System for monitoring electric loads and for monitoring driving apparatuses of said electric loads

A washing and/or drying appliance comprising:

• an electric load;
• a driving apparatus for driving the electric load, the driving apparatus comprising:
• a TRIAC comprising a first anode terminal coupled with a first terminal of an AC electric power supply and a second anode terminal coupled with a first terminal of the electric load, the electric load comprising a second terminal coupled with a second terminal of the AC electric power supply;
• a microcontroller configured to generate a driving signal, and
• a triggering circuit for activating the TRIAC by providing triggering pulse signals to a gate terminal of the TRIAC based on the driving signal received from the microcontroller;
• a monitoring circuit comprising:
• the microcontroller, and
• a feedback circuit branch connected between the gate terminal of the TRIAC and an input terminal of the microcontroller for providing the voltage at the gate terminal to the TRIAC, wherein:
• the monitoring circuit is configured to monitor a high/low value of the driving signal at the input terminal of the microcontroller, and a high/low value of the voltage at the gate terminal of the TRIAC, and to assess an operating condition of the electric load, the TRIAC and the triggering circuit based on the monitored value of said driving signal and on the monitored value of the voltage at the gate terminal of the TRIAC, wherein:
• the washing and/or drying appliance is a laundry washing or a laundry washing and drying machine comprising a washing tub housing a rotatable drum in which laundry to be washed or washed and dried is loaded, and a discharge duct fluidly connected to the washing tub for receiving washing/rinsing liquid to be discharged, and
• the electric load is at least a selected one among:
• an electric motor for rotating the rotatable drum;
• a heating resistor for heating washing liquid in the washing tub;
• a drain pump selectively operable to remove washing/rinsing liquid from the discharge duct, and
• a recirculation pump selectively operable to selectively cause washing/rinsing liquid located into the discharge duct to be conveyed back into the washing tub.

A washing and/or drying appliance comprising:

• an electric load;
• a driving apparatus for driving the electric load, the driving apparatus comprising:
• a TRIAC comprising a first anode terminal coupled with a first terminal of an AC electric power supply and a second anode terminal coupled with a first terminal of the electric load, the electric load comprising a second terminal coupled with a second terminal of the AC electric power supply;
• a microcontroller configured to generate a driving signal, and
• a triggering circuit for activating the TRIAC by providing triggering pulse signals to a gate terminal of the TRIAC based on the driving signal received from the microcontroller;
• a monitoring circuit comprising:
• the microcontroller, and
• a feedback circuit branch connected between the gate terminal of the TRIAC and an input terminal of the microcontroller for providing the voltage at the gate terminal to the TRIAC, wherein:
• the monitoring circuit is configured to monitor a high/low value of the driving signal at the input terminal of the microcontroller, and a high/low value of the voltage at the gate terminal of the TRIAC, and to assess an operating condition of the electric load, the TRIAC and the triggering circuit based on the monitored value of said driving signal and on the monitored value of the voltage at the gate terminal of the TRIAC, wherein:
• the washing and/or drying appliance is a laundry drying or a laundry washing and drying machine, and
• the electric load is at least a selected one among:
• a process fan selectively operable for circulating process air;
• a heating resistor selectively operable for heating said process air;
• a compressor of an heat pump selectively operable for demoisturizing and heating said process air;
• a fan selectively operable for cooling said compressor of the heat pump, a pump selectively operable for draining condensation water.