Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Helpful Answer
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 20 replies
  • Subscribers 36 subscribers
  • Views 2356 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

Toddler in washing machine

ebee

I have been told, third hand. A toddler apparently has a habit of climbing into a washing machine and closing the door behind them.

I would have thought that this possibility would have been designed out by the manufacturer.

I will probably have a chance to witness this during the next week or so.

Potential dangers are obvious, especially with a slightly older sibling about.

I would advise the parents to change washing machines/Keep machine unplugged when not in use. I know that this in reality will not happen.

So, is there a sort of "one shot adaptor" that could be plugged in to the socket and the machine plugged into it. switch washer to on then nothing happens till a "one shot" button is pressed and it will de-latch.

I remember years ago, a plumbing wholesaler around here, sold "one shot switches" for immersion heaters. It needed the wiring split and another wire adding to the cylinder stat and this enabled a mains relay to hold in via the thermostat and once the cylinder heated up it caused a dropout  therefore the tank cylinder would heat up once only unless the button was pressed again. I do remember examining one and the relay coil was powered by the stat, a resistor and a capacitor in series I think. They seemed to work in actual practice and apparently were intended mostly for dual heater cylinders with the remaining heater & stat wired in the conventional way maybe on off peak supply.

Off course the washing machine situation would require such relay or whatever to hold in whilst some current drawing and latch out on nil current.

Parents
  • 0
    ebee said:
    So, is there a sort of "one shot adaptor" that could be plugged in to the socket and the machine plugged into it. switch washer to on then nothing happens till a "one shot" button is pressed and it will de-latch.

    Washing machines usually require a complex sequence of buttons after closing the door, before they will start. The door 'interlock' then prevents the door being opened until the cycle is complete (even if power goes off).

    However, tumble dryers are not the same. You can open the door part way through a cycle (because the drum rotates much more slowly it stops almost immediately the door opens), and then you used to be able to shut the door and it would recommence automatically. HOWEVER, a number of years ago, the feature you describe is built into tumble dryers now, so you have to push a button after closing the door, to re-start the machine - there's an electronic latch that keeps the power on if both the door is closed and the button is pressed, releasing when the door is opened.

    However, neither of these mechanisms would be effective, if an adult or older child didn't notice a child (or a cat) had climbed into the machine and fallen asleep. But then it's the adult or older child who has caused the machine to start with the child (or cat) inside.

    The recommendation therefore would be to keep the child away from the machines when they are unsupervised.

Reply
  • 0
    ebee said:
    So, is there a sort of "one shot adaptor" that could be plugged in to the socket and the machine plugged into it. switch washer to on then nothing happens till a "one shot" button is pressed and it will de-latch.

    Washing machines usually require a complex sequence of buttons after closing the door, before they will start. The door 'interlock' then prevents the door being opened until the cycle is complete (even if power goes off).

    However, tumble dryers are not the same. You can open the door part way through a cycle (because the drum rotates much more slowly it stops almost immediately the door opens), and then you used to be able to shut the door and it would recommence automatically. HOWEVER, a number of years ago, the feature you describe is built into tumble dryers now, so you have to push a button after closing the door, to re-start the machine - there's an electronic latch that keeps the power on if both the door is closed and the button is pressed, releasing when the door is opened.

    However, neither of these mechanisms would be effective, if an adult or older child didn't notice a child (or a cat) had climbed into the machine and fallen asleep. But then it's the adult or older child who has caused the machine to start with the child (or cat) inside.

    The recommendation therefore would be to keep the child away from the machines when they are unsupervised.

Children
No Data

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines