Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Blanko Range Hood Repair
Monday, May 20, 2013
Whirlpool Front Loader Washing Machine
Following on from the successful repair of the school mixer, Megan has directed my attention to the washing machine. One Whirlpool WFS1285AW 8.5kg front loader.
Now let me decalare something here. A small bias. I absolutely hate front loading washing machines.
In my view....
a) Hard to get clothes in and out.
b) Can add that last sock. (Becuase the door locks)
c) Again because the door locks, if you need to stop it early and get something out you simply can't without ivoking google and a crowbar.
d) I don't think the whites are white.
ah that feels better....
OK so the sequence of events is:-
Check the user manual. No mention of the LCD. In the manual I can find reference to various symbols that I see on the LCD. I note on the LCD a padlock symbol. At first I thought this was the child lock but operating the child lock buttons brings up a key symbol.
Phoned whirlpool on 1300 363 344
Well that has to be one of the most dissatisfying conversations I have ever had as I was fobbed off to Alderly refrigeration (I think) on 3355 6855. They were more polite and have taken on board asking a technician.
Back to google and I find a newer manual on line and discover that the padlock tells me the door is open or maybe closed. Its not clear but hey when you use a pad lock symbol to represent a door why would you expect it to mean anything.
Anyway the padlock symbol stays on irrespective of whether the door is open or shut so lets assume the door switch is stuffed and investigate that.
And thats it for now.
5pm
Arrived home from work and Chris from next door was on his way over to have a look. He had kindly let Megan was her clothes in his machine.
We pulled the top off and that gave access to the door switch. It was removed and disassembled. Thought I had hit pay dirt. See the black mark on the white bit. Problem niggling my mind was "is that all that is wrong?". Or even "is anything wrong with the switch?" Not really sure how it works because it can lock and unlock the door and also detect whether the door is closed or not. All this with what looks like a number of pressed metal pieces although there may be some kind of semiconductor hidden away in there somewhere because when measuring continuity with the multimeter I got some 0.6 and 0.7 type readings.
It seems that the black piece is purely mechanical with a slide striker. It interlocks with the little red pin at the right hand end of the white bit on the lower right of the photo. But what makes it all move and how does it detect position.
So I decided to see if I could trick it into thinking it had a closed door. I measured the voltages on the three wires with respect to each other and it looked like about 6V although it was jumping around somewhat. Perhaps the CPU scans the switch or perhaps it uses some kind of AC signal to detect or operate it. I got a 330 ohm leaded resistor and tried shorting the various wires via the resistor. The idea was that Not knowing which wire was which the resistor would limit the current. (Remember ohms law I=V/R so for 6V we have less than 20mA). I tried a couple of combinations and then saw the door switch indicator go off. Pressed the go button and a little wift of smoke emanated from the controller board. Blast!.
Set about dismantling the front panel. All was revealed. A big black pile of soot. In the middle half a transistor. The soot looks very spectacular. It's possible I destroyed it but I would have though with a black patch this size that I would would have been greeted with a bang.
Another feature of this washing machine is the orange high lights. Seems a few people on the net complain about it. It appears that the soap dispenser lets some water out. There is a lip on the rear edge of the pressed metal chassis that stops the water running down inside. The water basically sits on the top face and somehow corrodes the chassis.
In case I forget which wire went where.
21-5-2013 Update:
Alderly Refrigeration got back to me. Gee I love it when someone actually does what they say they will do.
Apparently the spare part is called a timer and is available in 5 days (to 8 weeks if not in country) at ~$300. The door switch is a much more reasonable $39.50.
I think we will go look at new machines and possibly see if a second hand timer is available.
Now let me decalare something here. A small bias. I absolutely hate front loading washing machines.
In my view....
a) Hard to get clothes in and out.
b) Can add that last sock. (Becuase the door locks)
c) Again because the door locks, if you need to stop it early and get something out you simply can't without ivoking google and a crowbar.
d) I don't think the whites are white.
ah that feels better....
OK so the sequence of events is:-
- Starting with the power off at the wall,
- Switch power on at the wall. -> LCD lights, Start LED flashes, 30min wash flashes.
- Door closed.
