Hot pursuit of the Hotpoint Dishwasher

The measuring coil is a work of genius. It's also the reason why a 1/3HP motor that draws 6 amps won't work on this dishwasher, and a 1/4HP motor that draws EXACTLY 4.5 amps WILL.

From Home Appliance Servicing by Edwin Anderson:

"Since the measuring coil is connected in series with the impeller-motor winding, an accumulation of water in the machine results in an ADDITIONAL CURRENT DRAW by the motor. When the water reaches a predetermined volume, the current through the motor winding causes a relay coil to open a set of contacts in the water-inlet-valve solenoid circuit, which in turn closes this valve and prevents additional water from entering the washer."

It's ingenious! It's infuriating. :-) It means that only the right motor with the right current draw (4.5A!) will make this machine hum.

With a 1/3 HP motor in place, the water valve merely clicks on and off, because the constant current draw of a 1/3 HP motor is already more than the system is designed to recognize. Oopsie!

Does anyone perhaps have a 1/4 HP motor that's the old kind (dismantleable), so that I can insert the right end-bell screws? Probably a GE motor would be easiest, but if not, I'll look into getting this one re-wound. We suspect that old GE dryers would probably use the 1/4 HP motor--it'd be too weak to drive a washer (most of those used at least 1/3 HP).

Thank all of you again for all your help! Hopefully we'll get this licked and get back to the world of hurricane-force dishwashing :-)

--Nate


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Post# 204598 4/16/2007 at 22:09 (6,216 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)
Checkrate/Likes In rifling through the parts stash, Roger found a 1/3rd HP GE motor that was a backup for the Blackstone (I still want that motor, Fred :-)). The case was identical to the 1/4 HP, so we rigged it up. The good news: The dishwasher works. Sorta. The bad news: As with most 50+ -year-old machines, it's on to other things. Here's why: First, exhibit 'A'--the measuring coil:

Post# 204600 , Reply# 1 4/16/2007 at 22:18 (6,216 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)
Checkrate/Likes *More* The measuring coil is a work of genius. It's also the reason why a 1/3HP motor that draws 6 amps won't work on this dishwasher, and a 1/4HP motor that draws EXACTLY 4.5 amps WILL. From Home Appliance Servicing by Edwin Anderson: "Since the measuring coil is connected in series with the impeller-motor winding, an accumulation of water in the machine results in an ADDITIONAL CURRENT DRAW by the motor. When the water reaches a predetermined volume, the current through the motor winding causes a relay coil to open a set of contacts in the water-inlet-valve solenoid circuit, which in turn closes this valve and prevents additional water from entering the washer." It's ingenious! It's infuriating. :-) It means that only the right motor with the right current draw (4.5A!) will make this machine hum. With a 1/3 HP motor in place, the water valve merely clicks on and off, because the constant current draw of a 1/3 HP motor is already more than the system is designed to recognize. Oopsie! Does anyone perhaps have a 1/4 HP motor that's the old kind (dismantleable), so that I can insert the right end-bell screws? Probably a GE motor would be easiest, but if not, I'll look into getting this one re-wound. We suspect that old GE dryers would probably use the 1/4 HP motor--it'd be too weak to drive a washer (most of those used at least 1/3 HP). Thank all of you again for all your help! Hopefully we'll get this licked and get back to the world of hurricane-force dishwashing :-) --Nate

Post# 204637 , Reply# 2 4/16/2007 at 23:51 (6,216 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)
Checkrate/Likes *Maybe in your own backyard?* Fascinating. They had a late 40's - early 50's GE top-loading electric sink at the stove-store in Phoenix, I wonder if that is the same motor - and if it works??

Post# 204710 , Reply# 3 4/17/2007 at 09:35 (6,216 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)
Checkrate/Likes *OoOoh...* Good idea! I'll have to go investigate. :-)