Have you ever used an electrical lawn-mower, or seen someone use it? Enough said. Cords on appliances also fray and sometimes a loose connection is the simple result of wear and tear. So somewhere along the line you may have to repair the wiring of an appliance or replace a plug that is no longer working. Read the rest of this entry »
This is very important if you have a fridge with a built in deep-freeze compartment and not so if you have a frost-fee fridge. You know that feeling when you’re desperately trying to get to that last little ice cream lying in the back of the compartment and end up wrecking the ice compartment’s door because it won’t open?
When more than 10 mm of ice has accumulated it’s time to defrost. If the fridge has a defrost setting, engage it, or simply switch off the fridge. Some fridges can take up to 24 hours to defrost completely; consult the manufacturer’s instruction manual. Read the rest of this entry »
Take particular care in the bathroom where special regulations apply.
Do not install a socket-outlet in the bathroom other than an approved shaver supply unit for a mains voltage shaver.
Do not make provision for using a mains voltage portable appliance. For example do not run a portable electric heater from a socket-outlet situated outside the bathroom i.e. on the landing or in an adjacent bedroom. If the tank cupboard opens into the bathroom and the tank has an immersion heater do not supply it from a socket-outlet (not a good method in any case) which could be used for plugging in a portable appliance. Read the rest of this entry »
Most people have a healthy respect for electricity and understand that it can be dangerous — even lethal — if misused. Electricity at all voltages should be respected. Anyone who does not follow the basic rules of electricity is not only a danger to himself but to everyone around him. Electrical accidents are avoidable: most are due to plain carelessness and failing to follow the basic rules.
There are about sixteen million homes in Britain supplied with electricity and each one contains an average of about 25 electrical appliances. Given the sheer number of items, it is perhaps surprising that there are fewer than 80 fatalities from electrical accidents a year. Although this represents only a small percentage of the entire population and represents only one per cent of the 8,000 deaths each year that result from accidents in the home, the figure is still far too high. Read the rest of this entry »
The term ‘harness‘ is used for all of the wires that connect the various components within an appliance. In large appliances they are usually bound or fastened ‘together in bunches to keep the wiring neat and safely anchored. Smaller appliances, however, may sacrifice neatness for safety and route the wiring to avoid contact with heat or sharp edges. The correct positioning of wiring also contributes to the double insulation of an appliance, so no alterations whatsoever should be made to the routing or position of the wiring in double insulated appliances.
When you first take a look at it, the harness may seem like a jumble of wires thrown together, but if you take the time to inspect it, you will find that each wire is colour-coded or numbered either on the wire itself or on the connector at each end. This allows the engineer to follow the wire through the appliance easily. With a little practice, any wiring or coding can be easily followed. Read the rest of this entry »
A huge variety of household appliances contain heating elements. The two basic types are the exposed single-wire element, most often used in hairdryers, fan heaters and toasters, and the metal-sheathed element used in ovens, grills, iron sole plates and immersion heaters.
This type of element is simply an exposed length of conductor which heats up when a current is passed along it due to the resistance properties of wire. As it is an exposed conductor, it must be housed and supported in a way that avoids accidental contact which could cause electric shock or burns. It must also be housed in a way that allows the heat generated to dissipate and do the job intended. For instance, a toaster needs a large aperture in which to place the bread so that it rests near the exposed element for it to function correctly. Read the rest of this entry »
Capacitors used for motor starting may have metal or plastic outer casings with an insulated top with two terminals. Internally the two terminals are connected to two sheets of metal foil with an insulator between. This package of large surface area is rolled into a cylinder which fits into the shell of the capacitor. As the voltage supplied to one terminal is alternating (at 50 times per second), so does the polarity of its connected foil. An opposite movement of electrons is induced in the other foil, even though they are insulated electrically. This causes a delay in the electrical path, and this, in the case of an asynchronous induction motor, gives the outof-phase feed to the start winding. Read the rest of this entry »
Most labour-saving household appliances contain an electric motor of some description. They are the workhorse of these appliances and most of them are capable of coping with the work loads inflicted upon them. However, some motors, either through poor design or as a result of manufacturers’ cost limitations, are inadequate for the job they are required to do. Adequate or not, at some point it is almost inevitable that they will fail or simply wear out. To delay this, use the appliance with some care and attention, be aware of its limitations and carry out regular inspection and servicing. This will prevent small problems escalating into major ones
Not only do the sizes of motors vary greatly between products, so too do the ways in which they work. To diagnose faults successfully and service or repair appliances, a working knowledge of motors is essential. The following provide a basic introduction to the various types, a description of how they work, the appliances in which each may be found and their particular advantages and drawbacks. Specific problems can be found on individual appliances. Read the rest of this entry »
Nearly every household possesses a hairdryer. Designs vary from hand-held models to large hooded ones supported on a stand. They all work on the same principle of blowing air over a heating element by means of a fan. The fan is either a simple bladed type or a cylindrical version. As the air passes over the hot element, it is heated and is then vented from the appliance. The element is usually a wound exposed wire on a heat-resistant mount. A more solid version is mounted in a zig-zag fashion on a mica former. The element is protected by a thermostat to control the safe working temperature of both heater and appliance, and is usually self-resetting. Read the rest of this entry »
Three main types of domestic, free-standing, portable electric heaters are widely used: radiant, convector and fan heaters. Some appliances combine different heater types, such as a convector plus a radiant bar.
Heat is produced by an element that glows red-hot when power is supplied to it. The heat generated by this action is directed by a highly polished reflector through an open front protected by a metal grill. The element can be externally wound on a ceramic mount or internally mounted in a heat-resistant silica glass tube. Simple switching of the element/s is included and faults can easily be traced. Read the rest of this entry »
