Suggestion for washer/dryer machine to be modified for use on a boat
Hi all!
I am looking for a suggestion of a model of washing machine where what i want to do will be possible. I am looking for something not too big (6-8kgs max)
Due to the low mains power availability on a boat, I cannot use the electric heating elements, however I have a gas boiler (and engine) to provide hot water as well as a diesel heater to provide hot air.
So i would like to modify this washing machine to bypass the electric elements, run straight from hot water and the drier to run from the air piped from the diesel heater
If cars are anything to go by these days i would assume washing machines would get upset when you go diconnecting their elements! So i am looking for something that wont mind.
Solution Summary
AI-generated from this discussion
This thread was marked as solved. Here's a summary of the problem and the fix, generated from the discussion below.
Using a washing machine on a boat without its electric heater
- The problem
- The user wanted a 6-8kg washing machine, and possibly a dryer, that could be modified for boat use by bypassing the washer’s electric heating element, feeding it with hot water, and supplying the dryer with hot air from a diesel heater.
- Likely cause
- The accepted reply states that disconnecting the heating element on a modern washing machine would likely stop it running and may trigger an error code. A machine that allows manual temperature selection down to 0, or has a cold-wash cycle, was suggested as the most suitable option.
- What fixed it
- Do not bypass the washing machine’s heater. Instead, look for a model with selectable wash temperature down to 0 or a dedicated cold-wash programme so it can operate without calling for internal heating. No workable dryer modification was confirmed.
- Checks to try
- Check whether the washing machine allows manual temperature selection to 0.
- Check whether the machine has a cold-wash cycle.
Safety: Do not bypass the heating circuit or other safety-related systems. Further diagnosis should be carried out by a suitably qualified appliance engineer.
1 Answer
Hello there. As if you disconnect the heating element I would imagine all modern washing machines will fail to run, most should bring up an error code. The best suggestion I can think of apart from checking with boating enthusiast forums as to how other people manage, is to buy a washing machine where you can manually select the wash temperature. If you can find one where you can turn the wash temperature down to 0 then it should function perfectly okay. Alternatively if there is one with a cold wash cycle that would work.
I honestly can't see how you could get a tumble dryer to run from air piped from a diesel heater but you sound like you have a plan.
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