Martin wrote:
> Indeed. The side loaders tend to be significantly more energy
> efficient, having BLDC motors integrated as part of the drum. They
> also wring more water out of the clothes because they spin faster.

This doesn't add up.  While some models might use more or less efficient
motors, I don't see why either side or top loading dictates a particular
type of motor and therefore has a inherent efficiency advantage in the
motor.

The same applies to spinning faster.  I can't think of any reason why a side
loader should be able to spin inherently faster.  If anything, it seems top
loading might have a slight advantage since the load is more likely to be
evenly distributed and therefore can be spun faster with less shake, which
is probably the limiting factor on spin speed anyway.

There may be a inherent advantage to top loading in taking less power during
washing.  In top loaders, a central sortof conical piece moves in a ratchet
motion to agitate the clothes.  In a side loader, the drum is rotated which
means it's constantly lifting wet clothes and some of the water up one side.
My first knee jerk reaction is that the former would take less mechanical
power, but I haven't measured anything nor looked at numbers.

I'm guessing that top loaders take less power and side loaders less water.


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