djh_van t1_iscxm1a wrote on October 15, 2022 at 12:24 AM

Reply to comment by PM_ME_Dog_PicsPls in Dishwasher keeps going by Atlantic76

Yeah...but a mechanical device exposed to moisture tends to keep working.

Same thing with an electronic design will be way more sensitive and prone to failure.

If I had to choose between a mechanical and electronic device that achieves the exact same task without losing out on any functions, I'd rather have the mechanical version.

BoilerButtSlut t1_isds2bn wrote on October 15, 2022 at 4:55 AM

The issue isn't mechanical vs. electronic.

Electronics can easily last decades. Just go look at electronic controllers in any older factory: it's not hard to find stuff from the 70s/80s working just fine.

Electronic is inherently much more longer-lasting than any mechanical system. Hence why you don't see mechanical controllers for things in places like factories anymore: if they were more reliable then that's all they would use. It's not at all hard to seal off electronics from water or harsh environments.

Electronics just lend themselves to cut cutting much more easily than mechanical does. With a mechanical timer/controller you can't really do much outside of move to cheaper materials or lower tolerances. With electronics you can move to much cheaper components that aren't as rugged or can't handle temperature swings as well as the durable stuff does.

Moving to very cheap electronic components can easily reduce cost by 10x or more. Moving to cheaper mechanical components might save you like 10-20%. So that's why cheap appliances tend to have electronic parts that don't last long. Premium/commercial grade appliances with electronics should have no trouble lasting decades though.