Dishwasher appliance with low voltage electrical components

Abstract

A dishwasher appliance is provided. The dishwasher appliance includes a door for providing access to a wash chamber of the dishwasher appliance. A low voltage electrical component is mounted within the door and is in electrical communication with a low voltage power source. By utilizing the low voltage power source and the low voltage electrical component, the reliability of the dishwasher appliance can be improved.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwasher appliance comprising:
 a tub defining a wash chamber;   a door mounted proximate to said tub and configured for permitting selective access to the wash chamber of said tub, said door containing no high voltage electrical components;   a low voltage power source; and   a low voltage electrical component positioned within or on said door and in electrical communication with said low voltage power source.   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a harness extending between said low voltage power source and said low voltage electrical component, said harness placing said low voltage electrical component and said low voltage power source in electrical communication. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said low voltage power source comprises a Class II power source. 
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said low voltage power source has a maximum power output of about fifteen watts. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said low voltage power source has a maximum, nominal output voltage between about zero volts and about forty-two volts. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said low voltage power source is disposed within a machinery chamber defined below said tub. 
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said low voltage electrical component comprises at least one of:
 a user input panel mounted at a top portion of said door;   a fan mounted within said door; and   a detergent and/or rinse aid dispenser mounted to said door.   
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control board in electrical communication with said low voltage power source;   a high voltage power supply in electrical communication with said control board; and   a high voltage electrical component disposed adjacent said tub and in electrical communication with said control board.   
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 7 , wherein said control board is disposed within a machinery chamber defined below said tub. 
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 8 , wherein said control board is disposed within a container mounted to said tub. 
     
     
         11 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 7 , wherein said high voltage electrical component comprises at least one of:
 a heating element disposed within the wash chamber of said tub; and   a pump in fluid communication with the wash chamber of said tub.   
     
     
         12 . A dishwasher appliance comprising:
 a tub defining a wash chamber;   a door mounted to said tub and configured for permitting selective access to the wash chamber of said tub, said door containing no high voltage electrical components;   a control board configured to be powered by a high voltage power supply, said control board having a low voltage power source for transforming high voltage power from said high voltage power supply to low voltage power;   a low voltage electrical component mounted within or on said door and in electrical communication with the low voltage power source of said control board; and   a high voltage electrical component mounted to said tub and in electrical communication with said control board.   
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 12 , further comprising a harness extending between the low voltage power source of said control board and said low voltage electrical component, said harness placing said low voltage electrical component and the low voltage power source of said control board in electrical communication. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the low voltage power source of said control board comprises a Class II power source. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 12 , wherein said low voltage power source has a maximum, nominal output voltage between about zero volts and about forty-two volts. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 12 , wherein said low voltage power source has a maximum power output of about fifteen watts. 
     
     
         17 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 12 , wherein said low voltage electrical component comprises at least one of:
 a user input panel mounted to a top of said door;   a fan mounted within said door; and   a detergent and/or rinse aid dispenser mounted to said door.   
     
     
         18 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 12 , wherein said control board is disposed within a machinery chamber defined below said tub. 
     
     
         19 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 17 , wherein said control board is disposed within a container mounted to said tub. 
     
     
         20 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 12 , wherein said high voltage electrical component comprises at least one of:
 a heating element disposed within the wash chamber of said tub; and   a pump in fluid communication with the wash chamber of said tub.