Thread: Ice Maker Questions

Sqwertz wrote:
> I've wondered this for a while - how does my ice maker know when
> to stop spitting out ice? On older ice makers I've seen the lever
> bar that rises up and turns the unit off. But mine - A Samsung
> French Door fridge with freezer drawers underneath - doesn't have
> one of those.
>
> I was away unexpectedly for 3-4 days and it didn't overflow. the
> bin was about 2/3rds full, which is only about 2 days worth of ice
> making. What mechanism/device is used to tell when it should
> stop?

along that same line- how does the microwave oven know when to stop
nuking when I hit the "fresh vegetable" button? It almost always comes
out perfectly no matter what or how much I'm cooking.

On Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:09:31 -0400, Goomba wrote:

> Sqwertz wrote:
>> I've wondered this for a while - how does my ice maker know when
>> to stop spitting out ice? On older ice makers I've seen the lever
>> bar that rises up and turns the unit off. But mine - A Samsung
>> French Door fridge with freezer drawers underneath - doesn't have
>> one of those.
>>
>> I was away unexpectedly for 3-4 days and it didn't overflow. the
>> bin was about 2/3rds full, which is only about 2 days worth of ice
>> making. What mechanism/device is used to tell when it should
>> stop?
>
> along that same line- how does the microwave oven know when to stop
> nuking when I hit the "fresh vegetable" button? It almost always comes
> out perfectly no matter what or how much I'm cooking.

How does it know how I like my vegetables done? I like my
mushrooms barely cooked, my broccoli only slightly more, my corn
on the cob overcooked, and for my carrots to vaporize into
nothingness.

I use the stove/steamer for all my cooked, plain veggies.

-sw

On Sun 11 Jul 2010 08:09:31p, Goomba told us...

> Sqwertz wrote:
>> I've wondered this for a while - how does my ice maker know when
>> to stop spitting out ice? On older ice makers I've seen the
>> lever bar that rises up and turns the unit off. But mine - A
>> Samsung French Door fridge with freezer drawers underneath -
>> doesn't have one of those.
>>
>> I was away unexpectedly for 3-4 days and it didn't overflow. the
>> bin was about 2/3rds full, which is only about 2 days worth of
>> ice making. What mechanism/device is used to tell when it should
>> stop?

It's likely that it uses an infrared sensor to determine the level of
hte ice in the bin.

> along that same line- how does the microwave oven know when to
> stop nuking when I hit the "fresh vegetable" button? It almost
> always comes out perfectly no matter what or how much I'm cooking.

Most microwaves that can do this accurately use a moisture and heat
sensor to determine the doneness of the food. Some only have a
moisture sensor which are not as accuate.

--

~~ If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it. ~~

~~ A mind is a terrible thing to lose. ~~

************************************************** ********

Wayne Boatwright

On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:02:56 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:

> It's likely that it uses an infrared sensor to determine the level of
> the ice in the bin.

Infrared, huh? I didn't think that could determine anything but
temperature of the ice, not depth. I may have to find a way...
Oh, a mirror. Duh. I'll get an upskirt shot of it using a
hand-held mirror.

Wait a second - guys don't h8ave any hand-held mirrors.

-sw

"Sqwertz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:1b3dsxeytumm4$.[email protected]..
> On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:02:56 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
>> It's likely that it uses an infrared sensor to determine the level of
>> the ice in the bin.
>
> Infrared, huh? I didn't think that could determine anything but
> temperature of the ice, not depth. I may have to find a way...
> Oh, a mirror. Duh. I'll get an upskirt shot of it using a
> hand-held mirror.
>
> Wait a second - guys don't h8ave any hand-held mirrors.
>
> -sw


How does an automatic garage door know not to close if something is in the
way? Infrared sensor My fridge/freezer is old so it has the lever bar
thing you described. When I have to replace it this will be an interesting
question to ask the sales person!

Jill

On Sun 11 Jul 2010 09:49:41p, jmcquown told us...

