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I hacked my washing machine

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Re: I hacked my washing machine

#121

Post by Siecje »

cdr wrote: post #107
MarioMan wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My washing machine is a "dumb" machine from the '90s. The wash cycles run based on the position of a glorified timer knob: it doesn't have a computer or sensors to detect if it needs extra time aside from the water fill stages. Thanks to this consistency, I just set a 40 minute timer on my phone, and it's always done by then. Can't get much simpler than that. If I need reminders, there's always the alarm snooze funct…

It's actually really, really easy to get the state of a "dumb" washing machine (or any other electric machine) into Home Assistant using a smart plug. You can use something really basic like "power draw for > n seconds followed by no power for > m seconds" to detect when a cycle is finished. You can get way fancier and look at power draw curves to determine what part of a cycle it's in, or which cycle, if you really…

You can use a vibration sensor on the dryer.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#122

Post by Siecje »

3D30497420 wrote: post #111
cdr wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's actually really, really easy to get the state of a "dumb" washing machine (or any other electric machine) into Home Assistant using a smart plug. You can use something really basic like "power draw for > n seconds followed by no power for > m seconds" to detect when a cycle is finished. You can get way fancier and look at power draw curves to determine what part of a cycle it's in, or which cycle, if you really…

This is (largely) what I have for my "dumb" washer. What makes mine unique is the washer is in my apartment building's cellar, too far for Wifi. So I have a LoRa transmitter that routes the message to a LoRa receiver on my home network. Unfortunately, as you noted, I haven't figured out how to handle the dryer as the load is too much for all the smart plugs I've found. I wish there was a clamp-style monitor on an ext…

You can use a vibration sensor for the dryer.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#123

Post by MisterTea »

jnovacho wrote: post #115
janfoeh wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know nothing about US 240V power circuits — what plugs do you use, could you get by with a Euro system? I use Eve Energy smart plugs, which seems to be supported in Home Assistant through the matter integration. Local first, no bullshit remote account requirements, good quality, around 40€ / USD 45. https://www.evehome.com/en/eve-energy

I believe that US 240V is 2 hots, neutral, and ground. EU 240V is one hot, one neutral and ground. EU 400V (380V) is 3 hots, neutral and ground. None of this is cross-compatible.

> I believe that US 240V is 2 hots, neutral, and ground.

Correct. Its called split phase, a 240V transformer is center tapped and that tap is grounded to create the neutral. Either end of the transformer to neutral is 120v and end to end is 240V.

> EU 400V (380V) is 3 hots, neutral and ground.

Three phase 230/400: 400V is line (hot) to line with 230V line to neutral. More for industrial use but I hear some homes can have this service for whatever reason.

> None of this is cross-compatible.

Not really. A 230/400 volt system also supplies 230v single phase. A 230 volt European device will work fine on 240V split phase unless it has a motor which will run faster on 60 Hz which could overload it. Though I have a machine with a three phase 380 volt 50 Hz motor running happily on 230/400 60 Hz from an autotransformer supplied by 120/208 60 Hz. Just runs 20% faster.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#124

Post by MisterTea »

elygre wrote: post #110
sgt wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keep that dumb washing machine from the 90s, I can almost guarantee you that a new washing machine is not meant to last as long. Maybe 6-7 years if you are lucky.

So, maybe. And also maybe not. https://www.forskning.no/forbruk-ntnu-partner/er-vaskemaskin... (in Norwegian) quotes research from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. The article says that a washing machine used to last 20 years, and now only lasts 10 years. However, it also says that machine usage has doubled, from four to eight times a week. So, the new machine lasts the same number of cycles, but t…

An article from 2025 is pulling data from a 2003 study that compares usage from the 1960's to what I assume is 2003, right when He and CPU controls were starting to become popular.

