Samurai Appliance Repair Man's Blog

Oh those nutty Japanese!

Let me start by explaining a few features on this washer---perhaps this may allay any concerns (or make better sense).

This washer has something called: "True Balance".

True Balance involves using a *Balance Ring* located at the front of the tub assy and is filled with oil & steel balls.

An *inertia sensor* is mounted at the top of the tub assy as well.

The spin profile will be as follows:

0 to 400 rpm : Tub begins ramp-up to spin.
               At this time--the entire washer usually has low-resonance shake/wobble/spring noise/sound of air.
               As the tub reaches 400 rpm---the steel balls within the Balance Ring begin to *separate* from
               each other and will move to a position--which will stabilize the spin tub at rpms beyond 400rpm.
               The amount or degree of stability will be dependent on the *quality* of the floor.
               Obviously--on a concrete floor---the washer will be exceptionally smooth during spin.
               On wood floors--especially less-than-stout wood flooring---the washer will be as stable as can be made
               possible (slight continuous vibration).

400 to 1100 rpm: Smoothest possible spin performance occurs at these speeds.

400 to 0 rpm:  On ramp-down---there will be a slight rattle/rattle/rattle/shake before the tub comes to a complete
               stop.

The Inertia Sensor "tells" the MAIN BOARD the amount/degree of shaking of the TUB ASSY.

The MAIN BOARD is "timing" the amount of time it takes for the tub to stabilize before allowing the motor to "go to full throttle".

If it takes the tub too long to stabilize---the MAIN BOARD will "abort" the spin program.

Another attempt will be made after the tub tumbles laundry to redistribute the laundry load/weight.


******


LG washers *not* equipped with True Balance---will exhibit the following on WOOD FLOORS:

0 to 500 :       Tub begins to spin. Pronounced shaking of the tub & washer body is noticed along with typical
                 noises from a rotating assy.

550 rpm:         Imbalance is at it's WORST/MOST SEVERE

600 to 750 rpm:  Tub & washer body continue to shake but *less so* as rpm speed moves past 550 rpm.

750 rpm:         At this rpm---the degree of shake/noise is half-as-severe as it was at 550rpm.

Above 750 rpm:   Again the severity of the shake/wobble/noise somewhat diminishes and the washer continues it's
                 spin cycle with a moderate degree of continuous resonance. This varies depending upon the type
                 and size of laundry load.

Source: LG WM2101HW - Wash Drum Hitting Washer Door

My Maytag MDB7100AWW Dishwasher recently began stopping mid-cycle.

On investigation I noticed that when this occurred, the "Clean" & "Light Wash" LED's were flashing after the failure.

This error code indicates "low motor current." (Code sheet found inside Dishwasher lower front panel.)

I opened up the panel behind the door and had a look at the circuit board. The two largest resistors on the board showed signs of high temperature on the board underneath them. When I unsnapped the board and looked on the reverse side, I noticed evidence of cold soldered and  arcing pins. The pins are from the two black relays nearest the contacts where the connecters plug into the board .

The motor appeared to be in perfect condition, so I ordered a new board from Repair Clinic. Fedex delivered overnight and the dishwasher is working like new again.

Looks like the "low motor current" error code was caused by the failing control board and had nothing to do with the motor.

Source: Maytag MDB7100AWW  Dishwasher Failure

Part link for the control board==> http://www.repaircli...mber=MDB7100AWW

Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Sunday another reactor of its quake-hit Fukushima nuclear power plants had lost its cooling functions, while at least 15 people at a nearby hospital were found to have been exposed to radioactivity.

The utility supplier notified the government early Sunday morning that the No. 3 reactor at the No. 1 Fukushima plant had lost the ability to cool the reactor core. The reactor is now in the process of releasing radioactive steam, according to top government spokesman Yukio Edano.

It was the sixth reactor overall at the Fukushima No. 1 and No. 2 plants to undergo cooling failure since the massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami struck Japan on Friday.

The disaster raised fears over radioactive leaks from the plants after cooling systems there were hampered, most seriously at the No. 1 reactor.

An explosion Saturday at the No. 1 plant blew away the roof and the walls of the building housing the No. 1 reactor's container.

The government and nuclear authorities said there was no damage to the steel container housing the troubled No. 1 reactor, noting that the blast occurred as vapor from the container turned into hydrogen and mixed with outside oxygen.

Tokyo Electric Power has begun new cooling operations to fill the reactor with sea water and pour in boric acid to prevent an occurrence of criticality. Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano said in a press conference Sunday morning that there had been no major changes in the results of monitoring radioactivity near the No. 1 reactor.

Following the explosion, the authorities expanded from 10 kilometers to 20 km the radius of the evacuation area for residents living in the vicinity of the Fukushima plants.

The Fukushima prefectural government said Saturday that three people had their clothes contaminated with radioactive substances while fleeing from the No. 1 nuclear plant.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said Sunday that 15 people were found to have been contaminated at a hospital located within 10 km from the No. 1 reactor. Edano said there was a possibility that nine people who fled on a bus had been exposed to radioactivity.

==Kyodo

SOURCE:  http://english.kyodo...1/03/77230.html

As we used to say in ye olde dojo, "Fuku Sheeta!"  

Thank you, GE!  

Fukushima Dai-ichi Unit 1 reactor schematic

The schematic diagram above shows the GE Mark I Boiling Water Reactor reactor building structure, the Fukushima Dai-ichi Unit 1.

SOURCE:  http://www.beyondnuc...-schematic.html