Direct current power supply for a washing appliance

A direct current power supply for a washing appliance having a plurality of commutation devices and an electronically commutated motor powered from a high direct voltage comprising:

• a latching circuit which is connected to the high direct voltage supply and comprises an active switching device which is connected across an input of one of the commutation devices and a microprocessor which is configured to turn on the active switching device:
• a switch mode power supply which is connected to said high direct voltage supply and to said latching circuit, wherein the microprocessor of the latching circuit is configured to control said switch mode power supply such that said switch mode power supply supplies direct current at a low voltage level from said high direct voltage supply using at least one motor winding and the commutation devices in a common motor current path as a buck converter;
• wherein the microprocessor of the latching circuit is configured to turn on the active switching device of the latching circuit such that the commutation device to which the active switching device is connected latches off, thereby disabling the buck converter,
• wherein the latching circuit further comprises a push button switch, wherein the latching circuit is configured to turn off the active switching device upon the push button switch being pushed such that the commutation device to which the active switching device is connected turns on, thereby enabling the buck converter.