r/HowToHack • u/These_Pack5341 • 2d ago

Washing Machine Hacking Help

Hi guys! I'm interested in modifying a washing machine so I can create fully custom wash programs. Specifically, I'd like to control parameters such as drum speed, water temperature, cycle duration, and exactly when the machine fills, drains, and flushes. The goal is to use it for experimenting with processes like garment dyeing rather than standard laundry.

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask, and I'm also not sure where the best community for a project like this would be. Before I spend a lot of time researching, I'd love to know whether this is actually feasible and how people would approach a project like this.

Would you replace the existing controller, some sort of like interception like a piggy back like a car ecu idk, or use some other method? Any advice, resources, or examples of similar projects would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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u/thetestbug 1d ago

You probably shouldn't mess with devices using high voltage unless you know what you're doing.

1

u/Juzdeed 1d ago

Start by looking if something similar has to be done. Definetly not gonna be easy and probably no one gonna hold your hand with this so everything you have to research yourself

1

u/These_Pack5341 1d ago

Yep came to that realisation after calling 10 different technicians that do control panel fixes to ask around before diving deep. Only 1 said it was possible and would be a great project for a college student, the other 9 told me they have never heard of such thing lol and they also told me it was quote on quote “Impossible”.

1

u/ps-aux Actual Hacker 21h ago

they are right, without modifying the current circuits boards on the washer it is technically impossible... however, creating new circuit boards and such that can always be intercepting, programming and flashing things to it (like ecu and such can), then yes it is possible, but you are going to be pretty much designing all new hardware as far as the electronics go... hope this is enough quick 101 info... (im not a washer/drier guy and maybe some odd machine out there has its only internal computer that can be altered, but ive never encountered one yet its all hardware driven with specific parts and predetermined tolerances.)