In the modern world there are a huge number of household appliances that make our life much more comfortable. A washing machine is a household appliance that can fail for a variety of reasons. However, most types of breakdowns can be eliminated on their own without resorting to the help of professionals whose cost of services is quite expensive. As practice shows, the most common problem is engine failure due to its physical deterioration, voltage drop or any other factors. The problem with this is that the SMA motor is quite expensive, so many people are interested in the question of how to check the health of the washing machine engine. On how to perform diagnostics and eliminate not very complex malfunctions, you will learn further.
Modern varieties of CMA engines
Legacy washing machines with a centrifuge were replaced by newer models assembled on the basis of modern engines, which are more susceptible to physical wear and tear and often fail. Therefore, before you talk about how to check the engine of the washing machine, you need to understand what types exist. Today, one of the following types of motors can be installed in the SMA:
- Asynchronous motor: considered obsolete and found in older washers. It has a very simple design and fairly quiet operation.
- Collector motor: the most common type that is installed in the vast majority of modern washing machines. The principle of operation is based on putting the drum in motion with a belt. It has a more complex structure compared to asynchronous motors, so repairing it with your own hands is much more difficult.
- Direct drive motor: A modern version of the motors for washing machines, which attaches directly to the drum. It has the highest efficiency, however, and is quite expensive.
Each type of engine has individual design features, so the diagnosis and repair are significantly different. So that you can determine the malfunction of the motor in your SMA model, you need to talk about how to check the engine of the washing machine in each case.
Belt Drive Malfunction Detection
Most modern washing machines, which can be purchased at a specialty store, have collector motors. They have a relatively simple design and are very easy to diagnose and repair. However, in order for you to identify a malfunction in your AGR, you must know how to check the motor of the washing machine. To do this, you will need to get inside the device and independently find out the serviceability of all nodes, then replace the worn parts.
Diagnostics of engines with direct drive
This type of engine is used exclusively in Samsung washing machines. Despite the fact that it has a rather complex design, nevertheless, the engineers provided for the possibility of diagnostics at home. How to check the engine of a Samsung washing machine, you ask?
Everything is very simple! You just need to go to the appropriate subsection of the menu, after which the system itself will diagnose all the AGR nodes and display the corresponding code on which you can determine the type of breakdown. However, it is immediately worth noting that in this way a small malfunction can be diagnosed. More serious cases require the call of qualified specialists.
Electric motor check
The best-selling in our country are CMA Indesit. They use an electric motor with a very complex structure. Nevertheless, each person will be able to independently diagnose and repair the motor, if he knows how to check the engine of the washing machine with a multimeter. To do this, you will need to remove the back and front covers of the case, and then dismantle the unit, after disconnecting it from the power supply. Then you should check the reliability of the connection of all nodes, and then apply power to the motor. If it works, then the reason for the inoperability of the AGR is something else. If you are not sure that you know how to check the engine on the Indesit washing machine yourself, then in this case it is better to contact specialists.
Types of damage
There are quite a few different types of motor failures, but most often the problem is related to the following reasons:
- breakage of electric brushes;
- damage to the rotor or stator winding;
- failure of the collector lamellas.
If you know how to check the engine of a washing machine, then any of these malfunctions can be detected and eliminated by your own hands without contacting a service center, and at the same time save money.
Replacing electric brushes
Electric brushes are special tubes made of graphite, through which current is supplied. Most often, they break as a result of loading too much laundry into the tank, as well as physical wear. It is very simple to fix this malfunction, and a set of spare parts is quite cheap. The main thing is to choose the right brush for your model of washing machine.
Replacing lamellas
So now you know how to check the engine of an Indesit washing machine. What to do if during the diagnostic process it is discovered that the lamellas are out of order? In the event of a breakdown of small complexity, the malfunction can be eliminated by grinding the collector and lamellas with sandpaper. After grinding, it is very important to thoroughly clean everything so that there is no dust, dirt or metal chips left anywhere. If the breakdown is very complex and it is impossible to fix it on your own at home due to the lack of special equipment, then in this case, you should turn to professionals for help.
Rotor or stator winding damage
If you notice that the washing machine does not work at full capacity, then the reason most likely is the winding of the rotor or stator.
Failure can occur as a result of interruptions in the electrical network, overheating of the unit or physical damage to the winding. You can detect a malfunction using a tester, ringing the resistance between the lamellas. It should be in the range from 0.1 to 0.4 Ohm. If the readings are lower or higher than normal, then the problem really is the winding. It is necessary to eliminate this malfunction as soon as possible, since power outages during the operation of the SMA can lead to failure of other electrical components, the cost of which can be prohibitive.