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Post# 836295 , Reply# 2 8/12/2015 at 18:07 (3,172 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Hello luv...
Hope you are biding well..
Actually the query grew out of the "Lessiveuse" thread.... Nosing around the Internet and seeing various washers and dryers both old and new sold in the UK and on the Continent. Noticed those in France say had higher wattage (usually 16amps at 230v/3.1kW)versus what one finds in UK. This struck me as odd as even the big multinationals like Miele did this when one assumed outside of their North American offerings they usually kept things pretty harmonious. Of course this all could be academic and even though the appliance is rated for 3.0kW it pulls not nearly so much power normally. | ||
| Post# 836299 , Reply# 4 8/12/2015 at 18:33 (3,172 days old) by iej (.... ) | ||
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Just checking my Miele Vented dryer : 2.85kW max | ||
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Post# 836310 , Reply# 7 8/12/2015 at 19:54 (3,172 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Miele seems to have or had at least two different heating batteries for the European market; 2.6kW (or so) and 3.1kW (ditto). All things being equal if a model was being sold across Europe and UK aside from changes such as the language plates could be a simple sizing of heating batteries for the country in question.
Compared to the blast furnace temps (LOL) of American electric dryers where wattage starts around 4kW or above; 2.6kw to 3.3kW found in Europe/UK is quite "cool". The latter two are going to take longer to dry a full load of washing either way. Suppose if someone in the UK was that worried about their Miele dryer from the continent drawing too much power a swapping out of the heating battery could bring things down to an acceptable range. | ||
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Post# 836318 , Reply# 8 8/12/2015 at 20:47 (3,172 days old) by logixx (Germany) |
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Reviewed.com lists most "blast furnance" dryers peaking at temps of 140 to 150F - that's lower than my Bosch condenser at almost 170F on High, despite its 2.8 kW heater. I think the size of the drum and blower on American dryers somewhat makes up for the power of the heating element so they don't run "furnance" hot under normal conditions.
My modern Bosch dishwasher has a pretty universal rating. It says: 50/60 Hertz, 220-240V, 10/16 Amps (13 UK). | ||
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Post# 836667 , Reply# 11 8/14/2015 at 17:37 (3,170 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Don't understand.
With heating power of between 2.5kW and 3.1kW why do some complain European vented dryers take "so long" to dry say a full 11lb load from a front loader? Can understand condenser dryers but even my Whirlpool compact with its pitiful 1300w heater can dry 5kg in about an 1 1/2 hours. | ||
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Post# 836669 , Reply# 12 8/14/2015 at 17:42 (3,170 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands) |
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Post# 836676 , Reply# 13 8/14/2015 at 18:36 (3,170 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany)) |
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Vented dryers never took long to dry. They were never known to take long. They are just really rare over here. | ||
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Post# 836677 , Reply# 14 8/14/2015 at 18:41 (3,170 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Yes, | ||
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Post# 836680 , Reply# 15 8/14/2015 at 19:21 (3,170 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany)) |
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I guess that's more about the market target group. Miele only sells EU sized washers in the US, thus being only in the compact market. And where compacts are needed, there are rarely vents. Miele only offers 1 vented and 1 condenser model here in Germany as well. So, prepare for heatpumps. | ||
| Post# 836683 , Reply# 16 8/14/2015 at 20:12 (3,170 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.) | ||
Speaking of Italy, you didn't have dryers or common appliances typically above 3kwh because the typical household is only allowed to pull 3300 watts per hour hence 3,3kwh, this is what the standard meters are set for, go over 3,3kwh and the thing shut off itself, meaning that while you're running a 3kwh dryer or whatever if you have a refrigerator and a few lamps on either you launder in the dark and unplug the fridge or what exceed.
Also, schucko german plugs are not what you find commonly, you still have the Italian setting in many homes, which may include the small-plugs & adaptors and some large scattered around... small ones are not meant for such high absorbition at all. Said this, I'm sure some twin tubs and automatics such as the Servis and others actually had 3kwh heaters...so did toploaders from Servis and such: automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/00Sho... If one didn't know would assume that for washers that was also done as typical UK machines were hot&cold fill machines vs the continent, heating time would shorten... But so was here....no element in an automatic FL would be 3kwh ever ...2650 at max. Am really not aware of what dryers were elsewhere, but few I've seen would not go over 2650-at max 2750-2800 watts. I've owned and used Euro electric vented dryers for years, changed some and they all would dry relativly fast, a full 6kg load towels spun at 600-700 would take about 1,5hr...depending on the dryer, 1000rpm 50 mins... the white knight I owned before the Speed Queen was the fastest I've ever used.... Slower than US dryers, but not indecently slow....US dryers would move more air and actually heat the laundry slightly less than many euro vented dryers I've seen, the more power makes for the muuuch larger size and air they move. Condensr dryers instead...forget about, we're talking 2+ hours and I personally rached the peak of 4hrs for a load...heat pump...don't let me start. | ||
| Post# 836684 , Reply# 17 8/14/2015 at 20:14 (3,170 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.) | ||
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| Post# 836687 , Reply# 18 8/14/2015 at 20:33 (3,170 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.) | ||
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Post# 836720 , Reply# 19 8/15/2015 at 01:47 (3,170 days old) by logixx (Germany) |
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Post# 836722 , Reply# 20 8/15/2015 at 01:57 (3,170 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Yet
Whirlpool keeps chugging out those portable/compact 24" vented dryers they have for decades. Both under that brand and Kenmore probably millions if not hundreds of thousands have been sold since their introduction. Many still are giving service even after twenty or more years of use.
