Tech firms rip apart NEW washing machines so they can harvest their computer parts in a bid to beat the global microchip shortage

daily mail ^ | 4/24/2022 | jones

[RummyChick]

Been there...and that is why I am getting a new car if my cat gets jacked one more time. Going to buy a car that has it in the engine bay

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I wonder if the open source Arduino is a viable option?

https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Introduction

[Secret Agent Man]

If you have an older washing machine, fix it when it needs it. They are built better than newer ones. The further you go back the better they survive. Also the less computerized the better.

[Dr. Sivana]

Thermostats, doorbells, refrigerators, washers and driers, dishwashers all were better before chips. A simple timer is all you need in a washer and drier.

Some of this is driven by "water saving" regulations, until those get suspended or repealed, the appliance companies are helpless.

[oldasrocks]

So buy a convertible and do wash on rainy days.

[metmom]

My understanding is that there are still some available.

[blam]

"If you have an older washing machine, fix it when it needs it. They are built better than newer ones. The further you go back the better they survive. Also the less computerized the better."

That's exactly what my repairman told me. He said, "you have a good one". Just keep repairing it.

[dljordan]

“Thermostats, doorbells, refrigerators, washers and driers, dishwashers all were better before chips.”

Thermostats! Remember the ones you just turned up and down? Huh? Great times.

[moovova]

As long as your new car doesn’t have a “linen/whites/wash’n wear” cycle knob on the dash, you should be good to go.

[DesertRhino]

I have one on my wall. When I got my last Mastercool installed, they tried to get me to update to something that looked like it came out of an F-18.
I said no, and they used the old one. Easy peasy.

[DesertRhino]

That sounds about right.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Worse. A person will have to buy an expensive plug in chip module. They can only use it in one appliance or vehicle at time. Only the rich will be able to afford enough of those modules to supply all of their appliances and vehicles.

[nascarnation]

Yeah we ran a Maytag for 19 yrs but the tub finally rusted out. That was back when Maytag was the industry standard.

[muir_redwoods]

I suppose all those 5 year-old obsolete computers we’ve all got stashed couldn’t be mined for their chips.

[Myrddin]

The semiconductor industry was already behind when the Russian/Ukraine war got underway. That stopped the shipment of neon required to fabricate the chips. Some chips take 6 months from start to finish. The manufacturers had 3 weeks on neon "on hand" when the supply was cut. Assuming the war ends with the neon generating capability intact, there will still be months of delay to restart the fabs. In the interim, cannibalizing equipment to get needed chips is going to be a viable path. Lots of "hanger queens" on the way.

[UB355]

We put surge protectors on all our appliances

[Zuriel]

Copy that. We need to get a couple more. I haven’t priced big one for a 220/240v range.

[Zathras]

This sounds like fake news.
The microcontrollers in appliances are not the same those in cars or even other appliances.
For sure they are not the same as in home computers.

[Bikkuri]

I was just thinking of that last night. I was wondering of the last 2 generations had ever seen anything pre-China made that lasted as long as you knew how to fix it yourself (including cars).
Heck, there are still generators and engines from the 30s and 40s that are still running strong, not to mention the appliances.

[Rebelbase]

A friend who owns an appliance repair business told me that the most frequent issue on the washing machine brand that used have a lazy repair man as their mascot is the control board going bad.