Activator-type washing machine: technical specifics and selection rules

Despite the sincere affection of compatriots for drum washing units, they still have rivals.Not everyone is satisfied with an irrational permanent installation. The solid weight and impressive dimensions are annoying.

An activator-type washing machine is ready to become a worthy alternative to drum technology. Slightly forgotten, but still in demand equipment can serve well. The article we propose presents typical models, describes their technical characteristics, and lists their functionality.

Specifics of activator type machines

Few representatives of the older generation remember the nuances of using washing machines with an activator. From time to time they share memories of a blouse wrapped around an impeller or a sock jammed on the work disk.

Probably, these everyday troubles became the reason for the massive transition to equipment with a drum. Note that the new activator models do not have these disadvantages.

Oddly enough, residents of numerous states of America prefer the activator type. Let us not question their commitment. Let’s better understand what washing equipment in this category actually is and how it differs from the usual drum system.

Activator machines are machines in which the washing solution sets the working blade disk in motion. It is made of reinforced durable plastic. The blades are convex ribs, reminiscent of similar elements on the drums of machines that are well known to us.

In activator washing machines, water rotates with the laundry being processed and detergent. Rotation can be done in two directions, with or without pauses

By right and intended purpose, the disk is given the technical term “activator”. Most often it is located at the bottom of the washing machine tank, less often on its side wall. It can rotate either with pauses in one direction, or with pauses in two opposite directions, or with reversal, but without pauses in operation.

In the new generation of washing machines, the outdated paddle disk is replaced with an impeller. The working environment activated by it moves along the most efficient trajectory

Types of units with activator

Based on the number of tanks in the system, machines with an activator are divided into single-tank and double-tank varieties. The first option performs all operations specified by the manufacturer within a single tank. The second, as is clear from the definition, is equipped with two separate containers: in one of them washing is carried out, in the second – drying.

In addition to the tanks and activators already described, washing machines are provided with a relay or other similar device, with the help of which the operating period of the washing drum, the activator itself, the drying centrifuge and the pump that pumps out the liquid is set.

In the simplest models of machines, a level gauge is installed inside the tanks, designed to control the filling of the working cavity, taking into account the washing mode.

Based on the type of control systems, activator machines are divided into electromechanical and electronic. Mechanics are more affordable and more reliable in operation, because... It is not equipped with complex components or programming devices. Electronics are more expensive, more vulnerable to breakdowns, but much more convenient to use.

Based on the degree of automation, machines with an activator are conventionally divided into:

• The simplest models. These are machines with electromechanical control and V-belt transmission. They have a tank, an activator and a rudimentary type of time relay. Most models do not provide a spin, and if they do, it is a device with two rubberized rollers and a drive handle.
• Semi-automatic devices. Includes washing tub and spin dryer. The electric motors of the activator and centrifuge are driven by a time relay. The activator is activated through a V-belt drive, the centrifuge basket through an elastic coupling.
• Automatic machines. They come with one or two tanks. Perform laundry processing operations according to programs that take into account the type of fabric and degree of contamination. All processes in them are automated; there is an electronic control panel to select the required procedure.

Machines with an activator operated in the United States are connected to pipelines with hot and cold water. In them, as in the simplest models, there are no heating elements for preparing water for washing, which significantly reduces energy consumption.

In the simplest machines with an activator, only washing is performed by mechanical rotation of the working medium with laundry inside the tank. To start the wash, you just need to switch the relay toggle switch on the control panel. It is not necessary to connect them to the water supply system: it is easier to fill them with water through a hose, focusing on the level gauge.

Upon completion of the wash, the soapy water is drained through a hose connected to the bottom of the tank into the sewer. In automatic machines, the pumping process is stimulated by a pump. All models are equipped with filters to retain fabric lint, hair, animal fur, threads, etc.

Scope of equipment application

The specifics of installing and connecting washing machines with an activator are determined by the technical complexity of the units and the degree of contamination of the laundry. The machines, which most often include a drying chamber, weigh about 70–100 kg. They are installed and connected according to a stationary circuit for continuous operation.

Electromechanical protozoa and semi-automatic models weigh on average 10 – 25 kg, which is their undeniable advantage. Lightness is actually a guarantee of mobility, making it possible to take them with you out of town in the summer for use in the country, or to easily transport them to a new apartment for those who do not yet have permanent housing.

Lightweight washing equipment is a real godsend for young parents. It washes in literally a couple of tens of minutes.Using electromechanical washing machines with an activator, you can quickly and easily tidy up baby clothes and diapers, eliminate the formation of stubborn stains, and always have fresh washed clothes in stock.