> "Sqwertz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:1b3dsxeytumm4$.[email protected]..
>> On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:02:56 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>
>>> It's likely that it uses an infrared sensor to determine the
>>> level of the ice in the bin.
>>
>> Infrared, huh? I didn't think that could determine anything but
>> temperature of the ice, not depth. I may have to find a way...
>> Oh, a mirror. Duh. I'll get an upskirt shot of it using a
>> hand-held mirror.
>>
>> Wait a second - guys don't h8ave any hand-held mirrors.
>>
>> -sw
>
>
> How does an automatic garage door know not to close if something
> is in the way? Infrared sensor My fridge/freezer is old so it
> has the lever bar thing you described. When I have to replace it
> this will be an interesting question to ask the sales person!
>
> Jill
>
>

Most garage door openers do use infrared sensors to prevent closing
on someone/something in the path of the door. There is usually a
small box near the bottom of door rails on each side of the door
opening. If nothing breaks the beam, the door will close. If
something is in line with th beam the door will reverse.

Many current icemakers still use the metal bar to detect a full ice
bin. There will be replacements of the same design for quite some
time to come. Many of these ice makers are fairly generic and will
fit multiple brands of fridge/freezers.

--

~~ If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it. ~~

~~ A mind is a terrible thing to lose. ~~

************************************************** ********

Wayne Boatwright

Goomba wrote:
> Sqwertz wrote:
>> I've wondered this for a while - how does my ice maker know when
>> to stop spitting out ice? On older ice makers I've seen the lever
>> bar that rises up and turns the unit off. But mine - A Samsung
>> French Door fridge with freezer drawers underneath - doesn't have
>> one of those.
>>
>> I was away unexpectedly for 3-4 days and it didn't overflow. the
>> bin was about 2/3rds full, which is only about 2 days worth of ice
>> making. What mechanism/device is used to tell when it should
>> stop?
>
> along that same line- how does the microwave oven know when to stop
> nuking when I hit the "fresh vegetable" button? It almost always comes
> out perfectly no matter what or how much I'm cooking.

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. --
Arthur C. Clarke

jmcquown wrote:
> "Sqwertz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:1b3dsxeytumm4$.[email protected]..
>> On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:02:56 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>
>>> It's likely that it uses an infrared sensor to determine the level of
>>> the ice in the bin.
>>
>> Infrared, huh? I didn't think that could determine anything but
>> temperature of the ice, not depth. I may have to find a way...
>> Oh, a mirror. Duh. I'll get an upskirt shot of it using a
>> hand-held mirror.
>>
>> Wait a second - guys don't h8ave any hand-held mirrors.
>>
>> -sw
>
>
> How does an automatic garage door know not to close if something is in
> the way? Infrared sensor My fridge/freezer is old so it has the
> lever bar thing you described. When I have to replace it this will be
> an interesting question to ask the sales person!
>
> Jill

Ahhhh. You have given me insight into my new fridge and its
icemaker. (I couldn't get the model I wanted without it.)

--
Jean B.

On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:49:41 -0400, "jmcquown" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>"Sqwertz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:1b3dsxeytumm4$.[email protected]..
>> On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:02:56 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>
>>> It's likely that it uses an infrared sensor to determine the level of
>>> the ice in the bin.
>>
>> Infrared, huh? I didn't think that could determine anything but
>> temperature of the ice, not depth. I may have to find a way...
>> Oh, a mirror. Duh. I'll get an upskirt shot of it using a
>> hand-held mirror.
>>
>> Wait a second - guys don't h8ave any hand-held mirrors.
>>
>> -sw
>
>
>How does an automatic garage door know not to close if something is in the
>way? Infrared sensor My fridge/freezer is old so it has the lever bar
>thing you described. When I have to replace it this will be an interesting
>question to ask the sales person!
>
>Jill

Most appliance sales people won't know much about anything technical.
Anyone who truly wanted to know would have searched:
<icemachine level indicator>

http://tinyurl.com/6yowgb

https://secured.whirlpool.com/Servic...56a45004fd9d6/
8527f904cc8ea8cd85256b5800672333/$FILE/4322658A.pdf

On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:49:41 -0400, jmcquown wrote:

> How does an automatic garage door know not to close if something is in the
> way? Infrared sensor

Maybe. My garage door just needs to hit some sort of resistance
before it stops and backs up. It doesn't use infrared; it uses
trial and error.

