A washing machine motor is an essential component that allows the machine to agitate and spin the clothes during a wash cycle. Understanding the basics of how these motors operate can help you troubleshoot problems if issues come up.
The Motor’s Location and Mounting
The motor on a washing machine is mounted underneath the washtub. It has mounting bolts that hold it firmly in place to the base frame of the washer. The motor is positioned off center from the washtub so that it can use a belt and pulley system to spin the inner wash basket.
Motor Types Used in Washers
There are two main types of motors used in washing machines:
Universal motors – These are high-speed electric motors with a commutator (rotating part) and brushes (stationary contacts). Universal motors have high starting torque allowing them to power through heavy beginning loads.
Induction motors – Also known as asynchronous AC motors, these have high running efficiency and low maintenance requirements. They use electromagnets powered by the alternating current to drive rotation rather than brushes.
Newer washing machines tend to use electronically controlled direct drive induction motors without belt pulley systems. However, universal motors are still commonly used as well.
Power Transmission in Traditional Washing Machine Motors
In traditional washing machine motor design, there is a motor shaft, belt, pulleys, and drive shaft that connects the motor to the washtub. Here’s how the system works:
The motor shaft has a small drive pulley attached to it. This connects via a rubber drive belt to a larger pulley on the drive transmission shaft. The transmission shaft is linked by gears to the washtub.
So when the electric motor spins its shaft and small pulley, this then rotates the larger pulley faster. The spinning force transfers to the gears and transmission shaft, spinning the washtub through mechanical power transmission.
The gearing in the system helps reduce the speed while increasing torque. This amplifies the force so the motor can powerfully rotate and agitate the heavy drum full of water and clothes.
Motor Function During Wash Cycles
Now that you understand the basics of the motor system, let’s talk about what it’s doing at different points in the wash cycle process:
Wash cycle – During the wash phase, the motor runs at a reduced speed. This allows it to slowly rotate back and forth (reciprocate) or agitate the clothes to clean them effectively. Sometimes this uses a separate reversing motor.
Spin cycle – After washing, the motor increases to maximum speed to power rapid rotation of the inner basket. This extracts water out of the clothing using high centrifugal spinning force. The fastest motors can reach up to 1600 RPM during the spin cycle.
Water drain – Some washers have motors that reverse direction briefly to use the washtub or agitator to “pump” water out of the machine for drainage.
So in summary, the variable-speed motor works hard to provide different functions throughout the cleaning process!<space>
Understanding the basics of how these electric washing machine motors operate can help if you ever need to troubleshoot problems with the washer not spinning, agitating properly, or draining water. While they aren’t extremely complex, taking the time to learn about the motor system helps demystify what’s going on underneath the machine during wash day!
References
How Washing Machines Work – https://home.howstuffworks.com/washing-machine4.htm
Washing Machine Motor Fundamentals – https://www.reliance.com/blog/motors-and-mechanical-power-transmission/washing-machine-motor-fundamentals/
Induction Motor Working Principle – https://www.electrical4u.com/induction-motor-working-principle/
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.