My 1990's Whirlpool lasted for 25 years before a barrel support rusted out. It had a mechanical timer and did a good job cleaning my clothes. Now I have this awful HE LG thing that I ALWAYS use the bedding mode otherwise it just mashes the shit out of everything destroying my clothes. HE feels like a conspiracy by big clothing to sell you more clothes, destroying the environment while fooling you into thinking you're saving it by conserving water.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#125

Post by stereo »

cdr wrote: post #107
MarioMan wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My washing machine is a "dumb" machine from the '90s. The wash cycles run based on the position of a glorified timer knob: it doesn't have a computer or sensors to detect if it needs extra time aside from the water fill stages. Thanks to this consistency, I just set a 40 minute timer on my phone, and it's always done by then. Can't get much simpler than that. If I need reminders, there's always the alarm snooze funct…

It's actually really, really easy to get the state of a "dumb" washing machine (or any other electric machine) into Home Assistant using a smart plug. You can use something really basic like "power draw for > n seconds followed by no power for > m seconds" to detect when a cycle is finished. You can get way fancier and look at power draw curves to determine what part of a cycle it's in, or which cycle, if you really…

What’s the actual amperage of your dryer? A Sonoff Pow can take 20A. Add a fuse or breaker.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#126

Post by lightedman »

bob1029 wrote: post #79
imhoguy wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Longer cycle does better job with microbes removal, especially with enzyme and activated oxygen bleach based detergents. In 30 min your machine just "rinses" the laundry to get a scent. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25207988/

The dryer kills the microbes.

European dryers do not get that hot. You need over 75C consistently for a minimum of amount of time so the fabrics can heat through and hold that temperature. The sterilization process is basically the same as Tyndallization.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#127

Post by MarioMan »

sgt wrote: post #70
MarioMan wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My washing machine is a "dumb" machine from the '90s. The wash cycles run based on the position of a glorified timer knob: it doesn't have a computer or sensors to detect if it needs extra time aside from the water fill stages. Thanks to this consistency, I just set a 40 minute timer on my phone, and it's always done by then. Can't get much simpler than that. If I need reminders, there's always the alarm snooze funct…

Keep that dumb washing machine from the 90s, I can almost guarantee you that a new washing machine is not meant to last as long. Maybe 6-7 years if you are lucky.

We’ve had a few scares. Last year, it didn’t stop filling and caused some flooding across a few rooms before we caught it. Earlier this year, the plastic on the knob mount was so brittle it snapped off. We’ve been servicing it, and we’ll keep it going as long as we can.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#128

Post by theryan »

mulmen wrote: post #76
bob1029 wrote: post #74

> when your "three hour" (usually like 4-5 hours) load finishes What kind of laundry cycles are we running here? My machine finishes a normal "eco" cycle in <30 minutes. It also beeps really loudly when it's done. The combination of quick cycles and simple notification signal keeps me out of the weird tech solutions rabbit hole.

My dryer takes three hours because it is ventless (aka worthless). A regular load of laundry takes 4.5 hours to wash and dry. It’s the worst appliance I have ever had the displeasure of operating. It has no redeeming qualities. Sometimes it doesn’t even dry the laundry.

Some ventless dryers work really well. We have a Bosch 800 series and it works nearly as well and almost as quick as the electric vented dryer it replaced. On the other hand, we owned a Siemens ventless and I don't think it ever dried a piece of clothing.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#129

Post by orangewindies »

MisterTea wrote: post #123
jnovacho wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe that US 240V is 2 hots, neutral, and ground. EU 240V is one hot, one neutral and ground. EU 400V (380V) is 3 hots, neutral and ground. None of this is cross-compatible.

> I believe that US 240V is 2 hots, neutral, and ground. Correct. Its called split phase, a 240V transformer is center tapped and that tap is grounded to create the neutral. Either end of the transformer to neutral is 120v and end to end is 240V. > EU 400V (380V) is 3 hots, neutral and ground. Three phase 230/400: 400V is line (hot) to line with 230V line to neutral. More for industrial use but I hear some homes can…

> > EU 400V (380V) is 3 hots, neutral and ground.

> Three phase 230/400: 400V is line (hot) to line with 230V line to neutral. More for industrial use but I hear some homes can have this service for whatever reason.

It varies from country to country in Europe. In the UK you'll almost never find 3-phase in a home, in Sweden even apartments usually have 3-phase supply. In my Swedish apartment the only thing connected to more than one phase is the induction hob.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#130

Post by 3D30497420 »

Siecje wrote: post #122
3D30497420 wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is (largely) what I have for my "dumb" washer. What makes mine unique is the washer is in my apartment building's cellar, too far for Wifi. So I have a LoRa transmitter that routes the message to a LoRa receiver on my home network. Unfortunately, as you noted, I haven't figured out how to handle the dryer as the load is too much for all the smart plugs I've found. I wish there was a clamp-style monitor on an ext…

You can use a vibration sensor for the dryer.

I considered that, but the washer and dryer are stacked (limited space) so the vibrations of the washer would be picked up in a dryer vibration sensor.
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