Employee of a friend recently purchased a NYC condo with a Bosch W&D set and the dryer is condenser. To say he hates the thing is an understatement. Thanks to a suggestion by someone (ok, Moi) he nabbed an old vented Miele from CL up north somewhere and went to fetch. The dryer resides in bedroom and is vented using a bit of wood with a hole made to for the hose. | ||
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Post# 836728 , Reply# 21 8/15/2015 at 03:41 (3,170 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK) |
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Vented Dryers in UK...
Vented dryers of old particularly Servis @ 2kw and Hoover @2.5 have a high volume airflow with a low wattage heater (think windy day , no sun) and out of a twintub and or spin dryer only take between 40 - 60 mins for cottons, lighter fabrics usually 30 mins!!
The only people I have heard complain of dryers is for the "Long Drying Times" which is usually from a condenser dryer and not using a max spin say of 1600 from a front loader!! | ||
| Post# 836736 , Reply# 22 8/15/2015 at 06:28 (3,170 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea)) | ||
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| Post# 836812 , Reply# 23 8/15/2015 at 16:09 (3,169 days old) by iej (.... ) | ||
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Miele vented dryer will do a full load of towels (spun at 1600rpm) in a little over 68mins They're not particularly slow. | ||
| Post# 836872 , Reply# 24 8/16/2015 at 00:38 (3,169 days old) by spiraclean (UK) | ||
A Bosch condenser dryer I had previously could be reprogrammed via the control panel, rather like the extended settings on a Miele washer, for operation on either 10A or 16A. Presumably this was done to simplify production, with all dryers being fitted with the same heating unit and then configured for the destination country by means of the control board software.
Speaking of heat pumps, I made the switch a couple of months ago and am seriously impressed with it. Uses far less electricity (I have an electricity monitor which shows this in real time), and dries more gently without shrinking fabrics or heating the room up. Quicker than the condenser dryer too, which I absolutely wasn't expecting. In many respects it feels very similar to using a vented dryer, and I'm yet to see what there isn't to like about it. Just wish I'd done it sooner. | ||
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Post# 836903 , Reply# 26 8/16/2015 at 08:20 (3,169 days old) by logixx (Germany) |
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Post# 836960 , Reply# 27 8/16/2015 at 16:37 (3,168 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Each Miele Dryer Heater Battery
Has two wattages given, total (high) and half (low). One assumes other European dryers that have "low" heating options are the same.
Having *only* about 1400w or 1300w (cannot recall) heating power my Whirlpool compact doesn't even bother with lower temps for permanent press. It just cuts off the heat sooner to give a longer cool down part of the cycle. Heat pump dryers..... Was nosing around Alliance's website and noticed now even Speed Queen offers a heat pump dryer for commercial use. | ||
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Post# 836976 , Reply# 28 8/16/2015 at 19:31 (3,168 days old) by logixx (Germany) |
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| Post# 836989 , Reply# 29 8/16/2015 at 21:41 (3,168 days old) by iej (.... ) | ||
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Except there are definitely models aimed at 13Amps. My Miele is drawing a little over 12Amps, perfect for a 13Amp outlet. | ||
| Post# 837009 , Reply# 30 8/17/2015 at 00:48 (3,168 days old) by spiraclean (UK) | ||
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Henrik,
The one I went for was the Grundig GTN38240GC (linked below). More or less the same as the equivalent Beko model, except it comes with a 5 year parts and labour guarantee. Considering this is my first foray into heat pump dryers, and the technology is still reasonably new in relative terms, I thought the longer warranty was a sensible idea. At £360 after discounts, it seemed like a pretty safe bet, and is actually a very nicely built dryer. This one has the 2-stage foam/mesh filter behind the service flap, which needs cleaning every 5 cycles or so. Doing this each time I have the vacuum out only takes seconds, and so far it appears to be doing a very good job of catching everything because there has been no fluff accumulation whatsoever on the condensing unit. Having heard mixed reviews of some self-cleaning HP dryers, I'm happier knowing I can physically access and see the filter and condenser myself. CLICK HERE TO GO TO spiraclean's LINK | ||
| Post# 837035 , Reply# 32 8/17/2015 at 07:31 (3,168 days old) by iej (.... ) | ||
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Ooops! It didn't attach.
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| Post# 837169 , Reply# 34 8/18/2015 at 06:02 (3,167 days old) by spiraclean (UK) | ||
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Henrik,
Strongly considered the Whirlpool myself, it too appears to be a nice dryer for the price. The vast majority of reviews for it are overwhelmingly positive as well. Checked out the AEG offerings while shopping around, and thought the filter was cleverly designed - pretty much impossible to overlook or forget it. Really I don't mind as long as the lint is dry, it beats the horrible task of cleaning soggy wads of fluff out of an ordinary condenser any day! | ||
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Post# 837277 , Reply# 36 8/18/2015 at 18:55 (3,166 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Miele and Bosch Condenser Dryers I think that these two companies are making a big mistake selling only air-cooled condenser dryers in the US. Almost every home has a vent system here, and most of the US uses a lot of air-conditioning so it makes little sense to not only put that much heat into the house and have the dryer using 25% more power to dry clothing as a vented dryer in the first place.
But you have to remember that these two companies together probably comprise less than 1/4% of the US laundry market, LOL, and it is probably getting to be an even smaller share as people have spread the word about reliability problems and lack of any decent service for these brands. | ||
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Post# 837295 , Reply# 37 8/19/2015 at 00:12 (3,166 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands) |
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| Post# 837308 , Reply# 38 8/19/2015 at 02:10 (3,166 days old) by Spiraclean (UK) | ||
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Post# 837314 , Reply# 39 8/19/2015 at 03:46 (3,166 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands) |
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