washing machine repair man

Hi. I have just recently had a pacemaker fitted which is a Sonic reply DR.
My BIG question is now .... Having contacted the heart foundation people their advice seems to be with regard to magnetic field interference from the main drive motors i.e. induction motors, carbon brush motors, inlet valves, out let pumps, various computer components etc. plus the use of testing equipment i.e. mega 1000 vlts. All these things combined, their guide lines seem to be 1 - 2 ft away from internal parts with top and back removed for repair purposes. (this means I need a really long screw driver)!!!
Has any one come across this problem before as I have not yet received a reply from Sonic and my doctor is very unsure as to whether it will be safe for me to continue my job as a self employed domestic appliance engineer with 45 years experience. I am currently 63 years old and my pacemaker was fitted 7 weeks ago, In 2 weeks time I have my first pacemaker appointment, although at present I am not physically fit to return to work as yet.
If any one has any comments I would like to hear from you.
This is my first message I have left as I have only just joined the PM club.
For you interest I live in Canterbury, Kent UK.

5 Comments

Washer Repair

by donr - 2013-07-12 06:07:23

Wash: Were it a US model w/ 120 volt supply, I'd say it's a not to worry situation. But, I know UK runs 240 V for household appliances.

I can give you one data point: My PM passed by a 240 V cable supplying a water heater at about 6 inches. The heater was on. MY PM reacted! Big time, but it was only momentary.

I have a Hot Tub in my back yard that is a 240 V device - 2 pumps. I have been w/i 2 ft of them on many occasions when they were running - no effect.

Since you are self-employed, the only person you have to satisfy is yourself. Dunno what device you consider most dangerous, but open one up & experiment w/ it & see what it does or does NOT do to your PM. Approach it slowly. If your arms are as long as mine - about 2 ft each, you would have to pick up a running motor & hug it to your chest - I doubt that you would do that. Any affect on your PM will be transitory - as you approach it, as soon as you feel "Funny," back off & everything will return to normal in a few seconds.

There are a bunch of people here w/ lots of experience around electrical equipment up to 440 V industrial stuff. If they are around, they will respond - they always do. Just wanted to start you off w/ positive thoughts on your problem.

Don

Sorin reply DR

by clockman1 - 2013-07-13 06:07:09

Hi Wash 35, I think your pacemaker may well be a Sorin Reply DR not a Sonic as you stated, it should be on the card they gave you when it was fitted. I had one fitted 16 months ago and apart from a couple of tweeks at check up's its been no problem, can't help you on the magnetic side though, sorry. I am a retired clockmaker and still occasionally use my lathe which has a big electric motor about 18 inches from my PM and no obvious problems.
Someone on here will certainly answer your query before long, it's a great website with a lot of helpful caring people.
Good luck with it all,
Keep warm and vertical.
clockman1
Roy

Washer repair

by wash35 - 2013-07-13 07:07:13

Hi. Don and Roy.
Thanks for your quick replies. One other thing I forgot to mention I also have M E and Chronic Fatigue syndrome for the past 5 years so tiredness is very relevant to me!
(Yes Don, volts in the UK is 240 but test equipment is run at a 1000 volts)
Has any one tried the Osuntech alert system which is advertised on this site and does it work and is it worth purchasing one?
Stephen


Additional Data Point

by donr - 2013-07-13 08:07:41

Stephen: Just remembered another "Test" I ran on my Medtronics PM. I have a steel transformer box in my front yard that drops the power company's 13,000 line voltage down to something my house can tolerate - like 240 V. A long time back, I lay down across it on my chest to pick up a tool that had fallen off the top onto the far side. Did it w/o thinking - zero affect on my PM. Just to confirm it, two weeks ago I repeated the "Test" w/o ill effect. Input to the transformer is about 13,000 V; output is House supply 200Amps at 240 V.

Don

Test Equipment

by donr - 2013-07-13 08:07:53

Stephen: Are you talking about a "Megger"? That's what we call a device used to test insulation.

I just Googled it & learned that the device is an English invention, so guess you call them the same thing.

They are battery powered, so they should not generate such large magnitude fields that it will affect your PM. Judging by the size & insulation on the leads, you should not expect a lot of current at 1000 V. It's looking for Voltage breakdown of insulation, not current. I have only ever seen one in a lab in the EE Dept where I went to school back in 1961-63, so I suppose that they have significantly changed since then w/ the advent of solid state devices. The one I recall was only loosely portable & IIRC, was operated by a hand crank that spun a magnet in a coil to generate the voltages needed to do the testing.

But, you will never know till you try yours out. I doubt that any MD or PM Rep has even a remote idea what you are talking about. Here's what you do - get a friend to turn yours on & operate it at a distance from you (or turn the crank if you use a museum piece). Then slowly get closer to it to see if it affects your PM. If it does, back off & throw in the towel; if not, it's yours to use.

Somewhere in the Site, we have an industrial guy that may well have used one. Have not seen him around in a while, however. At least my comment can start the discussion of Meggers. There is also an American member who did appliance repair, so he may chime in.

Quick, bail me out - what is "M E"?

PLs let us know what you learn.

Don

You know you're wired when...

Your kids call you Cyborg.

Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.