Why does a toaster oven need a circuit board?

[IronWing]

Why does a washing machine need a circuit board? Why do we gum up our lives with needless complexity. I was just reading a thread over in the Highly Technical forum about a poster fixing the blown electronics on a toaster oven. It worked out and the oven lives again but why was there a circuit board in there in the first place? I was looking for a portable swamp cooler and found one that had an LCD screen to let you know it is running. Swamp coolers are 8th century technology (if not ancient); they don't really benefit from electronic control. Are manufacturers concerned that stuff will last too long and so add an electronic part to break?

Why? Why? Why?


Ooh! Shiny!

 

[Mixolydian]

Are manufacturers concerned that stuff will last too long and so add an electronic part to break?

Yes.

It's called planned obsolescence. Everything is designed to be disposable.

 

[TridenT]

Why does a washing machine need a circuit board? Why do we gum up our lives with needless complexity. I was just reading a thread over in the Highly Technical forum about a poster fixing the blown electronics on a toaster oven. It worked out and the oven lives again but why was there a circuit board in there in the first place? I was looking for a portable swamp cooler and found one that had an LCD screen to let you know it is running. Swamp coolers are 8th century technology (if not ancient); they don't really benefit from electronic control. Are manufacturers concerned that stuff will last too long and so add an electronic part to break?

Why? Why? Why?


Ooh! Shiny!

Uh, you dumb or something?

 

[jagec]

Properly made electronics are more reliable than the analog control systems which preceded them. Of course, many of them aren't made properly...

And yes, people like flashy LCD panels.

 

[lupi]

When boards are in everything, it becomes more expensive to design for the alternative.

 

[techs]

It's there for the wifi of course.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Planning on timed failing is common in companies these days, which is why I have very little empathy with companies in general and really have no brand loyalty. My experience has been one is as good as the other and just because it's the priciest doesn't mean it's the best.

I've worked for a few companies that flat out said they design their products to fail within so many years to keep the cash flow going with new sales. It is just flat out low. Of course these days, with everyone tossing perfectly good items for the next "best" thing a few months later, many really don't care, so they deserve the fleecing they get. Circuit boards are flat out cheaper to make these days and can replace more complicated analogue gear, whether or not they are reliable is not a concern of the manufacturer.

 

[Imp]

Properly made electronics are more reliable than the analog control systems which preceded them. Of course, many of them aren't made properly...

And yes, people like flashy LCD panels.

FML. I avoid things that come with LCDs nowadays because they're such turdy LCDs. Double-FML on the touchscreens that use pressure.

 

[rivan]

It's there for the wifi of course.

This, duh! How else would you implement the ipad remote control with automatic Facebook status updates?

™©2013 itoast Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. iToast app available on iTunes and Google Play for additional charge and requires monthly service agreement. Wi-Fi adapter required but not included. Some assembly required.

 

[lxskllr]

Robots have a harder time with analog parts. IOW, it's cheaper for the manufacturer.

 

[rivan]

Frankly, this is all I could think of when watching a video about BMW headlights this morning. So now, where there used to be two lights and a couple of switches, there's a camera, computer, dozens of LEDs and who knows how many motors.

I mean fuck - does anyone actually NEED that? Rear-ending someone in that car's going to cost you $10k in repairs. I would not be surprised to see a headlamp assembly be $1k.

 

[Ayah]

This, duh! How else would you implement the ipad remote control with automatic Facebook status updates?

™©2013 itoast Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. iToast app available on iTunes and Google Play for additional charge and requires monthly service agreement. Wi-Fi adapter required but not included. Some assembly required.

Bluetooth?

 

[tracerbullet]

I would not be surprised to see a headlamp assembly be $1k.

$700 - $800 for my car (135i). Yep. Waaaay over-complicated. Super fun to drive, going to give me nightmares when it runs out of warranty.

 

[techs]

$700 - $800 for my car (135i). Yep. Waaaay over-complicated. Super fun to drive, going to give me nightmares when it runs out of warranty.

It astounds me the costs of headlights nowadays.
I remember replacing headlights on my car in the 1980's and it was like 10 bucks and it was held in place by two screws.

 

[TridenT]

$700 - $800 for my car (135i). Yep. Waaaay over-complicated. Super fun to drive, going to give me nightmares when it runs out of warranty.

It's also BMW. They're going to gouge you on anything.

And, to be honest, if you think headlights are super simple then you're fucking ignorant. Back in the old days they were "simple" because they didn't fucking care what they were doing with them.

 

[BUTCH1]

Depends on the toaster oven, I recently bought a $35 cheapie Black and Decker that does not have any circuit boards. That was probably a higher-end toaster oven and the dedicated CPU that run's it is mass-produced and did not cost the manufacturer very much to add a better form of temperature control. If you've got a $30 digital programmable coffee maker it also has a circuit board, I like it, I wake up to coffee already made and piping hot as soon as I awake, can't beat that..