- Press start button. LED goes on solid
- Wait 30 sec maybe. Start LED starts to flash.
- Pressing any other key and they all work.
- Press the child lock key combination and that brings up a little key symbol.
Check the user manual. No mention of the LCD. In the manual I can find reference to various symbols that I see on the LCD. I note on the LCD a padlock symbol. At first I thought this was the child lock but operating the child lock buttons brings up a key symbol.
Phoned whirlpool on 1300 363 344
Well that has to be one of the most dissatisfying conversations I have ever had as I was fobbed off to Alderly refrigeration (I think) on 3355 6855. They were more polite and have taken on board asking a technician.
Back to google and I find a newer manual on line and discover that the padlock tells me the door is open or maybe closed. Its not clear but hey when you use a pad lock symbol to represent a door why would you expect it to mean anything.
Anyway the padlock symbol stays on irrespective of whether the door is open or shut so lets assume the door switch is stuffed and investigate that.
And thats it for now.
5pm
Arrived home from work and Chris from next door was on his way over to have a look. He had kindly let Megan was her clothes in his machine.
We pulled the top off and that gave access to the door switch. It was removed and disassembled. Thought I had hit pay dirt. See the black mark on the white bit. Problem niggling my mind was "is that all that is wrong?". Or even "is anything wrong with the switch?" Not really sure how it works because it can lock and unlock the door and also detect whether the door is closed or not. All this with what looks like a number of pressed metal pieces although there may be some kind of semiconductor hidden away in there somewhere because when measuring continuity with the multimeter I got some 0.6 and 0.7 type readings.
It seems that the black piece is purely mechanical with a slide striker. It interlocks with the little red pin at the right hand end of the white bit on the lower right of the photo. But what makes it all move and how does it detect position.
Set about dismantling the front panel. All was revealed. A big black pile of soot. In the middle half a transistor. The soot looks very spectacular. It's possible I destroyed it but I would have though with a black patch this size that I would would have been greeted with a bang.
In case I forget which wire went where.
21-5-2013 Update:
Alderly Refrigeration got back to me. Gee I love it when someone actually does what they say they will do.
Apparently the spare part is called a timer and is available in 5 days (to 8 weeks if not in country) at ~$300. The door switch is a much more reasonable $39.50.
I think we will go look at new machines and possibly see if a second hand timer is available.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Flashpoint 26-MAY-2013
Flashpoint is on the horizon
Looking for inspiration
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31- Wisdom does not call out ???? I guess I am not that wise!
Psalm 8 - Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Romans 5:1-5 - Access to God via Jesus. Adversity suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us....
John 16:12-15 - Spirit will come and reveal the truth...
Hmmm thinking thinking displacement activity I think I am going to make a hot chocolate.
John 16:12-15
Revealing ....
3yrs ago we did this and the science experiment was a balloon in a balloon.
Looking for inspiration
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31- Wisdom does not call out ???? I guess I am not that wise!
Psalm 8 - Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Romans 5:1-5 - Access to God via Jesus. Adversity suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us....
John 16:12-15 - Spirit will come and reveal the truth...
Hmmm thinking thinking displacement activity I think I am going to make a hot chocolate.
John 16:12-15
Revealing ....
3yrs ago we did this and the science experiment was a balloon in a balloon.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Happy Mothers Day
The day started with a quick Bacon and Eggs. No time to sit together. The night before had been a late one and the youngies took a while to join the day. So we ate on the run. Then off to church. Chris was on power point and he had done a good job of sprinkling some nice mothers related photos through the power point. Half way through Marcus and I slipped out and I dropped Marcus at Primavera.
Marcus has a part time job at a local cafe - Primavera. He started as a Dishie (Dish washer) and has moved up in the world. As I understand it he now does some shifts as a dishie and some as a waiter.
At home after church and Megan and Jemma and Dan watched "The sound of music". I entertained myself fixing Megan's school's mixer (see other post).
Then the highlight of the day was family dinner at Primavera. We organised to have dinner in Marcus's break. 5pm - 6pm. By the time we were done we were done!. The food was great. We were full!
2013 Grammar in Concert
Marcus played in the Grammar in Concert last night. It was held at "The Con" at South Bank. Ian and Faye took the train down.
Michael Coyne (front centre left) and Marcus (Front centre right)
The venerable memorable Mrs Kate Albury.
Marcus is in the middle.
The venerable memorable Mrs Kate Albury.
Marcus is in the middle.
Repair Australian Monitor MX82
Symptom: Mains fuse blows.
A new fuse and a second or two and it blows.
CHASSIS DISASSEMBLE
Remove the power lead (obviously)
Screws on the side and top, Remove top. Have a look.
Pull knobs off. Undo nuts on the pot shafts.
3 screws on the bottom that connect the rear panel to the main chassis base.
cut the cable ties on the wires to the power switch.
slowly and carefully separate the PCB complete with the rear panel from the front panel.
SAFETY
Note that there are mains voltages on the PCB.
Both sides.
VISUAL
Observe C289 part of the power supply has a swollen top.
Unsoldered C289.
When it came away from the board I observed only one leg had come with it and the other was still on the board and also there was gunk on the base of the capacitor and also on the board where the capacitor had been.
TEST
ah stuck for want of a 20mm fuse. Tomorrow.....
Tomorrow
I had sent Australian Monitor a email requesting a schematic and wow it arrived in my email. Thumbs up Australian Monitor!
Bought a new fuse and capacitor from RS
Fitted.
Tested. All good.
Megan advises re installed and all working at the school.
A new fuse and a second or two and it blows.
CHASSIS DISASSEMBLE
Screws on the side and top, Remove top. Have a look.
Pull knobs off. Undo nuts on the pot shafts.
3 screws on the bottom that connect the rear panel to the main chassis base.
cut the cable ties on the wires to the power switch.
slowly and carefully separate the PCB complete with the rear panel from the front panel.
SAFETY
Both sides.
Observe C289 part of the power supply has a swollen top.
Unsoldered C289.
When it came away from the board I observed only one leg had come with it and the other was still on the board and also there was gunk on the base of the capacitor and also on the board where the capacitor had been.
TEST
ah stuck for want of a 20mm fuse. Tomorrow.....
Tomorrow
I had sent Australian Monitor a email requesting a schematic and wow it arrived in my email. Thumbs up Australian Monitor!
Bought a new fuse and capacitor from RS
Fitted.
Tested. All good.
Megan advises re installed and all working at the school.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
2013 back to the 20's to Ellen's Birthday
We got an invite to our old neighbours 80th. It had a twenties theme. Megan Marcus and Frank dressed for the occasion. The party was great. Jazz band and all. There are a couple more photos on my phone. Add later.
The sunnies definitely spoil it
The sunnies definitely spoil it
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
2013 Boys Brigade ANZAC Day March Video
2013 Brisbane City ANZAC Day Boys Brigade March
Chris and Dan both marched with the Boys Brigade.
Starts with Chris and Dan walking down from BGS to the city.
Video
Times
1:50 Chris carrying "Royal Australian Engineers" banner
2:15 Dan carrying "paddle" number 1
5:19 they march off
Chris is in the "colour party". He is in the row of 3 just behind the banner on the far side.
Dan is about 2 or 3 rows back on the far side. Very hard to see.
Chris and Dan both marched with the Boys Brigade.
Starts with Chris and Dan walking down from BGS to the city.
Video
Times
1:50 Chris carrying "Royal Australian Engineers" banner
2:15 Dan carrying "paddle" number 1
5:19 they march off
Chris is in the "colour party". He is in the row of 3 just behind the banner on the far side.
Dan is about 2 or 3 rows back on the far side. Very hard to see.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
A visit to the University
I had to go to UQ (University of Queensland) for a work related meeting.
Parked near the Dutton park end of the Green Bridge and walked toward electrical engineering.
Things have changed (progress?) since I was there.
My recollection is that this building used to be called the "Hawken Building" after some famous engineer. In a sort of basement was the Prentice computer centre. I assume the mainframes were tucked away there. To thr right in this picture, you can see the side of a big buidling. That space used to be populated by a couple of large demountables with rows and rows of computer terminals. these were dumb character based terminals all connected by serial (RS232 I guess) to said mainframes in the basement of the Hawken building.