-sw

On Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:09:31 -0400, Goomba <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Sqwertz wrote:
>> I've wondered this for a while - how does my ice maker know when
>> to stop spitting out ice? On older ice makers I've seen the lever
>> bar that rises up and turns the unit off. But mine - A Samsung
>> French Door fridge with freezer drawers underneath - doesn't have
>> one of those.
>>
>> I was away unexpectedly for 3-4 days and it didn't overflow. the
>> bin was about 2/3rds full, which is only about 2 days worth of ice
>> making. What mechanism/device is used to tell when it should
>> stop?
>
>along that same line- how does the microwave oven know when to stop
>nuking when I hit the "fresh vegetable" button? It almost always comes
>out perfectly no matter what or how much I'm cooking.

X-rays, the same way I can see through your bra! LOL

On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:45:21 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:

> Most garage door openers do use infrared sensors to prevent closing
> on someone/something in the path of the door. There is usually a
> small box near the bottom of door rails on each side of the door
> opening. If nothing breaks the beam, the door will close. If
> something is in line with th beam the door will reverse.

They must also use the resistance factor. There are things that
won't block the beam of light but will still stick out into the
path of the door. Like a car.

My icemaker has no such light/sensor that crosses horizontally
across the bin of ice to detect fullness.

-sw

On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:54:17 -0400, brooklyn1 wrote:

> Most appliance sales people won't know much about anything technical.
> Anyone who truly wanted to know would have searched:
> <icemachine level indicator>

Sorry - I don't fall for any more of your wild goose chases.

-sw

Sqwertz wrote:
>
> On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:49:41 -0400, jmcquown wrote:
>
> > How does an automatic garage door know not to close if something is in the
> > way? Infrared sensor
>
> Maybe. My garage door just needs to hit some sort of resistance
> before it stops and backs up. It doesn't use infrared; it uses
> trial and error.
>
> -sw

That is the old "oops I just crushed an infant, better reverse" style.

On Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:30:01 -0500, Sqwertz wrote:

> On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:02:56 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
>> It's likely that it uses an infrared sensor to determine the level of
>> the ice in the bin.
>
> Infrared, huh? I didn't think that could determine anything but
> temperature of the ice, not depth. I may have to find a way...
> Oh, a mirror. Duh. I'll get an upskirt shot of it using a
> hand-held mirror.
>
> Wait a second - guys don't h8ave any hand-held mirrors.
>
> -sw

steal one from the dentist.

your pal,
blake

Sqwertz wrote:
> On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:02:56 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
>> It's likely that it uses an infrared sensor to determine the level of
>> the ice in the bin.
>
> Infrared, huh? I didn't think that could determine anything but
> temperature of the ice, not depth. I may have to find a way...
> Oh, a mirror. Duh. I'll get an upskirt shot of it using a
> hand-held mirror.
>
> Wait a second - guys don't h8ave any hand-held mirrors.
>

My mechanic hubby uses them to look into parts of a vehicle he couldn't see
otherwise. He has several, I have none!

On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:13:41 -0400, "dejablues"
<[email protected]> wrote:

> He has several, I have none!

Come to think of it, I don't carry one anymore either. I wonder if
they sell small purse sized mirrors these days that aren't attached to
a cosmetic?

--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

sf wrote:

> On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:13:41 -0400, "dejablues"
> wrote:
>
>
> >He has several, I have none!
>
>
> Come to think of it, I don't carry one anymore either. I wonder if
> they sell small purse sized mirrors these days that aren't attached to
> a cosmetic?
>
With or without a cover? Chinatown, about a dollar each


Mr. Joseph Paul Littleshoes Esq.

Domine, dirige nos.

Let the games begin!
http://fredeeky.typepad.com/fredeeky.../sf_anthem.mp3

On Jul 11, 10:17*pm, Sqwertz <swe...@cluemail.compost> wrote:
> I've wondered this for a while - how does my ice maker know when
> to stop spitting out ice? *

This might help!

http://tinyurl.com/39anaay