World Dryer Sanitize+Dry or VERDEdri Underperforming? (Voltage Misread FAQ)

If your World Dryer Sanitize + Dry or VERDEdri hand dryer turns on, but the airflow feels weak, slow, or underpowered, your hand dryer might be misreading the incoming voltage.  This error is easy to fix. 

What does “misreading voltage” mean?

The VERDEdri and the Sanitize+Dry are Universal-Voltage hand driers.  This means that they automatically detect the incoming voltage, and then configure themselves to work within one of three ranges:

  • 100 – 120 V (marked as 120V)
  • 208-240V (230V)
  • 277V

The configuration happens when the dryer is first connected to power, and it stays that way unless it is manually reset to a new power range.   In most cases, this is quite convenient, since you can use one unit in virtually any scenario, without even knowing what the power supply is at your location, so long as it is in the range of 100 to 277 volts.

But this is where an error can occur.  If the hand dryer has been previously set to one voltage and it is later used with another, there will be a power mis-match.  A hand dryer could be tested at the time of manufacture, for example, using 230 volts.  If the operator forgets to reset it, then it will remain at 230 volts, even if your power is 120 volts. 

Example scenario causing an error

  • Actual power supply at the building circuit: 120V
  • Previous configuration of the hand dryer: 208V 

Result:

The dryer is expecting high voltage but is only getting low voltage, so it runs at half speed, making it feel weak and ineffective. 

The Fix: The hand dryer must be reset by powering it off at the breaker and then holding the S1 button when turned back on. 

This is effectively a two-person job:

  • One person at the breaker
  • One person at the hand dryers control board

  

Steps:

  • Turn OFF the breaker supplying power to the hand dryer.
  • Remove the cover to the hand dryer. (You will need the security wrench that comes with the dryer, or purchase WDP-204TP. Note that these are reverse-threaded screws, so turn clockwise to loosen.)
  • Hold down the S1 button, located on the right side of the circuit board and pictured here.
  • Turn the breaker back on.
  • Continue holding the S1 button for 15 seconds.
  • Release the button. The unit will reinitialize to the correct voltage, and the lights on the circuit board will blink 3 times.
  • Replace the cover and enjoy clean and fast hand drying! 

If your hand dryer was set to high-voltage but the input was actually low-voltage, this reset will speed up the hand dryer.  If the input was high-voltage and the hand dryer was set to low-voltage, then the motor would have been running too high and hot.  This reset may simply fix the problem, but there’s a chance that the higher voltage input damaged the motor.  If that’s the case, please contact World Dryer. 

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