Re: [RFI] Washing machine RFI question

["Leigh L. Klotz, Jr." <Leigh@WA5ZNU.org>]

Dale and all,
The high bit is that now someone at Whirlpool is talking to me instead 
of reading a script.

Here are the details:

Changing the ground type (removing bonding, switching to solid instead 
of braid, etc.) didn't make a difference.
I did, however, switch to using battery-operated consumer radios to 
better locate the noise, and to show there was no issue with my amateur 
station.

There are three types of noise:
1. Fairly broad noise coming from the switching power supply in the 
control unit.
2. Discrete noise coming from the switching power supply, eminating from 
the plastic control panel.
3. Bands of discrete frequencies every 17Khz or so, tighly spaced there, 
when the motor is running, which change based on motor speed.

I have images of #1 and #2 at http://wa5znu.org/2005/01/duet/noise/

I used a Sony AM/FM Boombox and found that the majority of the noise is 
coming from tthe control panel, both front and on top.  Little, if any, 
noise comes from the power cord.  In fact, it's pretty quiet right next 
to the sides of the washer.

So I called Whirlpool and they assured me that they would send someone 
who was capable of dealing with the problem.

Whirlpool's service people were scheduled to come out yesterday between 
1 and 5pm but called at 3:30 when the caller ID said "SEARS" I got a 
sinking feeling.
At least the guy was honest enough to say he couldn't deal with it.

So I called today and waited on hold about 45 minutes.  I explained the 
problem again and they said "Our technical support people say that the 
control panel and washer will just do that and even changing a new 
control board and motor won't help."  So I asked for the FCC ID number 
for its Part 15B unintentional radiator and in response I got "Dave," a 
supervisor.  Dave and I talked for a while and he said he would go back 
to the engineering group with the data I have and try to find out what's 
up.  I told him I thought that their control panel was unshielded and 
perhaps they had overlooked Part 15(b) compliance.  I sent him the 
http://wa5znu.org/2005/01/duet/noise/ and told him that I would like 
their help in finding out whether their design or my unit is meeting the 
regulations or not.  He said that they have only three products with 
electronic controls and that this unit is designed in "North America" 
but manufactured in Germany.  "This particular SKU is not sold in 
Germany" he said, when I asked if perhaps it was supposed to be CE 
compliant as well as FCC compliant and they'd removed CE required filtering.

More news as it develops.

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