I have one of those upright dryer on top, washer on bottom (Whirlpool if it matters) washer/dryer combos. Simply stated, I am wondering if there is an easy way to disable the buzzer that announces that they dry cycle is done. FYI I am about as mechanically inclined as an untrained chimp.
Sure. Locate the buzzer. It will have two wires leading to it. Snip them. Then it’s probably best to put electrical tape over the ends not attached to the buzzer, just to be on the safe side so there’s no chance of shorting out.
If you do that, please send the buzzer and wires to me. Mine doesn’t have one and there’s been too many times when I’m all ready to go to bed when I remember that I have to put all those clothes away.
Gorsnak said:
Whoa! Just to be safe? The buzzer is almost certainly wired in parallel and you should be able to simply cut the wires. However the circuit that send the 115V will still send that voltage at the end of the timer’s run. You absolutely need to tape the ends of the leads.
Also, unplug the dryer before you start this little project. I would also “unplug” the leads as opposed to cutting them. They are probably connected with slide on “spade” connectors. Then tape them off. Run a load and see if disabling the buzzer has any effect on the dryer. If it does, you can simply untape the leads and reconnect them. (I’m guessing that it will have no impact)
But, the buzzer may be hard to visually identify. If you try to identify the buzzer with the panels open and the dryer running, be extremely careful. You woudn’t want to electrocute yourself in an effort to save a $60 service call.
Hold on there!
Locate the buzzer---------disconnect ONE of the wires and tape it in the clear------if you do have to make a cut only cut one wire and tape both ends of the cut point.
Make the cut in a place where,if you want to reestablish the buzzer, you can splice it back in.
Don’t burn your bridges!
Ezstrete said:
That’s why I said this:
I would also “unplug” the leads as opposed to cutting them. They are probably connected with slide on “spade” connectors. Then tape them off. Run a load and see if disabling the buzzer has any effect on the dryer. If it does, you can simply untape the leads and reconnect them. (I’m guessing that it will have no impact)
Many of those components will have “spade” connectors as the manufacturer recognizes that they will fail from time to time and spade connectors. It is easier to change out parts when they are connected this way. If they do have spade connectors, the wires will not need to be cut, but simply “umplugged”.
I agree, don’t burn bridges!
I did this with our old dryer (I liked being notified that the load was finished, but Mrs Bookkeeper hated it). I drilled a hole in the front panel for a simple toggle switch* and connected the buzzer to the switch by cutting one of the wires and reconnecting it through the switch, so that it could be turned on and off. I’m not terribly mechanically or electrically inclined, but the buzzer was pretty easy to identify. DON’T forget to completely unplug/disconnect/pull fuses first.
*(The kind that fits into a circular hole with a screw-on back plate to hold it in place.)
Thanks for the suggestions folks, but when we start talking about taking stuff apart and cutting wires I get all woogie (to say nothing of drilling holes and toggle switches!) I was hoping that it was something truly simple (like a hidden switch I needed help finding or something).
But, truly, thanks.
Contact the manufacturer, some models (IIRC kenmore was one) could be disabled fairly easilly.
There were many complaints, particularly from babies, who would complain to their parents about the noise waking them up, by making more noise, and the parents in turn complained to the company.
The company released a instruction sheet by request that would allow the common homeowner to disconect the buzzer.
I have done it myself, it basically was taking off a pannel (about 5 screws) then unplugging the wires to the buzzer (no clipping of wires, they pulled out). (again unpulg the dryer b4 you start).