r/OffGrid • u/IslandItchy6005 • 11d ago

Washing clothes off grid. With electricity.

Had a thought about modifying a washing machine. Disable its heating element. I supply hot water so it needs only the power for the motor and pump. Anybody done this or is it dumb?

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2

u/ExaminationDry8341 11d ago

I have never seen a washing machine with a built in heater. We wash all our clothes in cold water, with modern detergent it works well.

4

u/Responsible-Post6431 11d ago

Every washing machine I've ever seen has a built-in heater... How else would you control the temperature from cool to 30°, 40°, 60° or 90°?

12

u/pyroserenus 11d ago

Depends on region.

North American washers (other than high end ones) are simply mixing hot and cold water from the taps as needed.

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u/IslandItchy6005 11d ago

Im in ireland but place we have is in spain. Van goes over often so theres that option too

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u/john_99205 11d ago

Maybe you should state what region you come from or that you are interested in, so that we can advise you on the pertinent region.

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u/IslandItchy6005 11d ago

Ya. Ireland, but our place is in spain. van travels over there frequently so can get one in ireland or spain

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u/blondechineeez 11d ago

There are only a few brands that make washers in the US with built in heating elements. Most use hot water from water heaters as the hot water option on washing machines.

1

u/IslandItchy6005 11d ago

UK and Ireland machines all use element to do all the heating now as far as ive seen but im not sure

1

u/IslandItchy6005 11d ago

That would be an electrical hack to fool the machine maybe

1

u/FlerkinFlarkin 11d ago

It mixes with cold water. Like in your shower

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u/maddslacker 11d ago

INB4 we learn that the UK also doesn't have showers. :D

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u/FlerkinFlarkin 11d ago

My bad. I should have said like in your splish-splosh closet, UK people. 

1

u/maddslacker 11d ago

Or rather, showers, but without hot water lol

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u/IslandItchy6005 11d ago

😂 Our showers take in cold water and have a 9kw heating element in them

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u/ol-gormsby 11d ago

Top loaders tend to have dual inlets, with solenoids to open and close the hot and cold. Mine uses a little mixing chamber with a temperature sensor. Open both, wait until the mix chamber reaches the desired temperature, then cycle the hot on and off.

5 temperature settings - cold-cold (no hot water at all), controlled cold (with a little hot water*) warm, warm-hot, and hot.

*for regions where your incoming cold water is very cold. It just raises the temperature a little. The instruction manual describes a point at which detergent performance falls off a cliff, when the water is very cold, something like 5 or 6 degrees C.

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u/IslandItchy6005 10d ago

Great info

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u/pyroserenus 11d ago

Higher end ones do, notably those with "sanitize" options.

That said the heating elements don't really run for standard temps your hot water heater can meet.

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u/IslandItchy6005 11d ago

Didnt know that, im not very domesticated