what we miss is a universal control computer to control those washing machines. It is very often that part that breaks and that is "so expensive that you'd better replace the whole machine".

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michaelmior 13 hours ago | parent | next [-]

With a little work, it's sometimes surprising how easy things are to repair. My TV died a few years ago and just refused to power on. I don't really know much about electronics, but I assumed since there were no lights of any kind that it was probably a bad power supply. I opened it up and it turns out the power supply is a separate board with an easily detachable cable. I ordered a new one for less than $40 on eBay by looking at the part number and it only took a few minutes to replace and saved me several hundred dollars.

I'd imagine someone more familiar with electronics possibly could have figured out what specific component was wrong and replaced only that for an even smaller fraction of the cost.

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userbinator an hour ago | parent | next [-]

I'd imagine someone more familiar with electronics possibly could have figured out what specific component was wrong and replaced only that for an even smaller fraction of the cost.

Probably electrolytic capacitors (usually in the tens of cents each, or less.) They are the #1 suspect in any electronics as they have the most well-known and finite lifespan of all parts. They became particularly infamous for failing when this happened: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague

The term has even created a noun in other languages: https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kondensatorpest

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semi-extrinsic 11 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

As long as the small PCB is $40 it's fine. I had a central vacuum fail like that a couple of years ago, and the small PCB would have cost $350.

The PCB had already been replaced twice during the warranty period. Googled the major components and they were $3 - $5 a piece, just a couple of half bridge rectifiers, resistors and diodes.

Didn't want to risk a fire from a DIY job, which would have definitely voided my insurance, so I spent $400 on a new central vacuum unit (from a different brand).

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VTimofeenko 12 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Power supplies may fail in a cascading manner. Unless it's something like a fuse that was blown due to a known external event, one broken component can take out a couple of friends with it.

If you can get a new board for 40$, that's probably the best course of action.

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jahewson 11 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

This would be a $1000 custom part in a Miele appliance though.

	▲	thenthenthen 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		This. My miele door closed detector sensor broke. The part was 700 euros

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wiz21c 15 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

ah... https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-universal-washing-mac...

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Scubabear68 14 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It is still worthwhile to try to troubleshoot something like a washing machine these days before calling someone to service it, or buying new.

We just had a ~8 year old washer start dying with an error code, with digging it turned out it was the hall effect sensor on the drum motor that needed replacing. Cost $12 and change and was over nighted from Amazon.

What would have been nice if we got a detailed diagnostic code and not just "FE" on the front panel.

	▲	jojobas 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Yeah, and for service manuals to not have this "DO NOT LEAVE WITH OWNER" notes.

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cbm-vic-20 14 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I fixed a malfunctioning refrigerator by replacing the control board, which happened to be a PIC16-based device used by many brands. This design is as close to "universal" as you can get, and this generic board was around 20% the price of the official replacement part.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/152763501102

	▲	userbinator 40 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		That's because many different brands are actually made by Whirlpool. They're like the GM of the appliance industry.

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Towaway69 13 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I replaced the heating element - twice - and the control board for the motor on my washing machine.

Never needed to touch the controller board, so my experience is different.

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Aurornis 15 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I’ve been having good luck buying pieces of part-outs on eBay for old appliances.

Someone will take a machine apart and list all of the pieces individually. It’s a fraction of the price of a new one. It’s a used part so it’s a gamble, but they can be so cheap I just buy two and have a spare.

	▲	kjs3 13 hours ago \| parent [-]
		If you live in a reasonably large metro area (at least in the US), there is an ecosystem of used appliance places that will often sell you parts from parted out machines. I've saved silly amounts of money this way. Dunno is that's 'better' than eBay, but you can at least inspect the part for obvious defect.

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mkoubaa 7 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I'd rather have the machine use compute running open source firmware from my tower in the next room

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8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

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