Controller for washing machine with alternately reversing drive motor

A controller for a washing machine with an alternately reversing drive motor wherein an electromechanical timer interfaces in conventional manner to electrical devices, and also switches line voltage to predetermined ones of a plurality of control lines to provide an encoded signal corresponding to the selected agitator stroke profile. The line voltage on the control lines is shifted to a DC voltage level compatible with a microprocessor that decodes the encoded signal, and then provides high rate control signals that gate high power solid state switches that switch line voltage to the respective stator windings of a permanent split capacitor motor. In such manner, the motor is driven in alternately reversing directions and, by way of a speed reducer, drives the agitator of the washing machine according to the selected stroke profile.