starfish24, Basically what happen was this....... My Diamante Plus unit is now 15 months old. I had used the original Miele tabs (half a tab per load) up until Oct/Nov of last year when I ran out. I went to buy another box, but it was replaced by a "newer" Miele tab that is now phosphate free. I again used half a tab per load and that box lasted me until about April of this year. I went and purchased a 2nd box, same "newer" Miele Tabs. It was a week or so later that my unit was running one night (with the half tab) and I went upstairs and saw something that I forgot to put in the dishwasher. So I back to the kitchen and opened it up to add the item. To my amazement, there was about 1" of suds on top of the water. I added the item and closed the unit back up, and it continued it's cycle. I know from before, that the original Miele tabs did not make suds, because once or twice I did have to open it up mid-cycle to add something....but this was the first time I had to do it while using the newer tabs. So I called Miele Tech Support and told them. They said "You need to use half a tab them", which I then informed them that I already was using half, so they then said "then try to use less, like one-forth of a tab." I tried it that night, but you can only cut them so much with scissors before they start to break apart. So instead I crushed them all up into powder using to large spoons and mixed it all together. I then used a one-half teaspoon measuring spoon (which is equal to a quarter of a tablet) to does it out into the detergent door of the dishwasher. I saw that it still did make some suds, but not nearly as much as when I was using a half tab, but everything still came out clean. So since April, that is what I've been doing, just using the one-half teaspoon dose for each nightly load. When I went to run the unit on July 22, I pressed the power button on the front, and it started a continual drain mode with the 3 yellow LED lights (rinse, dry, end) all flashing. I could not select a program and start the unit. I called Miele Tech Support, which instructed me to unplug it, and shut off the water to the unit from under the sink, so that is what I did. He said that there is a lower-pan under the unit with an overflow protection switch that will put the unit in a continual drain if it gets wet. The unit was unplugged and unused this all weekend, as on Monday 24th there was to be a service tech to come out, but he was out sick, and the other tech was booked-up, so I was re-scheduled for three days later. A bit later on that Monday, I plugged the unit back in just to see if it was still on the continual drain, and it wasn't, so I was able to try a Rinse mode, and it worked Ok. At that point, I didn't want to use the Miele detergent any more, as I had a feeling it was the suds that got down in the lower pan and tripped the overflow circuit. So I went out and got the Method Smarty tabs. I tried those (half and full tab) and it cleaned just fine and there was no suds. Now on Thursday the Miele Tech and the Area Tech Supervisor came out to inspect it. The dishwasher did not have to be pulled out. All they did was remove my lower wood toe-kick board and unscrew and remove rectangle shaped metal plate on the bottom-front (about 6"x3"), that would normally be covered-up by the toe-kick. Behind that metal plate was a bottom metal floor and he showed me where there was died-up detergent. There was also a circular piece of white plastic that was on the bottom, and attached to something else above it. He said that was the overflow protection, that if water or suds happen to get down in there, that it triggers the circuit and puts the unit into the drain mode. But they said all the water gasket seals were fine, and ran it on a rinse, and no water leaked down in there. I showed them the pictures I took of all the suds from the newer Miele tabs. They both looked at them and said it didn't look excessive, but said it still really shouldn't make a lot of suds. Neither of them could explain as to why the newer Miele tabs made suds, but said that overtime it could of built-up and then triggered the over-flow down there. The Area Tech said he was going to "forward it up" so that the other departments can be aware of my issue and maybe have to re-test the Miele Tabs on their own. They also tested my water hardness and said it was 5 grains, which my unit was already set to that level. I showed them the Method tabs and said I've been using them for 3 days and haven't had any suds from them. The one tech said he uses regular Cascade powder detergent in his older Inspira unit, and it works just fine for him. So to sum it up... I believe the suds from the newer Miele tabs that I have been using since October of last year was the cause of the problem, and eventually got down in the lower pan area and triggered the overflow circuit. Then when I had the unit unplugged and not used for 3 days, whatever was down in there dried-up, and released the overflow protection. So I'm not sure how the tech would "fix" it if there were water/suds down in pan at the time of him being here, since mine was all dried-up and just had some white residue.

Thanks all. Well, UE came through and the dog and I took a drive up the road about 3 miles (I drove) to get to the gas station with the better prices. This gas station was 6 cents cheaper a gallon than the closer station. Geez, I have not bought gas for quite a while. The prices are going back up. The price was like $2.73.9 a gallon for unleaded. Some days I have not even left the house except to water the plants, feed the birds and get the mail. What are you all paying in your part of the country? So if my body behaves tomorrow morning I will head on down the road. I am not sure if I should take the freeway since that might be jammed up. I will listen to the radio before I leave the house. They give the traffic report so you know what's stopped up. Oh, and the weather channel local on the 8's and its website show the road slowdowns too. Ok, if I make it there I will report to you all tomorrow and let you know how my 1st day went. Another thing to worry about - health insurance. I have to make sure I ask about that tomorrow. Oh, and I have to remember to stop at Ikea for an application.

There's no Target closer than an hour away, so I've not been more than four or five times in the past twelve years. I do have something wonderful though, that I bought at target many many years ago. It's a table runner of some dark green silky material bordered in a deep red velvet, appliquéd with lighter green holly leaves and beaded berries. It's sitting on top of our living room mantel right now with a deer family on it, but at one time or another it's been in every single room in our house. I think it was under $20 and it's safe to say I have gotten my money's worth out of this purchase! OTOH, I am almost allergic to Home Goods. There's one near my mother, and I have visited it with her quite a bit but have never bought or even liked anything they have. People say you never know what's going to be there for sale, sort of like Tuesday Morning, but it's the type of stuff they have that really just doesn't appeal to me. So no love of either here, despite this fabulous Target runner from the late 1990s:

It could be the tiny fuses in the ends of each string.... y ou can buy replacement fuses where you buy the lights. Usually in little packets hanging on a peg near replacement light bulbs. I would get a package of fuses and see if that does it before tossing them. They shouldn't burn out over a year. Also check to see if yours are the kind that are suppose to stay lit even if a bulb goes out. Some older ones, if one bulb goes, they all go, then it is trouble finding the burned out one. I would also check and see if you can store them in a box in a bedroom or someplace other than the attic from now on and I wouldn't seal them in plastic baggie either. I would just wind them up, and put them in a box.