Abstract: Device and method for detecting malfunction of a clutch in a washing machine, the device including a clutch including a coupling for transmission of a power from a motor to a washing shaft or a spinning shaft, a clutch motor (60) for providing a power to the coupling, a switch for controlling the coupling, and a cam (600) fitted to be rotatable with the clutch motor for turning on/off the switch in response to the rotation, a power supplying part for supplying a voltage to the motor and the clutch motor (60), a pulse counting part for counting a number of pulses of a voltage supplied to the clutch motor from the power supplying part, and a microcomputer for repeating a process in which the clutch motor is stopped for a second set time period (S20) and operated again if the switch is not switched for a first set time period from a time the clutch motor is put into operation, and informs to a user that the clutch is in malfunction if the switch is not switched while the process is repeated equal to or more than

Abstract: A spin tub of a washing machine is driven by an electronically commutated DC motor. The commutation devices are connected to a DC power supply and have free-wheeling diodes connected in parallel therewith. The washing machine includes other components having inductive windings. A controller terminates commutation of power to the motor windings. A voltage threshold detector monitors the voltage of the power supply. Switching structure connects the inductive winding of an unused component in the machine across the power supply when the detector detects that the voltage has exceeded a predetermined value and subsequently disconnects the inductive winding of the unused component from the power supply when the detector detects that the voltage has reduced below the pre-determined value.