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110V dryer?


By cvo, Section Remote Living
Posted on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 01:07:26 PM MST
Anyone use one? Have questions.

I wash clothes for my "hiking" clients, about 300 loads over a 4 month period.
They use high tech poly material clothing, hand washed stuff, maximum load is 1 eash shirt/pants and 1 pair of socks.
Would a 110V dryer work?
I'd like to get away from the 220V dryer I have.
We also hand wash the clothes with a old school double tub with hand powered ringer and lye soap!
Any comments would be appreciated.
110V dryer? | 14 comments (14 topical)

Re: 110V dryer? (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by wpowokal on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 06:14:57 AM MST

I should have thought those sort of cloths would dry quite spiffingly on an old fashioned cloths line and quite quickly.

allan
"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." James Dean



Re: 110V dryer? (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by ghurd on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 08:18:33 AM MST

If nothing else, hang them up for 15 minutes!

Heavy polypropylene (ie Damart) will start running out in a stream when hanging, even after sitting in the washer for an hour.
I hang mine on the front porch rail (wife loves that), then squeeze out the lowest areas every 10~15 minutes.  It wicks to the lowest part. "99%" dry in under an hour.  Takes longer in the dryer.
G-
Ghurd.info



Re: 110V dryer? (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by cvo on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 08:58:37 AM MST

Thanks for the info.
Problem is that my clients are here for 1 day and then gone the next.
I can't hang dry since when they come thru my place it's cold! I need to get them in and out asap.
In reality I'm doing 10 loads/day for 90 days. Bigger numbers then what I posted, but just tryin' to just throw some numbers out there.
Thanks




Re: 110V dryer? (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by ghurd on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 10:46:32 AM MST

Really.  Try it once or twice.
Hang them for 15 minutes before the dryer.  Squeeze out the lower area at 7 minutes and 15 minutes.  Overall faster than having them in the dryer for that first 15 minutes.  
The vast majority of the water will run out much faster than it can be boiled out on the low setting.

That's the biggest selling point for polypropylene.  Wicks away sweat. (and water)
Ghurd.info
[ Parent ]



Re: 110V dryer? (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by GlutealCleft on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 09:52:33 PM MST

Do we know where he lives?  I've been in cold, humid environments where you would squeeze your clothes and hang them up on Monday, and they'd finish drying some time around Thursday.

Of course, that involved them lightly freezing during the night and spending part of the day just thawing...

[ Parent ]



Re: 110V dryer? (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by TomW on Thu Nov 13, 2008 at 06:12:11 AM MST

Water has this amazing ability to go directly from frozen to vapor. Only works in dry air tho.

We often freeze dry clothes on the line then pop in the tumble air dry mode on the dryer.

As far as the original post goes, with that kind of throughput just be smart and buy a good quality industrial grade or near industrial grade name brand that your resources can run.

Electric dryers are just not my idea of a good idea period.

You really might consider some alternatives like gas for the heating part.

85% of our laundry dries by hanging on a line but its personal use not a commercial venture.

Tom
Tom

The Truth is the Truth, even if no one believes it; and a lie is a lie even if everyone believes it


[ Parent ]



Re: 110V dryer? (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by GaryGary on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 10:20:23 AM MST

Hi,
I wonder if one of those high speed centrifugal extractors would get almost all the water out?  Then you could throw them in the dryer for a quick finish and warm up?

Gary
Gary gary@BuildItSolar.com www.BuildItSolar.com



Re: 110V dryer? (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by Airstream on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 11:14:35 AM MST

Wow. 900 loads of laundry in a season. The only improvement to make is going with a high-speed spin cycle over 1000rpm; that is about the only improvement a new full-size $800 drier has to offer.

Danby makes a mini-washer set, agitator drum and separate 1600rpm spin dry drum that is rated for 10 pound loads; it is almost 100% manual operation and you can use the rinse water from one cycle to be the wash water from the next cycle if water is an issue. Some people love them, some hate them - you get almost no automatic cycles provided but nearly infinite control by tweaking stuff manually. One minus may be it does not like truly hot water, use only water under 50C. The specifications list maximum power draw is 120VAC is 480 watts, maximum wash water level uses 50 liters..

Remember it is from a small output product line so the price is pretty steep ($325~ shipped) compared to big-box store plain base models.

If you have a drier 240VAC appliance it really is the only option for full-size driers. Shorter run times and better mechanical efficiencies across the board IF you can even find a 120VAC heated drier.

http://www.danby.com/product/DTT420W/5

http://www.danby.ca/cms/uploads/products/en_manual/DTT420.pdf



Re: 110V dryer? (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by kurt on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 11:17:32 AM MST

120v dryers are low in the heat area due to the limits of a 120v circuit therefore it will take longer to dry i would suggest a propane dryer that will run off 120v and propane just fine....  


IRC inst.
just a personal rant carry on.


Re: 110V dryer? (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by nick1234 on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 08:34:18 PM MST

use a fan   put the clothes on a rack in in a ventilated room on rainy days add heat works well for me



Re: 110V dryer? (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by zeusmorg on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 08:53:13 PM MST

 If you are looking to increase efficiency, and speed consider getting a wringer to get the water out of the clothes before putting them in the dryer? This will remove
quite a big of water from them decreasing drying time and using less electricity.

 You won't find a 120v a/c model that is more efficient, and most of them take real small loads and increase the drying time required!

 I have one I attached over my concrete sink, and it probably saves me 75% fuel and drying time. (I use a natural gas dryer) I got it off an old junk washing machine, which are pretty rare these days..

 I did look and wringers are available on the Internet. Short of using the sun and a clothesline, I really doubt this setup can be beat as far as speed and efficiency.



Re: 110V dryer? (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by cvo on Thu Nov 13, 2008 at 05:08:22 AM MST

Here's the dryer I am/was considering. Its a spin dryer.

http://www.laundry-alternative.com/drying.htm

I do have a manual old school ringer that's attatched to the tubs. Does a pretty good job.
When I say "I do X amount of loads", its the hikers that are doing all the work, I provide the tools. I think some would consider hanging their clothes while others would like to get it over with. They only carry 1 extra change of clothes if that.
Since it is cold when they come in (Feb-May), I'll build a clothes rack near/over the wood burning stove in the bunkhouse. Though that would get used more for drying boots.
I guess I'll stick with the 220v volt for now, but maybe look into a propane model.



Re: 110V dryer? (3.00 / 0) (#13)
by Airstream on Thu Nov 13, 2008 at 09:39:43 AM MST

I know people who use that model in their travel trailers when they go six weeks at a time on the road... There were problems a few years back with website order fulfillment but I think I remember the owner claims he fired the guilty party(s) and has shipping back on track. Treat the plastic pieces like they were made of eggshells and I think you will get good service ...

[ Parent ]


Re: 110V dryer? (3.00 / 0) (#14)
by wdyasq on Thu Nov 13, 2008 at 08:00:58 PM MST

I have an "Equator" brand front load washer/dryer.  It spins clothes very dry before finishing them by heating and de-humidification. There is no vent to the system. It is not a fast system - 3 hours to a small load from start to dry.

I normally spin clothes 'damp dry' then hang in closet, on plastic hangers to dry.

I think the extractor will be your best bet. Extractor, fan and dehumidified closet would probably dry quickly.

Ron
Adventure is just bad planning." -- Roald Amundsen



110V dryer? | 14 comments (14 topical)
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