Washing machine
A pair of laundry treating appliances having power sharing capabilities through a piggyback plug with a rear facing electric socket. The rear facing electric socket is designed to receive a power plug from a compatible laundry treating appliance. The piggyback plug is connected to a terminal block of one of the laundry treating appliance wherein the terminal block is adapted to be selectively connected to one of a 120V or 240V electric power source. A controller is adapted with an algorithm to prevent electrical overloading by automatically reducing the electrical power consumed by one of the appliance when simultaneous energization of both appliances occur.
1. A washing machine adapted to interoperate with a dryer, the washing machine comprising:
a laundry treating chamber;
a terminal block adapted to connect to a 240V power supply;
at least one heating element to provide heat to the laundry treating chamber;
an electrical circuit between the terminal block and the at least one heating element; and
a controller connected to the electrical circuit and configured to control cycles of operation of the washing machine and to communicate with the dryer;
wherein the controller is configured to switch operation of the washing machine between two power levels in response to operational characteristics of the dryer.
2. The washing machine of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to switch operation of the washing machine between two power levels by energizing or de-energizing heating elements.
3. The washing machine of claim 2 wherein the controller has a communication module adapted to form a connection between the dryer and the washing machine and the controller is further configured to reduce power consumed by the dryer depending on a power usage of the washing machine.
4. The washing machine of claim 2 further comprising a power plug adapted to connect the washing machine to a generic electric receptacle.
5. The washing machine of claim 4 wherein the power plug is a piggyback power plug having a rear facing electric socket.
6. The washing machine of claim 5 wherein the piggyback power plug includes a cover member to protect the rear facing electric socket when not in use.
7. The washing machine of claim 6 wherein the cover member can be secured via a fastener.
8. The washing machine of claim 5 wherein the rear facing electric socket includes a unique power terminal layout configured to receive a compatible clothes dryer power plug.
9. The washing machine of claim 8 wherein the power plug is adapted to receive the compatible clothes dryer power plug to allow power sharing from a single power source.
10. The washing machine of claim 3 wherein the controller automatically reduces electrical power consumed by the washing machine when simultaneous energization of the washing machine and dryer occurs.