What is an inverter washing machine

Inverter washing machines are a class of innovative household appliances, the main difference of which is the inverter motor.

For the first time such a machine was released by the South Korean brand LG, since then the demand for it has begun to grow and today, in any household appliance store, consultants will first of all recommend you an inverter washing machine.

Global brands such as Panasonic, Sumsung, Bosch, etc. have started making washing machines with inverter motors. The popularity of this technique is growing every day due to its cost-effectiveness during operation, as well as the high quality of washing.

Principle of operation

Important! An inverter motor differs from a commutator motor in that it does not require the installation of brushes and is provided with a direct drive rather than a belt drive.

Due to the fact that an inverter (frequency converter) is provided, the required frequency of the electric current is achieved. Because of this, the most precise control of the speed of rotation of the washing drum is carried out.

The operating principle is to invert the current. The motor speed is controlled by a frequency converter. The voltage is immediately converted by it, and only then is it supplied to the stator. This feature of the inverter motor allows you to carefully control the entire washing process.The brushless design of the motor provides spinning at very high speeds, which is why the laundry is practically dry at the end of the wash.

The selection of the desired program is carried out by mechanical or electronic control. The first option involves the use of mechanical regulators, or a more modern option - buttons, which extend the life of the control panel. The second option is much more convenient, because you just press a single start button, and the machine will do everything for you, from weighing the laundry to determining the time required for washing.

Advantages

The main advantages of inverter washing machines include:

• The service life of the equipment is much longer;
• Due to the fact that there are no brushes that rub against each other, uninterrupted operation of the motor is ensured and wear is prevented;
• Improving the quality of washing. Since vibrations of the machine are minimized, as a result, the laundry is better distributed inside and cleaned more thoroughly;
• Economical operation due to reduced energy costs;
• The spin phase is carried out at high speed;
• Washes with a minimum of noise;
• The inverter motor accurately ensures all specified parameters.

Flaws

Before purchasing one or another version of a washing machine for your home, you should carefully consider and weigh not only the pros, but also the cons. Although there are few disadvantages of inverter-type machines, you should know them.

The disadvantages include:

• High cost when compared with conventional machines.
• Before choosing equipment, you always need to think about the event of a breakdown and possible replacement of parts. And in the case of an inverter machine, these components are not cheap.
• It is rarely mentioned, but the inverter motor is also characterized by increased sensitivity to voltage changes.

Inverter motor in a washing machine, what is it?

The main distinctive feature of the inverter motor is the presence of an inverter, due to which the speed and frequency of rotation of the drum are carefully regulated, and the current is converted from direct to alternating. The inverter motor consists of a stationary part with a set of coils, which is attached to a plastic tank and a moving part - a flywheel, in the housing of which magnets are located. A plastic adapter (insert) is provided in the middle of the flywheel to eliminate the possibility of the magnetic field influencing the washing machine drum.

The rotation rate of the inverter motor is determined by the voltage, which is first converted by the inverter and then supplied to the stator. According to the declared characteristics from the manufacturers, the inverter engine will last about 15 years.

Inverter drive in a washing machine, what is it?

The washing machine is also selected according to the type of drive. It can be belt or direct inverter.

The developers of the inverter drive decided to abandon outdated belt technology by combining the drum and motor into one unit. This improved the workflow.

Due to the fact that the motor was attached directly to the drum shaft, the entire system was dynamically balanced. The resulting system was called Direct Drive or direct drive inverter motor.

There are not many models with direct drive in stores, they are all from the LG brand, Samsung also has several models in its assortment, plus 1-2 more manufacturers and that’s it.Thanks to the introduction of direct inverter drive, modern washing machines now have better control over the speed, direction of rotation and accuracy of the drum movement.

Important! The motor is mounted on the same axis as the drum, this helps reduce vibration and noise. Mechanical load and wear of parts are also significantly reduced with direct drive.

Noise level and power consumption

Although for most buyers the noise level is not so important when evaluating different models before purchasing. But there are also users for whom complete silence during washing is fundamentally important. After all, there may be an option when a child is frightened by noise and noise and does not fall asleep. Therefore, they pay attention to inverter washing machines that operate almost silently, without noise or vibration.

Important! Most of the noise that accompanies washing is produced not by the motor itself, but by the pump and drum, which rotate intensively, especially during the spin cycle. The inverter motor operates without humming, but may make certain sounds.

Regarding saving electrical energy, this factor also attracts the attention of buyers, and according to observations it is about 20%. In addition, inverter machines have a useful auto-shutdown function, which also saves energy. Due to the fact that brushless motors are used, the wash spins at a fairly high speed, and the housewife takes out the laundry almost dry.

In addition to the characteristics of the design itself and technical features, there are also operational nuances. Inverter washing machines should be installed exclusively on flat surfaces, even without subtle slopes. Powder or other detergent should be used exclusively with the “automatic” mark. As with any other washing machine, you need to give it a little rest, and not start the next wash immediately after finishing. It's better to wait at least a couple of hours.

Also, before buying an inverter washing machine, carefully read all the characteristics, weigh all the pros and cons. Not all benefits may be important to you. For example, a more thorough spinning threatens that things will wear out faster and lose their original presentation. Therefore, first of all, decide for yourself whether you want such an innovative machine or give preference to a regular one.