One of the biggest doubts that laundry owners have when it comes to purchasing washers, dryers or spinners is knowing whether the equipments really has the capacity they are asking for.

This is what we will explain to you from now on: How to size a washing machine, a dryer or even a centrifuge.

When you call us or our competitors and asking for an estimate for a 50 kg washing machine, for example, how do we get to that capacity? How we size a 50 kg machine?

For this the standards exist! All manufacturers follow manufacturing standards, which guide the all the competitors. This standard is based on a calculation of the volume of a cylinder, so the drum of your washing machine, centrifuge or dryer is a cylinder and each cylinder has a volume (cubage). This volume is measured in dm3 (cubic decimeters) or liters, since 1 dm3 is equal to 1 liter.

There is a very simple formula to calculate the volume of a cylinder. The formula is:

D x D x H x 0.785

Where:

D = Drum Diameter

A = Height (depth or length) of the Drum

0.785 = It is a Constant (Pi/4) where Pi which is equivalent to 3.1416 / 4 = 0.785

As the cubage is given in dm3, as we have explained, the measurements for the formula must also be in decimeters (dm), and this is to say:

- In millimeters (mm) cut 02 spaces: 1500mm = 15dm

- If it is a centimeter (cm) cut 01 space: 150cm = 15dm

- If this meter (m) increases one place: 1.50m = 15dm

Example:

Let's say we have a washing drum measuring 1000mm in diameter and 800mm in height (depth or length):

- 1000mm cuts 2 spaces = 10 dm

- 800mm cuts 2 spaces = 8 dm

10 x 10 x 8 x 0.785 = 628 dm3 (liters)

Now you need to know the load ratio to be able to size your machine.

If this volume of 628 dm3 (or liters) was an washer (1:10 ratio) it would be a 62.8 kg machine, because 628 divided between 10 would give 62.8.

The most used load relations are:

- For Washer Extractors => 1:10

- For Conventional Washers => 1:10 and 1:12

- For centrifuges => 1:4 and 1:5

- For Dryers => 1:18, 1:20 (World) and 1:30, 1:25 (only in Brazil)

In all cases there is also an important factor. What we teach is on the standards that manufacturers use to size the equipment, however the actual load of clothes to be loaded is determined by the type of clothes to be washed and here is where the common sense comes in, this is to say, if you bought a washing machine of 50 kg to wash duvets, you have the common sense to know that this account also includes the volume of the item to be washed and you will never be able to put 50 kg of duvets in this washing machine.

The standards serve precisely so that when you decide to buy a machine, you know exactly what the manufacturers offers you.

Thanks for reading here and staying tuned to our blog for more advice!