Hand Dryers

Automatic Hand Dryers

ABIS Electronics

Automatic Hand Dryers: Things to know about Them

Back in the days where technology wasn’t as it is right now, there weren’t many options. If you wanted an automatic hand dryers commercial, you got a push-button, cast an iron dryer, and it did the job. It was during the 1980s that hand dryers began appearing in automatic versions that had infrared sensors that detected the presence of hands under the dryer’s nozzle.

There are big advantages to using automatic hand dryers. The first one is that automatic hand dryers are more hygienic. When using one, you don’t have to press a button for the hand dryer to work – this reduces the possible spread of germs that could be left on the dryer.

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Additional Advantages

Another advantage of an automatic dryer is that it has a low power or energy consumption and only has to use it as long as you need it. Many traditional push-button hand dryers’ timers are set for 30 seconds, but the user may opt to leave after only 10 seconds of drying – wasting the energy used for the rest of the cycle. Another user might want to dry his hands for 35 seconds which is a waste of almost an entire second push of a button. 

With these clear advantages, you would assume that all new hand dryers would be automatic. Yet, upon looking, a large portion of our sales are still pushing a button.

Push Button Hand Dryers

Why do people remain to purchase push-button hand dryers?

One reason is that many of the specifications out there are leftover from years ago when hand dryers came in only one type. Pushbuttons may also have worked for you in the past and you see no reason to change it now.

Fewer Advantages More Germs

Another reason is that there is a perception that mechanical push button dryers are more durable and easier to fix than electronic sensors. Admittedly, when sensors were first introduced, they were less reliable than the tried and tested push-button timers because the eyes could be either too sensitive, going off simply by the reflection of light against the surface below, not sensitive enough, or not activating the dryer at all.

Also, the first generation of sensors had short life spans which resulted in it needing to be replaced too often. 

However, as mentioned, technology now has advanced. The sensors and their circuit boards which were the problems before in a sensor working hand dryer are now some of the most reliable components in the dryer.

Mechanical Issues

Of course, it is possible to encounter some problems with sensors still. Nonetheless, mechanical push button timers can also have problems with the timer or the push button itself. Whichever the case, a simple fix is usually available by replacing a couple of parts.

Based on our experience, sensors that have fewer moving parts are more reliable. The sensor usually costs more than push button dryers.

One of the reasons why a lot of push-button hand dryers are still purchased is because some people still think that they are not as easy to vandalize as motion-sensor hand dryers. It is because some vandals will try to damage the automatic hand dryer sensor by scratching it or putting gum on it.

The sensor eye is designed to resist scratching; even a scratched or partly covered sensor will still work. However, it could affect its performance because no matter how durable a product is, it is still possible to do some damage. Moreover, dryers are programmed to stop running after a period if the sensor is blocked.

Not Vandal Proof

Then again, a push button can be vandalized as well – but not as easily. It sometimes happens that you will see the button itself sprung out from the cover. This happens when the clip holds it in place and pops out. This can be fixed by purchasing a new clip.

We believe that the hygiene and convenience that an automatic dryer can provide is what most of us want and need. We always recommend the automatic over push button because no one wants to touch anything in the restroom.

As new dryers are out, you will notice that they are the automatic versions. Sooner or later, there will be no more push-button hand dryers. Though now, they are still popular and you may find for whatever reason, that they are right for your preference.

Automatic Hand Dryers: Common Problems

ABIS Electronics

We buy hand dryers to make our lives easier. We expect it to help us with drying our hands as fast as it can. We even put an extra budget to get the finest in the market. But what if it is not functioning the way it should be? What can we do?

Let us identify the typical problems you encounter in your hand dryers.

1. Performance has reduced

There are few likely causes on the motor, depending on its age and type. The 2 brushes holding the rotator of the motor will eventually ware including the brush motor hand dryer. Before its occurrence, even on a low-cost unit, the electric hand dryer should at least perform 100,000 cycles. Therefore, if it’s relatively new or in a low use area, this is less likely to be the fault.

When the electric hand dryer was installed, be sure to check it as well as what the expected brush life is according to the supplier in order to eliminate this as a likely cause.

Moreover, you will be able to visually detect if the brushes are worn because the connection with the rotator will be slight or there will be no connection at all. It is also worth checking or replacing the springs that hold the brushes in place.

2. Noise

The possible reason could be the springs on the brush motor that are not placed correctly in its proper condition and tension. If so, it will move about as the motor rotates. In addition to that, the components may have come loose so the unit will need thorough checking.

