Specific failure symptoms include: 1) Water on floor near dishwasher. 2) During dishwasher cycle, water accumulates on left or right side of dishwasher lower panel.
To locate the cause of the problem, remove lower panel and check for broken plumbing drain connections, water inlet valve, broken or cracked hoses (drain and inlet), or drive motor and pump assembly motor seal. If a hose or a faulty part is found, replace it. Check that door is closing properly. Read the rest of this entry »
Table lamps, floor standards, bedside lights and other portable lights can have dimmer control using any one of three methods. One method is a dimmer socket adaptor which plugs into the standard 13 A socket-outlet. This unit has two 2-pin sockets and is especially suitable for controlling two bedside lamps in a twin-bedded or a double-bedded room. The control knob on the adaptor dims both lamps at the same light intensity; they cannot be controlled independently.
Another method uses a line-cord dimmer which is wired into the flex of the lamp. The dimmer can be a standard wall type mounted on a plastic box and placed on the arm of the chair, table, desk, or any other chosen position. Alternatively, it can be a mini-dimmer switch resembling a torpedo table lamp switch. This type is especially suitable for the individual control of bedside lamps. Read the rest of this entry »
Portable electric heaters and many fixed electric heaters are controlled by a switch or switches mounted on the frame of the heater. In addition, the heater is switched at a switched socket-outlet or switched fused connection unit or is connected to a non-switched socket-outlet which means pulling out the plug to switch off the heater.
Wall panel heaters, oil filled radiators, convectors and other heaters operating at ‘black heat’ have an integral thermostat which is set to the required room temperature. Read the rest of this entry »
Downlighters are ceiling fittings of tubular shape alloy containing reflector bulbs or spotlights to produce pools of light on the table and floor against a dark ceiling background. They can be mounted as close- ceiling fittings but there are also versions for sinking flush with the ceiling and some are semi-recessed. The flush version, and to a lesser extent the semi-recessed version require a deep void above the ceiling.
These fittings are also mounted flush with the ceiling but instead of producing pools of light on the horizontal plane, produce them on walls as part of a lighting scheme. Colour lamps and coloured walls produce the required effect. Read the rest of this entry »
Although the primary purpose of a lighting fitting is to provide light, a fitting is exposed to view throughout the hours of daylight and it is, therefore, equally important that it is pleasing to look at when not alight. Before buying a fitting decide whether you would prefer a ceiling fitting or wall lights. If you decide on a ceiling fitting choose between a pendant or a close- mounted ceiling fitting.
Also, decide on the position of the fitting as this will also affect the choice. When choosing in the shop or department store try and visualise how a fitting would appear in your home. This is not easy when the shop has a forest of fittings, some alight and others unlit. Read the rest of this entry »
Turn the electricity OFF at the circuit breaker panel. A suspected broken or burned wire(s) can be checked with the volt/ohmmeter. NOTE: A broken or burned wire(s) that connects to dishwasher components will cause it to not fill with water because electricity is not capable of reaching the water inlet valve. Set the volt/ohmmeter on the RX-1 scale. Connect one probe from the volt/ohmmeter to the terminal of the wire to be checked. Trace the wire to the component that it connects to. Remove the wire from the component terminal. Attach this wire to the remaining probe of the volt/ohmmeter. The volt/ohmmeter should show full scale deflection or 0 ohms. This would indicate that the wire is not defective. If you do not get a reading, the wire is defective and it will have to be repaired or replaced. Read the rest of this entry »
Don’ts
The earth path of an appliance can be checked easily using a simple test meter. Remember, path of low resistance is required from all items within a appliance that are linked into the earth path via the yellow and green cable.
The earth path of an appliance from its exposed metal parts to the earth pin of the plug should be a maximum of 1 ohm (BS3456).
Checking the earth path of a socket requires an earth loop test meter which needs to be operated correctly. This is an expensive item and, moreover, problems may be encountered with distribution boards fitted with an RCD. It is, therefore, advisable to have these tests done by a qualified electrical contractor. Read the rest of this entry »
Isolate the appliance before removing covers or panels for any reason. All tests for continuity should be carried out with a battery operated test meter only.
The most likely cause of overheating will be a failure of the thermostat contact points or sealed pressure system. In such a case you will need to fit a new compatible replacement unit.
Slow initial heating-up times or uneven heat distribution within the oven is usually caused by the failure of one element. Simple testing of the element will highlight the faulty item.
Failure to heat up at all may be either the thermostat or elements. As elements are the easier of the two to check for continuity, a simple process of elimination will indicate where the fault lies. Read the rest of this entry »
