Thread Number: 70929  /  Tag: Modern Automatic Washers
Neat OOB Switch on SQ FL
[Down to Last]

automaticwasher.org's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate automaticwasher.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 939196   5/18/2017 at 12:30 (2,506 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

My SQ went to spin something that was wadded up and terribly OOB and it knocked the door open and shut off the machine. I was there and saw it happen; it was pretty dramatic. One minute it crashed and the next minute totally silent.





Post# 939202 , Reply# 1   5/18/2017 at 13:00 (2,506 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        
Spinsploding SQs

This made in China crap that explodes in your face... Wait, those aren't made in China?!?



Do you have a FL or TL? The OOB switch should just reset, and if the OOB is broken, it should not operate at all...


Post# 939207 , Reply# 2   5/18/2017 at 13:32 (2,506 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN)        

kb0nes's profile picture
It's a pretty crude switch they use, just a contact that opens when a certain acceleration is reached. Not sure how quickly the control reacts to the opening of the switch or if they apply any breaking to slow the basket quickly. Assuming the switch acted normally, it may not have been able to prevent the door from popping open in this instance.

They really could be a tiny bit more sophisticated here. Multi-axis MEMS accelerometers are dirt cheap now (every smart phone has one) so it is a shame they haven't made the switch. It is how I see the SQ stuff though, heavy reliable construction but technically a bit unsophisticated.


Post# 939210 , Reply# 3   5/18/2017 at 13:45 (2,506 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

I'm not certain if it is a switch or just a good whack that knocked open the locked door.


Post# 939212 , Reply# 4   5/18/2017 at 13:52 (2,506 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        

If its a FL which I assume cause the door was locked, your door lovk is most likely broken now... And those don't have OOB switch per se, I think they only use the MCU...

Post# 939213 , Reply# 5   5/18/2017 at 14:00 (2,506 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN)        

kb0nes's profile picture
Tom, that is a good point. Tripping the OOB switch won't stop the machine, it will just slow the spin and enter a re-distribution routine. The door popping open is what killed it, it likely was displaying the flashing LED's that denote a door error code.

The simple switch sensor may not always be able to prevent this if something sudden and drastic happens in the basket. It is a bit similar to people thinking a the Rev limiter in a motorcycle engine management computer will protect the engine when they wack the throttle wide open in neutral. The acceleration of the rotating parts will be so quick it will well overshoot the maximum safe RPM before the smarts will take control back.

It might be worth insuring the door latch is still solid as well as checking the OOB switch will still open.


Post# 939218 , Reply# 6   5/18/2017 at 14:34 (2,506 days old) by washerdude (Canada )        
"One minute it crashed"

I think it may be possible that the tub ended up hitting the door lock mechanism and its possible that it may have knocked the wire going to the door lock, out, deactivating the locking part causing the door to open up with the movement of the tub.

Or, the door lock may have broken from the impact of the shaking and hitting.

I know on one load in our WP Duet, we were washing jeans and the unit went into the spin and the tub began hitting the DOOR to the point where the door was shaking and the machine began sliding to the right, but I stopped it right away.

Usually when the tubs on any FL (specifically newer ones with balancing rings) initially go into spin, is when there is the most movement and shaking as the balls in the balancing rings are quickly arranging themselves to counter the load. This usually lasts for 1-15 seconds.

I doubt the actual latch broke as i see SQ using steel latches.

What was being washed when it did this?


Post# 939230 , Reply# 7   5/18/2017 at 15:50 (2,506 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
That sounds a lot like the OOB drama of a Maytag combo. I had that happen several times but I'm not sure if the tub hit the edge of the thick door glass flange or if the door just popped open when the machine landed back on the solid floor. Made Fred run for the hills when it happened in front him. It's quite exciting. True to Maytag form, once the door was closed again, it continued on with the "Attempt-to-Spin" cycle.

Never have seen that with my small-door 2004 SQ f/l.


Post# 939250 , Reply# 8   5/18/2017 at 17:04 (2,506 days old) by Rolls_rapide (.)        
"Multi-axis MEMS accelerometers are dirt cheap..."

And a bloody menace, too!

I have had two machines with those 'XYZ-axis sensors' - both machines were Panasonics.

The first machine was a tilted drum front loader, courtesy of Panasonic China. That machine was reasonably sensible and would spin quite readily 95% of the time. The slightly tilted drum helped to distribute laundry to the rear drum wall.

The latest machine is a conventional horizontal front loader from Panasonic Slovenia (Gorenje factory). It takes forever to balance a load on the final spin: display says 10 mins, but it actually takes 25 minutes. Interim spins during the rinses can be perfectly in balance. The initial slow spins during the final spin phase can also be in balance - but the machine stupidly stops to 'redistribute' the load - which then ends up out of balance again!

A sensible machine would know that the load was in balance, omit the redistribute phase and just ramp to the faster speeds - but continue to monitor the forces at the faster speed, and calculate the most efficient speed it could safely get away with.


Post# 939252 , Reply# 9   5/18/2017 at 17:12 (2,506 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN)        

kb0nes's profile picture
Well it isn't accelerometer that is the "bloody menace", it is poor design and crappy software!

There does need to be a happy blend of software control built on top of a competent mechanical platform. It is when the manufacturers try to make a light weight, big basket, high RPM machine work through software that you end up with a mess.

The SQ machines are the other side of the coin, built heavy with no nonsense. It reflects their commercial lineage. They could likely stand just a smidge more control sophistication though.


Post# 939255 , Reply# 10   5/18/2017 at 17:17 (2,506 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        

The new Panasonics in the EU have 70l drums. The inner drum is 50cm (19,7") diameter in a 60cm (24") cabinet. For the slower speed interim spins the 3D sensor is set to lower sensitivity, for the final spins its set to max sensitivity to reduce noise. Further, the paddle design introduces a continous movement of laundry from the back to the front, thus tangeling gets worse as time moves on. Final spins can take ages...

Post# 939273 , Reply# 11   5/18/2017 at 18:40 (2,505 days old) by Rolls_rapide (.)        
Kb0nes & Henene4

I agree with both of you.

I've been saying this for years, but sooner or later, I promise that I WILL buy a MIELE - come Hell or high water!

Anything less seems to be just a load of half-baked hooey, and more trouble than it is worth.


Post# 939275 , Reply# 12   5/18/2017 at 18:48 (2,505 days old) by chetlaham (United States)        

chetlaham's profile picture
I'm confused. I never heard of a SQ front load doing this. If that did happen, take pics and seen it to Speed Queen. Me thinks something went wrong.

Post# 939329 , Reply# 13   5/19/2017 at 05:50 (2,505 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

the door lock is still very much functioning.


Post# 939335 , Reply# 14   5/19/2017 at 07:22 (2,505 days old) by mtn1584 (USA)        

What were you washing?

Post# 939341 , Reply# 15   5/19/2017 at 07:40 (2,505 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Out Of Balance 2nd Generation SQ FL Washer

combo52's profile picture

We sometimes saw behavior like this on these 2nd generation washers, it seldom hurt anything.

 

The current 3rd generation machines have a much better designed motor control board plus when they made th tub larger they added a really good balance ring.

 

John L.



Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

The Discuss-o-Mat has stopped, buzzer is sounding!!!
If you would like to reply to this thread please log-in...

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy