In Rotterdam there is a long stretch of flags of nations with anti-gay policy. Each flag pole has a sign indicating the criminal penalties they level against homosexuals. I think it was called “Rainbow project” or something… not sure, vague memory. It’s shocking how many flags there are.

I think last I heard there were ~7 or so countries where the penalty is potentially death.

It’s a great project to increase awareness. And it can be improved. Actions to consider:

• There are so many flags that probably not many bypassers read all the signs. I suggest something extra on the flag poles of the countries that use the death penalty for homosexuality, to make them stand out a bit more. Maybe add a ☠ -- skull and crosspones sign or flag.

• Facebook’s algorithms determine who is gay -- regardless of whether an FB pawn is open about it or not. In some cases, FB knows before the FB pawn even knows. Facebook’s data is threat in all the countries represented. This needs to be publicised as well, to shame Facebook and increase awareness. I mean, there are lives on the line so I don’t really get why there has not been widespread condemnation of Facebook over this.

The FB problem should be mentioned but perhaps not in a way that’s louder than the sign with the legal penalty. A good approach might be to print some labels with fine print saying:

“… and Facebook tracks who is homosexual.”

which could be applied to the bottom of every sign.

Most people walking past the signs don’t have any connection to those countries so awareness is all the display does. Add the Facebook sickers, then some people will realise they are not helpless. They can boycott Facebook.

I was never able to obtain the service manual (thread).

When I called them for repair info, they asked me if I was a consumer or a pro repair tech. I find the question disturbing. If I lie then I risk them making assumptions about my tools and perhaps willingness to pay for wiring diagrams and service manuals. They probably assume I would have access to some kind of subscription to a pro repair platform that has that info. So I admitted to being a consumer at the risk of being told “call a pro”. They asked what was wrong with the machine, then I got cut off because I ran out of phone credit (after being on hold for a long time). A glimpse of their answer before the call dropped sounded like incorrect speculation.

Google as a repair gatekeeper

I’ve watched a lot of Youtube videos. Also quite disturbed that Google is the gatekeeper of educational repair videos which it blocks me from saving a local copy of. I can only watch at the public library because I do not have an unlimited connection. So I have to memorize steps or take notes.

I don’t give a shit if Google jails viral cat videos. But Google jails knowledge, and it’s knowledge that ecocide avoidance depends on. Maybe we need some #Greenpeace sponsored peertube instances to become a go-to for repair instructions.

Error codes concealed

One of the youtubers said Beko’s PCB stores the error internally but it will not allow consumers to see the error code. Does anyone see a legit reason for this? Even if they intend to block consumer repair, consumers would still have a legit use for the code -- to have an idea of the cost of a problem before calling out a costly technician. It would also be sensible to to give the code to the technician in advance.

The Youtuber (fuck I hate that term) gave a secret sequence of steps to get the PCB to disclose the error code. The special sequence has no effect on my particular model. Different models have different secret sequences to reach the diagnostic mode, and no youtuber has covered my exact model. Similar models from roughly the same time period are covered in various non-English languages, but when I repeat the motions I do not reach diagnostic mode.

Do I have a serial port?

The PCB has unused pins labeled 5v, TX, RX, 9v 0v. Apparently this is a serial port for an RS232 cable. What info likely comes from it? My boiler PCB has the same thing and in that case there are mere hints in the docs that it is to attach a device that transmits telemetry data over GSM. Would a washing machine have that? Or is it to attach a PC or proprietary device to get detailed telemetry data?

Secret steps to tell the machine that the fault is gone

A youtuber gave the impression that after fixing the problem (whatever it is, I still don’t know), the PCB will still think there is a fault until steps are taken to clear the error. The video ended before he explained how to do that -- although it was not my model and would not have worked for me anyway. But I have to wonder if my problem is merely a false detection of a problem. Or if it’s a real problem that I fix, is it likely that I have track down a special sequence of steps to tell the PCB the fault is fixed?

I think if I could go back in time and mention this experience to Twilight Zone writers in the 1980s, they would simply write this into an episode as-is.

I cannot repair my washing machine without documentation. I have no idea how to use my multimeter to check the components. There are parts dealers for Beko in my area, but none of them have the service manual.

The parts shops all say go to the website for the manual as a flippant off-the-cuff answer. There are no service manuals on the Beko website -- at least not for my model. The navigation of the Beko website does not even have a path to docs. And worse, my model is treated as non-existent by the website.

What would I do if I were a professional repair service? What is the official channel?

I am open to “piracy¹” but it would be a long shot to scour all the dark web for a manual for a specific washing machine. It’s not the type of content people have a strong interest in spreading/trading.

¹As RMS says, it’s not a just and appropriate term for it (but “sharing” is awkward too).

(update) Added frame from Youtube video t1XaUolbjLY which shows that service manuals exist for at least some Beko models. As we can see in the snapshot, Beko wants to restrict who is servicing their machines. (btw the video covers a very different model than mine).

I probably need to find the test mode for my machine, comparable to YT video cq_uSyghZC0.

new problem

The machine reached a new low. Now there actually is a problem with the water valve, it seems. When running a program, it pauses then the start button just blinks. (It previously started by pumping then at least filled the tub). So I followed this video from the 5m10s position. I do not get 220v on either valve. But certainly I can see that 220V is getting to the control panel. So 220v goes into the control panel, but does not make it out of the control panel leads where the water valve connects.

(edit) The water valves themselves are fine (I connected 220v directly to the water valves and water flows). I guess I should suspect the pump now. The pump was actually the very first task back when the machine worked. So I should not have even been looking at the water valves which only start after the initial pumping ends.