Hand Dryers

[jmellc]

We were discussing a thread in Campfire Chat that evolved into parts and right to repair.

That reminded me of our hand dryers at work. Most all are the same brand; some are 208, some 120. They work fairly well and parts are not hard to get. We have replaced a lot of fans and heaters on them. Components are ok and replacing them isn't too hard. But the Achilles heel is the backplate. Thin plastic that starts out OK but gets brittle over the years. Mounting brackets also break after just a few years. I have managed a few fixes with epoxy putty, superglue and epoxy putty. I know the ultimate goal is to sell a new dryer but why provide good components and replacement parts, then such a cheap mounting plate?

 

[jmellc]

Sorry, I meant to say epoxy putty, superglue and plastic anchors.

 

[Hv&Lv]

We were discussing a thread in Campfire Chat that evolved into parts and right to repair.

That reminded me of our hand dryers at work. Most all are the same brand; some are 208, some 120. They work fairly well and parts are not hard to get. We have replaced a lot of fans and heaters on them. Components are ok and replacing them isn't too hard. But the Achilles heel is the backplate. Thin plastic that starts out OK but gets brittle over the years. Mounting brackets also break after just a few years. I have managed a few fixes with epoxy putty, superglue and epoxy putty. I know the ultimate goal is to sell a new dryer but why provide good components and replacement parts, then such a cheap mounting plate?

Planned obsolescence…

 

[Jraef]

Engineer: “This should be metal, not plastic.”

Marketing mgr.: “Will plastic cost less and will it outlast the warranty?”

Engineer: “I suppose so.”

Marketing mgr.: “Use plastic then”.

 

[kwired]

Plastic might not be less cost in recent times. But then redoing the manufacturing line when cost difference of raw materials isn't that great doesn't pay off so well either.

 

[jmellc]

Engineer: “This should be metal, not plastic.”

Marketing mgr.: “Will plastic cost less and will it outlast the warranty?”

Engineer: “I suppose so.”

Marketing mgr.: “Use plastic then”.

But following that logic, the cover should also be plastic. It is heavy duty cast aluminum. It weighs more than the rest of the product.

 

[synchro]

But following that logic, the cover should also be plastic. It is heavy duty cast aluminum. It weighs more than the rest of the product.

That reminds me of consumer audio equipment that has impressive front panels, machined fancy volume control knobs, etc. But there's only some cheaply made electronics and mostly empty space inside of it.

 

[Jraef]

But following that logic, the cover should also be plastic. It is heavy duty cast aluminum. It weighs more than the rest of the product.

Marketing mgr; “Now I want a cover that makes it look really heavy duty.”

Engineer; “Well I suppose we could design a cast aluminum cover, but it would be totally unnecessary and costly. Besides, with the plastic backplate, it’s anything but heavy duty now.”

Marketing mgr; “But it will LOOK heavy duty. Nobody will see the plastic backplate until some technician goes to repair something inside. Cast aluminum cover it is then.”

 

[jmellc]

Marketing mgr; “Now I want a cover that makes it look really heavy duty.”

Engineer; “Well I suppose we could design a cast aluminum cover, but it would be totally unnecessary and costly. Besides, with the plastic backplate, it’s anything but heavy duty now.”

Marketing mgr; “But it will LOOK heavy duty. Nobody will see the plastic backplate until some technician goes to repair something inside. Cast aluminum cover it is then.”

Probably right. Schemers always come up with a new edge.

 

[OldBroadcastTech]

"That reminds me of consumer audio equipment that has impressive front panels, machined fancy volume control knobs, etc. But there's only some cheaply made electronics and mostly empty space inside of it."

Anyone here familiar with the Federal Signal (formerly Atkinson Dynamics) Industrial Intercoms ?

The 'old' ones were discrete-component-built on two terminal strips (for the most part) and easy to repair; the 'new' have a printed circuit board covered in that plastic gunk, are fried by line over-voltages, and they are totally, irredeemably, definitely NOT repairable.

'not repairable, here's a new one, oh, that will be 800-1000 bucks'.

 

[acrwc10]

Dishwashers are the same way. I’ve had to fix 3 dishwashers (mine and family) in the last year &1/2 that had plastic parts fail. The last one had metal replacement part.

 

[jmellc]

Dishwashers are the same way. I’ve had to fix 3 dishwashers (mine and family) in the last year &1/2 that had plastic parts fail. The last one had metal replacement part.

Dishwashers are the same way. I’ve had to fix 3 dishwashers (mine and family) in the last year &1/2 that had plastic parts fail. The last one had metal replacement part.

Dishwashers are a pain in every way. With one boss, we did installs for Sears for a few months. Got paid about $80 to pick it up, take to customer, swap old for new and dispose of old one. Some are very hard to get out, legs have to be cut, etc. Sometimes couldn't find water cutoff valves. Flooring could block getting new one in if installed after original unit. Headache after headache.

 

[PaulMmn]

That reminds me of consumer audio equipment that has impressive front panels, machined fancy volume control knobs, etc. But there's only some cheaply made electronics and mostly empty space inside of it.

I attended a program from ElectroVoice about their microphones. A side topic mentioned a nice amplifier they had-- great specs, critics liked it, people liked it when they heard it. But it didn't sell. Marketing types hung out in showrooms to see what was what. People would select it, listen, smile.... then they picked it up, grimaced, put it back down, and bought something else. Product was too light! They added slate end panels to the box, and sales took off. Or so says the legend.