Thread Number: 38565
FL Tub Capacities - I think they are lying! |
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Post# 572192 , Reply# 1   1/29/2012 at 16:01 (4,442 days old) by qualin (Canada)   |   | |
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This shot is of a Samsung machine with a claimed 5.0 cu.ft capacity. |
Post# 572193 , Reply# 2   1/29/2012 at 16:02 (4,442 days old) by qualin (Canada)   |   | |
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This next shot is of a Whirlpool machine with a claimed 4.0 cu.ft tub capacity. |
Post# 572194 , Reply# 3   1/29/2012 at 16:03 (4,442 days old) by qualin (Canada)   |   | |
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And finally, a picture of my Huebsch, with a claimed 3.3 cu.ft tub capacity. |
Post# 572301 , Reply# 5   1/29/2012 at 22:15 (4,442 days old) by pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada)   |   | |
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well qualin my toughs on this is maybe the tub is made by a sub contractent and not by the actual company
like for expemple if i look at your pic of the fridgedair Gallery the tub looks like it was made by lg for frigedair the samsung machine the tub looks like it was made by a company that makes smaller capacety machines and the whirlpool duet washer tub looks like it was made in there dryer factory and they only drill holes in the tub ss for water to evacuate and as for the tub of your huebesh washer i would estimate its made by lg because of the holes in the paddles but these are just my toughts on this i am not an expert... |
Post# 572366 , Reply# 7   1/30/2012 at 10:14 (4,441 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)   |   | |
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I have wondered about this too and used a tape measure to check interior dimensions. I know the Frigidaire (1st photo) looks small because the door opening / boot is small.
I've found that the tub diameter (measured across) are all very close to each other, usually within a 1/2 inch. It's the depth of the tub and the size of the paddles / baffles that makes the difference. Granted I've not had the opportunity to measure a Speed Queen FL, but I will when I can find one.
Kevin
P.S. Frigidaire is owned / made by Electrolux. |
Post# 572464 , Reply# 9   1/30/2012 at 16:36 (4,441 days old) by dj-gabriele ()   |   | |
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...even smaller than I tought! But they wash so damn well! :O Candy anyday for me (when it comes at washing!) |
Post# 572511 , Reply# 10   1/30/2012 at 20:39 (4,441 days old) by pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada)   |   | |
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when i bought back in 2004 my generation 1 whirlpool duet washer the tub drum was label 3.8 capacety but when i look at it it has the capacety of a 3.2 topload tub so i think that they should but when it comes to capacety kilos on the label the actual tub drum size when it comes to the size when i have to wash my double bed comftor i have trouble loading it in my fl washer unless i fully push it in by hand if not the door will not close
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Post# 572530 , Reply# 11   1/30/2012 at 21:49 (4,441 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)   |   | |
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Post# 572531 , Reply# 12   1/30/2012 at 21:53 (4,441 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)   |   | |
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Post# 572532 , Reply# 13   1/30/2012 at 21:57 (4,441 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)   |   | |
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Post# 572536 , Reply# 14   1/30/2012 at 22:06 (4,441 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)   |   | |
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This is a 2009 Kenmore Elite (last year of the Whirlpool built machines), rated @ 4.4 cu. ft.
21.5" across by 14.25 - 14.5" deep.
When I was looking at this before I bought it, there was this blue one and a red one next to it, except for the color the machines looked identical. Upon closer inspection I noticed the RED one was built in Germany, was rated at 4.0 cu. ft. and had a top spin speed of I believe 1300 rpm. The BLUE washer I bought (the red one was sold, ARG!) was built in Mexico, was rated at 4.4 cu. ft. and has a top spin speed of 1100 rpm. The internal dimensions were was EXACTLY the same on both. The only difference.... was the paddles, or baffles. The RED washer with 4.0 rating had LARGER paddles/baffles then the BLUE washer rated @ 4.4 cu. ft. I was surprised to see only smaller paddles/baffles made the difference of 0.4 cu. ft.
Kevin |
Post# 572573 , Reply# 15   1/31/2012 at 02:54 (4,441 days old) by qualin (Canada)   |   | |
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Wow, Good point. I wonder what the sales people will think if I bring a tape measure onto the showroom floor. :) |
Post# 572577 , Reply# 16   1/31/2012 at 03:27 (4,441 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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I'm wondering if there was a change in how tubs are rated for cu. ft. capacity. Case in point: When my 2010 Frigidaire washer (model 4474) was first advertised, the tub was rated at 4.6 cu. ft. A few months later, I believe that number was reduced to 4.2 cu. ft. If you go to the Frigidaire site today, it's rated at 3.81 cu. ft. Did Frigidaire really reduce the size of the tub, or is something else afoot?
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Post# 572585 , Reply# 17   1/31/2012 at 04:36 (4,441 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia)   |   | |
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Post# 572603 , Reply# 18   1/31/2012 at 07:57 (4,441 days old) by Iheartmaytag (Wichita, Kansas)   |   | |
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The reason washers began being listed by Cu. Ft rather than lbs was a more honest approach. 18lbs of blue jeans is going to be considerably less than say 18 lbs of lace curtins. In fact one probably couldn't get 18 1bs of lace in a machine. Where as 3.0 cu ft of either is still 3.0 cu ft.
