Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

I hacked my washing machine

nexy.blog

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

141–150 of 169 posts

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#141

Post by connicpu »

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 might be able to set something up using a current clamp connected to an esp32, though it might have to go over a point where the wires are separated so possibly inside the machine. Might not be too hard depending on how you feel about opening up your dryer.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#142

Post by tracker1 »

mjg59 wrote: post #102

First up: this isn't criticism of the original post in the slightest, it's a wonderful journey through figuring out how a weird device that wants to be on your wifi works. If you have a device that speaks to an Android app, you want https://github.com/niklashigi/apk-mitm - it'll strip pretty much every known certificate pinning implementation from an apk, and it'll also rewrite the manifest so it'll trust the user-in…

+1 on this... I was actually surprised this wasn't one of the earlier efforts, as to me it would have been one of the first things I tried. Given the webview aspects of the app, I wouldn't be surprised if it was using something webcrypto was capable of int he app ui, with the key relatively obvious to yank out.

I'm a big fan of using web rendering for UI apps, but most devs are less interested in how to implement real security. Or add theatrical additions that just don't work with reality.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#143

Post by timedout_uk »

1a527dd5 wrote: post #105

Image link after "For now, I plugged this key into CyberChef, and was able to decrypt the data." is broken. Specifically this element: https://nexy.blog/2025/07/27/how-i-hacked-my-washing-machine... " class="hoverZoomLink"> " rel="nofollow">https://nexy.blog/0006-How-I-hacked-my-washing-machine/cyber...

Thanks for the catch, fixed now. Might need to clear your cache.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#144

Post by clausecker »

theryan wrote: post #128
mulmen wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Bosch and Siemens is the same company (BSH, Bosch Siemens Home Appliances).

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#145

Post by lillecarl »

xyst wrote: post #46
lillecarl wrote: post #21

Practical engineer in me screams: SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY. Just plug the washing machine into a smartplug and alert when power draw drops to idle for more than X minutes.

Not all washing machine appliances are same, unfortunately

Does your machine run on petrol or manual labor? In that case, listen for an engine or someone complaining.

I'm certain 99% of washing machines are powered by electricity, and if you live in 120V town and need 3 phase you can monitor power using the magnetic field on one of 3 conductors.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#146

Post by mike-cardwell »

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…

I do this for my washing machine, drier, dishwasher and also 3D printer, in the UK. Have some Z-Wave Greenwave PowerNodes, hooked into Home Assistant. Works great. I also have Alexa hooked into Home Assistant so I was able to make it announce through our Echo Dot when a cycle for any of those devices completes.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#147

Post by rssoconnor »

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.

I also have a ventless, but it is a washr/dryer all-in-one unit.

It probably also takes 4.5 hours to wash and dry, but I wouldn't know because it happens when I'm sleeping (which just happens to be the same time as the ultra-low time-of-day electricity rates where I live) . It's pretty great. Definitely recommend.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#148

Post by throwup238 »

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…

For the dryer think even simpler: get a Esp32 with a SW-420 vibration sensor, stick it on top of the machine somewhere, and look for vibrations. Since most dryers don’t have cycles, it’s really easy to detect if they’re running or not. There’s even a potentiometer on the SW-420 so you can adjust the sensitivity without reprogramming the ESP32.

Re: I hacked my washing machine

#149

Post by stronglikedan »

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…

I use an AI agent running on an old Android phone to monitor the position of the switch with the camera and let me know when it's straight up and down or side to side, since those are the four off positions of my knob. (kidding but maybe not by this weekend)
Post reply on HN