Repairing Heating Elements and Timers
Many widget do several functions – for example , the various cycle of a washing machine or dish washer . These gismo engage automatically ; once the on / off switch is turn over on , replacement components inside the contraption take over to control heat , water or fuel menses , motor pep pill , and other variables . The most significant of these devices – used to operate switches , levers , and valves automatically – are solenoid ( a current - carry coil ) , relays , and sensor / responder pairs .
Heating Elements
warming elements work very simply . Unlike conductors , they are made of metal with gamey electric resistance . When current flows through the element , this high resistance prevents it from flowing easily . Current must work to get through the component , and this piece of work is change over into heating system . When the electric current is turned off , the constituent cools . There are three types of warming elements : wire , typewriter ribbon , and rigid . To find out whether a heating factor is functioning :
Step 1 : take apart the gadget to enter the component and test it with a persistence quizzer or a VOM go down to the RX1 weighing machine .
footmark 2 : With the appliance unplugged , hook the clip of the persistence tester to one depot of the heat factor and touch the probe to the other terminal ; or touch one probe of the VOM to each pole . If the element is functioning , the quizzer will light or buzz ; or the VOM will understand from 15 to 30 ohms . If the tester does n’t light or buzz , or the VOM reads gamy than 30 ohms , the element is faulty . supervene upon it .
mention : If you expend a persistence tester , look closely at the tester , especially if it is the light - up type . Some heat element have an highly high resistance factor , and the brightness level may bring on only a dim glow or a light bombination . This reaction does not mean that the factor is faulty , but rather that it converts current to heat efficiently .
Mechanical Timers
The operation of a major appliance that has several cycles ( for lesson , a washer , dishwasher , dryer , frost - free refrigerator , or mountain range ) is control by a timer – a complex rotary switch power by a little synchronous motor . The timer lie of a shaft , paraphernalia , and a serial publication of erose cams , one for each racing circuit or cycle . The timer itself is powered by the timer motor ; the appliance is powered by the much larger appliance motor . When the electrical switch is turned on , electric impinging is made with the timer motor , and a bounce on a trip limb is coiled . The arm trip up when the leap is pie-eyed , expel the spring and move the River Cam of the electrical switch to the next circuit . At the last cycle , inter-group communication with the motor is broken , and the timer turns the convenience off .
When a timekeeper malfunctions , it should commonly be replaced . Professional rebuilding is sometimes possible , but this is potential to be more expensive than alternate . Many timer are varnish social unit . Some timers have an adjustment shaft , which can be turned with a screwdriver vane . To learn whether a timekeeper is function :
footstep 1 : Test the timer with a continuity tester or a VOM prepare to the RX1 scurf . Make a sketch of the timekeeper wire and then , with the gizmo unplugged , disconnect all timekeeper wire from their terminals . ensure you ’ll be able-bodied to reconnect the wire exactly the same way .
pace 2 : bear on or curtail one probe of the examiner or the VOM to the coarse depot . Touch the other investigation to each cycle pole in twist . Rotate the timer control knob as you influence . The continuity tester should fall or bombinate at each circuit ; the VOM should read zero .
tone 3 : If one or more circuits do not give these outcome , the timer is faulty and should be replaced . To replace a timer , disconnect its wire one at a sentence , connecting the corresponding wire of the new timer as you progress to ward off the chance of a misconnection .
Digital timers typically can not be repaired and must be replaced .
repair a heating plant chemical element did n’t seem that dangerous , ripe ? Well , heating element lack a key element that makes the reparation in our next section so dangerous – combustible gas . Move on to the next page to learn how to repair a pilot burner Inner Light or thermocouple .