Attractive due to their affordable prices, lightness that ensures ease of transportation, and the absence of the need for a mandatory connection to a water supply system, makes activator equipment indispensable in the private sector

Economic advantages and justified advantages

In addition to priority mobility and the ability to use activator machines without connecting to communications, there are a number of positive qualities that cannot be ignored, these are:

• Energy saving. Washing machine tanks are filled with already heated water, which significantly reduces costs. True, in the assortment offered for sale there are also models with heating elements, in this case the economic effect will come from the fact that a relatively small volume of water needs to be heated.
• Low water consumption. This is also a relative criterion. Only electromechanical varieties with a washing tank load of 1 - 4 kg of dry laundry consume little. Stationary machines with dryers do laundry like mini-laundries, and consume water according to their status.
• Undemanding to detergents. Electromechanical units with an activator “accept” any type of powder, including hand washing detergents. Loading them into foam-sensitive electronic equipment is not recommended.
• Reliability of operation. In the assembly of machines with an electromechanical control type, elementary mechanical devices and components are used. Situations that can disable them rarely arise.
• Extremely short washing time. The period for processing laundry in equipment with an activator varies from 5 to 30 minutes. Equipment owners have the opportunity to choose the optimal time mode and run the machine several times without the long breaks that electronic types require.

A strong argument in favor of purchasing a simple washing machine with an activator is its very attractive price, ranging from 1.5 to 7.5 thousand Russian rubles, and its wide range of uses. This is truly autonomous equipment that does not require water supplies from a centralized system.

The washing tank of electromechanical models can be filled with literally any detergent, including powders intended for hand washing.

List of operational deficiencies

The indisputable advantages of washing machines with an activator do not deprive them of their disadvantages, the list of which includes:

• Limitations in washing modes. Owners of electromagnetic models have only a timer at their disposal, with which they set the washing and drying period if the equipment is equipped with a centrifuge. Electronically controlled cars also have few programs.
• Top loading. Cars with an activator are produced exclusively top loading, which is why they cannot be built into furniture kitchen sets.
• Need for manual work. Activator washing technology requires the participation of owners in the spinning and rinsing processes. If the unit is not connected to water supply lines, then temperature preparation and water supply are also carried out manually.

If a machine with an activator is used in a private, poorly equipped house, then both the collection and drainage of water will be quite labor-intensive.It will first need to be collected in a separate container, then disposed of in a drainage pit or drain. In addition, the equipment cannot be started while the owners are away; it is necessary to constantly monitor the washing.

Note that restrictions in the choice of modes are characteristic only of old electromechanical models, whose responsibilities do not include tidying up delicate linen and cashmere sweaters. New developments take into account the wishes of consumers; it is possible to wash delicate and dyed items.

To prevent electromechanical models from becoming clogged during washing and draining, you must use mesh bags or thin cloth in which to wrap things dangerous to the equipment.

Typical options for washing machines with an activator

Let's consider the specifics of the design and operation of washing machines with an activator mechanism for the movement of the working medium on the models most in demand in everyday life. We will distribute them into categories corresponding to technical complexity. Let's start disassembling with a typical representative of washing machines without a spin cycle, then move on to semi-automatic and automatic.

All types of machines are required to wash and perform the functions of rinsing, spinning, drying, if they are specified by the manufacturer, without damaging the fabric structure.

Model #1 - “Baby-2”

A compact machine belonging to the series units of the “Malyutka” brand, designed for washing a small batch of laundry at home. Load weight should not exceed 1 kg dry.

28 liters are poured into the washing and rinsing tank, the washing duration does not exceed 5 minutes, and rinsing can be done for no longer than 4.2 minutes. The time interval between rinsing and washing is at least 3 minutes.

The “old-timer” in the segment of activator washing machines presented on the domestic market is a series of equipment with the Malyutka logo.

The laundry loaded into the tank is processed under the influence of a circulating soap solution that penetrates between the fibers and pores of the fabric. The washing container includes a plastic tank and a similar lid. The activator and the devices that trigger it are mounted in the side wall of the unit.

The blade disk is driven by an electric motor, to the shaft of which it is attached. Electrical equipment is inserted into the washing tank through a flange; a sealing collar is used to seal it. The electric motor casing is equipped with a cap with a switch fixed on it.

The activator for Malyutka brand washing machines is built into the side wall. The electric motor is located outside the washing tank, which significantly increases its safety.

Before washing heavily soiled cotton laundry in the Malyutka-2 machine, it is recommended to soak it in a washing solution; stubborn stains should be thoroughly soaped. If you want to wash thin lace items or wardrobe items with fringe in a simple machine, it is better to place them in a net or bag made of thin fabric.

It is not recommended to pour water with a temperature above 80º C into the washing tank; minimum heating of 30 - 40º C is used for processing clothes made of wool and viscose. If you are washing clothes that are not too heavily soiled, it is possible to reduce the period of washing.

Washing is done in the simplest way. In a tank filled with water at a suitable temperature pour in the powder, strictly observing the dosage. The procedure is activated by a toggle switch located on the control panel.Upon completion of the wash, absolutely clean water, heated to 40º C, is filled into the tank and rinsing is started.

Washing equipment of a similar category includes all modifications of machines of the brands “Malyutka”, “Fairy”, SM with the logo “Oka”, “Princess”, “Snow White”, “Slavada”. There are the simplest models in the Mabe product lines, "Bosch" and a number of foreign companies.