The building has gone through a face lift. As well as sporting a mobile phone base station phallus, it appears to now be called the Prentice building or words to that effect. The tiny basement office that one used to go cap in hand to attempt to negotiate permission to dial in directly or to resolve some minor digital glitch has been replaced by a massive ground floor entrance. The big ground floor lecture theatre (what was its name) and the lower ground lecture theatre B18 are still there but have new numbers.
I walked through the old entrance and past that forgotten name lecture theatre and out the back door down past mining and met and mechanical engineering to electrical engineering. The power lab has been replaced with a superb modern building where the architects have created huge covered community spaces etc etc etc.
In my day (you know when I was a lad) the only coffee available on campus was instant in a white foam cup at some ridiculous price available from the 'refec'. well elec eng now sports not one but two coffee shops. Two coffee shops!
This one in the middle of the place.
Behind it through the glass windows was a tutorial room with students sitting in clusters and people with ... get this... fluro vests with 'tutor' printed on them.
To the left of the photo, two lecture rooms with glass walls.
How do these students work. The coffee right there tempting them. They can look through the glass walls and see it. And where do they get the money from. Ah yes I can answer that one - mum and dad.
Parked near the Dutton park end of the Green Bridge and walked toward electrical engineering.
Things have changed (progress?) since I was there.
The building has gone through a face lift. As well as sporting a mobile phone base station phallus, it appears to now be called the Prentice building or words to that effect. The tiny basement office that one used to go cap in hand to attempt to negotiate permission to dial in directly or to resolve some minor digital glitch has been replaced by a massive ground floor entrance. The big ground floor lecture theatre (what was its name) and the lower ground lecture theatre B18 are still there but have new numbers.
I walked through the old entrance and past that forgotten name lecture theatre and out the back door down past mining and met and mechanical engineering to electrical engineering. The power lab has been replaced with a superb modern building where the architects have created huge covered community spaces etc etc etc.
In my day (you know when I was a lad) the only coffee available on campus was instant in a white foam cup at some ridiculous price available from the 'refec'. well elec eng now sports not one but two coffee shops. Two coffee shops!
This one in the middle of the place.
Behind it through the glass windows was a tutorial room with students sitting in clusters and people with ... get this... fluro vests with 'tutor' printed on them.
To the left of the photo, two lecture rooms with glass walls.
How do these students work. The coffee right there tempting them. They can look through the glass walls and see it. And where do they get the money from. Ah yes I can answer that one - mum and dad.
SD Card Formatting problem
A very disappointing issue arose on ANZAC day. I gave Marcus our sports camera (Fake GoPro) and he attached it to the BGS banner. Problem was the 32GB SD card filled up very quickly.
Upon inspection I find that it is now reporting its capacity as 1.7GB. It's name is EVERIO_SD and it is formatted as FAT. Hmm I suspect I formatted it in a borrowed JVC Everio camcorder.
1 Try to use windows to format it.
I have put it into a windows PC and set it off to format it as NTFS.
Fail -> Still reports 1.72GB
2. Tried Windows PC to reformat as FAT32
Fail - still reports 1.72GB
3. try
https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/
this works. The result is 29.4GB of FAT32,
Used Win7 to reformat fast as NTFS.
Installed in our sports camera (Fake GoPro) and it anounced "card error". After a short pause all came good. I recorded half a minute of video. Had a look on the PC. It played back and when I looked at the disk properties, it stated FAT32.
Upon inspection I find that it is now reporting its capacity as 1.7GB. It's name is EVERIO_SD and it is formatted as FAT. Hmm I suspect I formatted it in a borrowed JVC Everio camcorder.
1 Try to use windows to format it.
I have put it into a windows PC and set it off to format it as NTFS.
Fail -> Still reports 1.72GB
2. Tried Windows PC to reformat as FAT32
Fail - still reports 1.72GB
3. try
https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/
this works. The result is 29.4GB of FAT32,
Used Win7 to reformat fast as NTFS.
Installed in our sports camera (Fake GoPro) and it anounced "card error". After a short pause all came good. I recorded half a minute of video. Had a look on the PC. It played back and when I looked at the disk properties, it stated FAT32.
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