 

[Red Squirrel]

I find it's retarded as well. It's completely unnecessary. I'm a big fan of hard controls but sadly it's something you don't see anymore. A big issue as well is say take a dehumidifier for example. With all the unneeded electronics, when you set it on, rather than having a hard switch that turns it on, it's electronic. If the power goes out, it resets. Now they could add even more complicated electronics to make it "save" the setting, but why not just make the "on" switch turn a relay on that is also part of the humidistat circuit. If the relay and humidistat is on, well the relay turns on, turning on the compressor. That is something simple that anyone can fix.

But of course these megacorporations don't want that. They want us to throw more stuff in the landfill and buy more so they make more money. So the more complex, and more sealed they make it, the better for them.

 

[Vic Vega]

Why does a washing machine need a circuit board? Why do we gum up our lives with needless complexity. I was just reading a thread over in the Highly Technical forum about a poster fixing the blown electronics on a toaster oven. It worked out and the oven lives again but why was there a circuit board in there in the first place? I was looking for a portable swamp cooler and found one that had an LCD screen to let you know it is running. Swamp coolers are 8th century technology (if not ancient); they don't really benefit from electronic control. Are manufacturers concerned that stuff will last too long and so add an electronic part to break?

Why? Why? Why?


Ooh! Shiny!

Have you ever examined a multifunction mechanical/electric (non-electronic) switch for a washing machine? The circuit board is simple in comparison. There's a reason we moved away from such complicated mechanical devices - they're expensive, difficult to repair and require regular tuning.

 

[MrDudeMan]

All of you saying the reason the board is in there is for premature failure are ignorant and literally have no idea what it takes to design a modern appliance. That is not the reason by any stretch of the imagination. My washing machine does far, far more advanced things than it could possibly do without modern electronics. I design embedded systems and microprocessors for a living, so I'm well aware of their capabilities and shortcomings.

Mechanical assemblies are extremely complicated in many situations compared to their electronic equivalents. Do you know why the toaster oven was able to be repaired by a layman? Because it wasn't a tightly toleranced mechanical assembly instead of an of easy to repair circuit board.

 

[IronWing]

My washing machine does far, far more advanced things than it could possibly do without modern electronics.

It is supposed to simply wash clothes. It's called a washing machine for a reason. Far, far more advanced things are not necessary in a basic appliance.

 

[lxskllr]

It is supposed to simply wash clothes. It's called a washing machine for a reason. Far, far more advanced things are not necessary in a basic appliance.

Mine washes cats too. Very convenient.

 

[Markbnj]

Have you ever examined a multifunction mechanical/electric (non-electronic) switch for a washing machine? The circuit board is simple in comparison. There's a reason we moved away from such complicated mechanical devices - they're expensive, difficult to repair and require regular tuning.

This.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

It is supposed to simply wash clothes. It's called a washing machine for a reason. Far, far more advanced things are not necessary in a basic appliance.

Oh yes, because its going to be amazing to have to use a spring loaded timer (that needs to be replaced or it becomes loose) that connects to a thingy that keeps track of how long that cycle has been going for which also physically connects to a thingy that quickly modifies the hot/cold water ratio, which is connected by a string to a little valve that turns the water on and off which weighs 50 extra pounds due to all the extra mechanical gizmos.

Or you could have a single 6x6 circuit board that governs all that, and when a single transistor goes out, you can solder on your own in about 5 minutes.

I wonder which one is a better choice

 

[IronWing]

Oh yes, because its going to be amazing to have to use a spring loaded timer (that needs to be replaced or it becomes loose) that connects to a thingy that keeps track of how long that cycle has been going for which also physically connects to a thingy that quickly modifies the hot/cold water ratio, which is connected by a string to a little valve that turns the water on and off which weighs 50 extra pounds due to all the extra mechanical gizmos.

Or you could have a single 6x6 circuit board that governs all that, and when a single transistor goes out, you can solder on your own in about 5 minutes.

I wonder which one is a better choice

How many people know which transistor to solder? The springy thing on my current washing machine has been working great for the last 13 years.

 

[MrDudeMan]

It is supposed to simply wash clothes. It's called a washing machine for a reason. Far, far more advanced things are not necessary in a basic appliance.

I'm sure you're posting from a computer built in 1985. There's no reason to upgrade because it can connect to the internet with a dial-up modem.

My washing machine can also dry clothes. It takes longer, but it allows us to wash and dry two loads of laundry with half of the effort that would otherwise be required. It also automatically senses moisture level, which cuts the whole process down in time to save water and electricity AND make our clothes last longer.

Yeah, a piece of crap washer could also wash our clothes, but not nearly as well. You are simply stupid if you can't understand the difference. Sorry.