The principle of operation of washing machines of this class is clearly depicted in the video:

Model #2 – Renova WS-40PET

A semi-automatic machine with a Renova brand activator of the WS-40PET series is an excellent option for country farms that are not connected to centralized utilities and country houses.

The unit weighs only 12.7 kg, which is extremely attractive for seasonal use. The list of justified advantages includes the neat dimensions of the machine and ease of operation.

Let's not ignore the moderate power consumption of 360 W. You can load 4 kg of laundry into the tank, for which there are already 2 modes for processing. The duration of the procedure is set using a timer.

The activator rotates in a reverse pattern. The controls are simple, all the prompts for starting the systems are on the control panel, it’s hard not to understand them.

To perform its immediate duties, Renova is equipped with two tanks: one for washing, the second for drying. The washing compartment can be opened during the operation, the centrifuge is blocked to prevent the ejection of spun laundry and injury to the owners.

The one-piece body is made of heavy-duty reinforced plastic, i.e. it is definitely not threatened by rusting and the appearance of oxides. Microorganisms will hardly be able to linger on the walls, mold will not grow, or bad smell. They can wash off any dirt from it without any problems.

Please note that you need to get used to operating an activator semi-automatic machine. It is possible that at first there may be problems with spinning in a centrifuge in terms of spoiled things. It is better to start mastering the technique with “gentle” modes, after testing which you can safely move on to more stringent measures.

During operation, light equipment naturally vibrates quite strongly. At this time, the drain hose may spontaneously drop and drain the water from the tank.

The Renova line of double-tank washing machines includes models designed to wash clothes weighing from 3 to 8 kg. Modifications differ in weight, body dimensions and power consumption

Foreign competing semi-automatic machines from Indesit or Bosch do not have such problems. They, of course, weigh more and cost the same, but for stability they are equipped with a steel frame. The design includes shock absorbers and noise absorption systems.

Renova has simply an abundance of “rivals”. In the Russian segment, these are two-tank models with the logos “Fairy”, “Cinderella”, “Siberia”, “Assol”, “Saturn”, etc. Abroad, portable semi-automatic devices are also produced by many companies, for example, South Korean LG, their neighbors “Daewoo”, the Chinese “Supra” and “Haier”, the Americans “Maytag”, the Japanese company “National”, the international concern “Mabe” and many others.

The trade line of the South Korean washing equipment brand “Daewoo” includes units with an air-bubble operating system.The following video will introduce you to the features of their device and operational advantages:

Model #3 - Frigidaire MLCE10ZEMW

High-end appliances require connection to hot and cold water lines. Washing machines with the Frigidaire logo are excellent at washing both coarse fabrics such as jeans and fine silk underwear. One housing contains a washing chamber and a centrifuge for drying.

The machine is not equipped with a water heating system, which can be bluntly assessed as an advantage of the technology. There are no thermal devices in the design: sensors, blocks, heating elements that constantly fail.

This fact cannot but please our fellow countrymen and residents of other CIS countries who are familiar with the negative consequences of an unstable electricity supply. There is a device for adjusting the volume of water depending on the weight of the loaded laundry.

To prevent overflow while filling the tank, there is a water level control system. The machine is prevented from tipping over by an imbalance control system, which ensures stability of the machine during spinning.

The duration of operations performed by the Frigidaire mini-laundry has been extremely reduced. The washing cycle takes a maximum of 30 minutes, the spin cycle takes a maximum of 40 minutes. The temperature for washing and rinsing is selected in four different modes. While the centrifuge is operating, the spin chamber lid is locked.

A specific feature of this washing machine is the tri-active movement of the washing system components. The tank turns only in a clockwise direction, the activator moves with pauses both against it and in its direction.

As a result of the use of three motion trajectories, the mechanical impact on the working environment is significantly enhanced, and as a result, the quality of washing improves. At the same time, things will not get wrapped up and the activator will jam.

Filling or pouring, as well as loading laundry, is done from above. The lid of the washing tank can be easily opened to monitor what is happening. To select the optimal washing mode, there are 4 different positions. The drying mode can be programmed or set using a timer.

The machine has a washing tub and a drying chamber, operates in four different temperature modes, rinses and washes items made from delicate and easily wrinkled fabrics

The bottom of the machine with the activator is equipped with a self-cleaning filter, which carefully collects fibers, stitch threads, feathers, and fluff separated from the laundry. The filter is connected to a system for collecting and removing contaminants into the sewer through the bottom.

Materials that are resistant to abrasion and aggressive environments are used in the manufacture of the tank and moving parts.They are not afraid of corrosion and mechanical stress.

The Frigidaire two-tank automatic machine has practically no competitors. Activator models with one tank and top loading are available in AEG, "Mabe", "Bosch", "Whirlpool».

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The promotional video will introduce you to the proven advantages of miniature washing machines with an activator:

It cannot be said that activator-type washing machines are really in demand in the CIS countries. For a long time no one has considered them as the main unit for home washing. But they can be an excellent help for young families and fans of country life in the summer.

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