3. No Heat

Modern hand dryers have been dependent on the speed of the airflow as opposed to the evaporation to dry hands. These hand dryers have an option whether it’s heated or unheated airflow. However, unheated airflow versions are far more efficient in terms of energy; so it’s important to check whether the hand dryer has a heater element. If it does not, the dryer will only give off heat when it is in regular use.

Secondly, if heat is desired and there is a heater element, there could be a switch under the unit or on the circuit board that would allow the heat to be activated or deactivated.

Lastly, check the connection between the heater element and circuit board as it may have come loose and check that there is the power to the heater element. If it is none of these things, you may need to obtain a new heater element from the supplier.

4. Rust

For the users of stainless steel hand dryers, this steel has been added by chrome for the rust resistance and often nickel for acid resistance. If it contains 18% chrome and 10% nickel, this will be considered as the top-quality stainless steel. The expected quality of this kind is generally more expensive, brighter and whiter in colour compared to the lower grade stainless steel ranging from 13/0 that looks quite grey. Despite its name, most metal alloys used in cutlery make it stain-resistant rather than stainless.

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) combines the strength and rigidity of acrylonitrile and styrene polymers with the toughness of polybutadiene rubber. While the cost of producing ABS is roughly twice the cost of producing polystyrene, it is considered superior for its hardness, gloss, toughness, and electrical insulation properties. ABIS Hand Dryers is Robust ABS Plastic Cover to Last and is CE & RoHS approved.

ABIS Plastic vs Stainless Steel

ABS plastic is made out of oil-based resources that allow it to have a much higher melting point than PLA plastic. It’s also stronger and harder. ABS Plastic is a copolymer of Acrylonitrile, Butadiene, and Styrene, and generally possesses medium strength and performance at medium cost.

ABS is a common thermoplastic resin and can often meet the property requirements at a reasonable price — falling between standard resins like PVC, polyethylene, and polystyrene and engineering resins like acrylic, nylon, and acetal. ABS is considered the best of the styrenic family; it is tough, hard, rigid, and has good chemical resistance and dimensional stability.

Invest in an affordable yet durable hand dryer like the ABIS Excel-9 to make sure that these common problems you might encounter are minimized or prevented.

Hand Dryers: how to take care of them

ABIS Electronics

The stainless steel hand dryer doesn’t just come in a durable shell, it also looks very attractive and is the perfect accessory for the toilet perfectly. However, all stainless steel hand dryers tend to discolour over time without proper maintenance. 

The method of cleaning the stainless steel hand dryer is simple. First, make sure that the power of the stainless steel hand dryer has been turned off before and during cleaning or maintenance.

Moreover, cleaning products containing strong acids and alkalis in the toilet should not be spilt on stainless steel hand dryers. Bleach and other hypochlorite solutions should never be directly used in the shell surfaces.

Finally, wash the stainless steel shell with soapy water or mild detergent, then dry it with a soft cloth. Maintain the cleaning for a long time so that the stainless steel hand dryer looks like a new one.

Except for the cleanliness and maintenance of the outside of the stainless steel hand dryer, the inside also needs maintenance like checking and replacing the HEPA filter every six months. Because HEPA filters can block bacteria and dust, these bacteria or dust can accumulate on the filter – which can damage the hand dryer and block its airflow.

Furthermore, when the hand dryer is not heating, check and replace the heating element because the connection between the heating element and the dryer’s circuit board may come loose, meaning that no power is being sent to the heater.

A good maintenance operation will help the stainless steel hand dryer in its groove.

Recommended hand dryer: The ABIS Storm Hand Dryer

Automatic Hand Dryers

Allow us to introduce our top selling commercial ABIS Storm Hand Dryer. Not only does this model boast a 12 second drying time, but it’s also eco-friendly. Along with Storm’s improved design, the push button activation has been removed to ensure it remains as one of the most hygienic appliances. This product comes highly recommended for use in public places such as hospitals, schools, restaurants, and theatres.

Main Benefits

  • Durable and vandal resistant with a heavy-duty stainless steel cover to handle busy traffic and unexpected damage.
  • Powerful air spin of 75MPS, serving more people in less time.
  • Our top-quality motor and mainboard are built for long-lasting service with original CE & RoHS compliance.
  • We have added a new eco-friendly motor and heating panel for minimal energy use during each dry which brings up to 30% savings!
  • Carefree 3-year warranty from a well-established British company. Superb technical support and excellent customer service.

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