As some may recall I reported a similiar situation with my neighbours
Neptune washer a short while ago. I am still attempting to resolve the issue
through formal channels however it would appear Maytag has shut the door on
further communications with me. I am in the process of having Industry
Canada's engineering group evaluate the severity of the problem after
submitting interference measurement data. Maytag's customer support has been
nothing but evasive and contradictory in their responses to me. At one stage
they claimed to have FCC type acceptance for the Neptune product line. When
pressed for the compliance number they simply refused to provide it. All
matters are being handled at this point through the Federal Dept. Apparently
Maytag's Canadian tech representative has been in touch with I.C. however I
do not know the details of this exchange at present. It looks to be a
up-hill battle but be sure I plan to ride this one to the end. Saying that
however, I concur with Bob and others, much of the common mode noise riding
on the neutral and hot side conductor can be removed through the application
of a combination of type-31 bead ferrite's and the larger (2.5") torroid
choke filters attached to the ac-line cord. I've found that this will reduce
the harmonic interference generated by the motor controller by 80-95%
(depending on band) As a test, I've built and wound a dualcore torroid
filter onto the a/c line (email for part details) and it's proven to works
very well in spite of being external to the washer enclosure. This allows
for the removal of some of the additional Snap-ON split bead ferrites which
otherwise start to look a bit messy. As well, I have installed a APC
11-outlet Surge Protector (PF11VT3) on the washer's line. This unit is
spec'ed to have a certain degree of RFI filtering (per leg), however I have
not had opportunity to test the unit in/out of service on the neighbours
machine to determine the degree to which it attenuates at the lower hf
frequencies.
I had planned on reporting back to my original thread on the rfi reflector
however this post was opportune for an update. It would appear we're going
to start seeing allot more of this noise sources popping up. Given the poor
response from the manufacture, I figured I'd better have a home grown
solution in place. God help you if you run into a neighbour (or xyl) who
doesn't want their expensive new washing machine messed with.
Kirb, VE6IV
-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com]On
Behalf Of Robert & Linda McGraw K4TAX
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 8:42 PM
To: Don Rasmussen
Cc: Tentec
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Whirlpool Duet RFI
Here's a response from someone that has a Maytag and got it fixed. Not
through the assistance of Maytag however. I'd suspect that the same
approach will work on the Duet as they use the same concept in motor control
systems.
73
Bob, K4TAX
OK . IT IS A MAYTAG NEPTUNE.
FIRST {name/call withheld} SENT ME A TOROID WHICH I RAN THE LINE CORD THRU
AS MANY TIMES AS I COULD.
THIS HELPED TREMENDOUSLY.
EVENTUALLY {name/call withheld} WHO WAS A MAYTAG SERVICEMAN SENT A COUPLE OF
FSP PARTS ONE OF WHICH WAS AN IN LINE TOROID WHICH YOU INSTALL IN THE LINE
CORD INSIDE THE MACHINE AND ANOTHER WHICH YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO INSTALL IN THE
Y NEUTRAL OF THE 3 PHASE MOTOR IF NECESSARY. I NEVER DID INSTALL THE ONE IN
THE NEUTRAL AND THE NOISE IS 99 % ELIMINATED .
I NEVER NOTICE THE NOISE UNLESS I REALLY LISTEN FOR IT IN FACT I PROBABLY
HAVEN'T EVEN NOTICED IT RECENTLY.
73
RAY
I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY HELP FROM MAYTAG FACTORY PERSONNEL AND/ OR MY LOCAL
DEALER.
>
----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Rasmussen" <wb8yqj@yahoo.com>
To: <RMcGraw@Blomand.Net>
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 6:02 PM
Subject: Fwd: Re: Whirlpool Duet RFI
> Thanks so much Bob,
>
> This is a fairly serious matter at my QTH. I am just
> glad it's me that had control of this issue, that a
> neighbor didn't buy one. Here is an email I got from
> the ham that wrote the eHam piece.
>
> Thanks again,
> Don
>
>
> Re: [TenTec] Noisy Receiver
> from [Robert & Linda McGraw K4TAX] [Permanent
> Link][Original]
>
> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> <tentec@contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Noisy Receiver
> From: Robert & Linda McGraw K4TAX
> <RMcGraw@Blomand.Net>
> Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> <tentec@contesting.com>
> Date: Fri, 09 Sep 2005 17:43:51 -0500
> List-post: <mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
>
> Very normal for the Duet machines (and others) to
> produce RFI. The control
> system is a chopper developing a 3 phase control for
> the motor.
>
> Whirlpool is aware of the problem and I understand
> will supply a filter if
> they are pressed hard enough. Most dealer service
> staffs do not understand
> the magnitude or the technical aspect of the issue.
> Whirlpool says they are
> not liable for the problem as their control system
> does not require
> certification under Part 15.
>
> To fix it yourself, add some ferrite donuts to the
> line cord very close to
> the machine. This will require a bit of surgery on
> the cord, perhaps to
> remove it from the machine, wrap the cord through the
> donut several times
> and then reconnect the cord inside the machine.
> Typically, it is conducted
> RFI which is radiated by the house wiring.
>
> I'll inquire of a specific incidence which was
> corrected.
>
> 73
> Bob, K4TAX
>
>
>
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