Control system for a multi-compartment dishwasher

A dishwasher comprising:

• at least one outer housing;
• a first washing unit positioned in the at least one outer housing, said first unit including bottom, rear and opposing side walls that collectively define a first washing tub;
• a second washing unit positioned in the at least one outer housing, said second unit including bottom, rear and opposing side walls that collectively define a second washing tub;
• a first controller operatively associated with the first washing tub;
• a second controller operatively associated with the second washing tub, said second controller being substantially identical to the first controller;
• a communication link joining the first and second controllers;
• and
• user-configurable control circuitry for designating one of the first and second washing units as a primary washing unit and another of the first and second washing units as a secondary washing unit, said user-configurable control circuitry being operatively associated with at least one of the first and second controllers, wherein the primary and secondary washing units share system resources during an overall washing operation with the primary washing unit having preference over the secondary washing unit.

A method of controlling a dishwasher having a first drawer including a first set of wash system components and a second drawer including a second set of wash system components comprising:

• connecting a first control board to the first set of wash system components;
• connecting a second control board to the second set of wash system components;
• establishing a communication link between the first and second control boards;
• prior to the initiation of a wash cycle, designating one of the first and second control boards as a primary control board and another of the first and second control boards as a secondary control board using control circuitry, said control circuitry being user-configurable, and separate and distinct from each of the first and second control boards.