Now that's not to say that manufacturers didn't gild the lilly a bit on either measurement. I think as someone said above, the measure is more of what you can get in it rather than what you should. put in it. It is also my understanding that the measure is taken before the agitator is added on top loaders. but with the baffles/paddles on front loaders. |
Post# 572654 , Reply# 19   1/31/2012 at 11:05 (4,440 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)   |   | |
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To reference to Eugene's comment, yes it's very interesting how manufacturers "conjure" up these capacity numbers.
Last summer I went to our local Sears Outlet store (mostly scratch & dent) with a friend and looked at a lot of the washers they had, both TL & FL. Among the numerous brands and models there, I was surprised to see SO MANY different Frigidaire Affinity FL models and SO MANY different capacity ratings. Same basic model, same control layout, same size and shape door, some with more features or options and they all looked the same inside. I was amazed to see capacities ranging from 3.5, 3.7, 3.8, 4.0 and 4.2 cu ft in washers that look like essentially the same machine.
I looked at Frigidaire's website this morning and am surprised to see the capacity ratings on all these washers have been reduced! That small door Frigidaire washer I have (first of both Qualin's and my photos) which USED to be rated at 3.1 cu. ft. capacity is NOW rated at 2.65 cu. ft. capacity. The other models that used to be rated at 4.4 cu ft is now 3.81, 4.2 cu ft > now 3.68, 4.0 cu ft > now 3.65, 3.8 cu ft > now 3.26 and 3.7 cu ft is now 3.23. What amazes me is the Affinity line has FIVE DIFFERENT capacities! What the hell?
Does anyone know what happened on this capacity rating system? Did the Government clamp down on them for false claims or advertising or something?
I saw in some documentation or an ad or something where "they" claimed my 4.4 cu ft rated Kenmore Elite washer can wash 25 bath towels at once. Well... one day not long after I got it, I tried. I have to say they must have used smaller than standard "bath towels" because I was only able to fit 16 in there and OMG I was REALLY stuffing and packing them in!! I went ahead and ran a cycle just to see how it did and boy it was really loaded!! Each time it tried to balance and spin it had a REALLY difficult time trying to get balanced, taking 10 - 15 minutes or more dinking around. After the 2nd try I stopped it and split the load in half. It was much happier after that!
Kevin This post was last edited 01/31/2012 at 16:05 |
Post# 572701 , Reply# 21   1/31/2012 at 14:57 (4,440 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia)   |   | |
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Capacity in kilograms or pounds always refers to, and has done in this country and most others, to dry weight cotton fabrics.....there is no confusion if people bother to read their owners manuals where it is normally spelt out that
From a front load perspective:
- cotton cycles are can be run at capacity weight or a full drum - synthetic cycles are normally at 1/2 capacity or half way up the door - wool is normally at 1/3 capacity or just below half way up the door - handwash is normally at 1/5-1/4 capacity or just a little over the edge of the drum seal.
....and there are often graphics in the books to give a visual representation.
Ultimately, these are all guides for the consumer to enable them to get the best out of their machines. However, as I've mentioned before, the CU FT measurement is complete nonsense outside of the showroom - a consumer can't measure it at home but with a KG or LB measurement they can weigh their washing if they wish..... |
Post# 572860 , Reply# 24   2/1/2012 at 11:25 (4,439 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)   |   | |
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Post# 572863 , Reply# 25   2/1/2012 at 12:05 (4,439 days old) by runematic (southcentral pa)   |   | |
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Here's the deal on tub capacities and the changing of the rated size. Some companies used IEC (international efficiency {i've also heard other names used instead of efficiency}}} commission) measurements and some used DOE (dept of energy) measurements. IEC used to be used exclusively for HE washers. For example Whirlpool/Maytag had been using IEC measurements and now have gone to the DOE measurements. The DOE uses a different testing system than the IEC. IEC seemed to have fluffed sizes and the DOE system seems to have a more realistic and smaller capacity rating. So, the Maxima, for example, was rated at 5.0cuft IEC and is now shown at 4.3cuft DOE. Same washer, same tub, new measurement.
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Post# 572867 , Reply# 26   2/1/2012 at 12:27 (4,439 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)   |   | |
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Post# 572949 , Reply# 28   2/1/2012 at 18:27 (4,439 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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I suppose what should be mentioned is that capacity of American washers is measured using a top loader standard. Top loaders are rated by their total capacity, including the space taken up by the agitator. Front loaders are measured at their actual volume, plus what an agitator would take up. So while the original Neptune front loader might have a drum with a real capacity of 2.7 cu ft, the mfg is allowed to add .3 cu ft to that and claim a capacity of 3.0 cu ft. This is also known as the IEC standard, although what those letters stand for escapes me at the moment.
BTW, the Miele washer manuals also advice progressively less loading the more delicate or fussy the fabric and form take. The full load rating is for sturdy cotton fabrics. |