Don’t stick your finger in a electrical socket or use an electrical shaver while in the bath. You thought you knew all the electrical safety precautions didn’t you (well maybe the above mentioned two) but here are a couple electrical safety precautions that you may not have thought of, until you yourself ran out of the house with a fancy hairstyle. Read the rest of this entry »
Electric heating of water can be carried out in a variety of ways. These include small capacity heaters fitted above the sink, instantaneous sink heaters or immersion heaters in the hot water tank.
Small storage water heaters fitted over the sink or washbasin having capacities of up to about 3 gallons and electrical loadings of 1 to 3 kW are usually supplied from the ring circuit by means of a spur. Except in a bathroom, the outlet can be a fused plug and switched socket-outlet, preferably with neon indicator. Read the rest of this entry »
A fused clock connector is a small non- switched fused outlet designed expressly for supplying a mains electric clock.
The unit is in two sections: a fixed base which is connected to the fixed circuit wiring, and another section in.the form of a flat pin plug which plugs into sockets in the base. The plug section carries the flex of the clock and contains the fuse. The plug is secured in the base by a retaining screw. This prevents the plug being pulled out accidentally and stopping the clock. 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 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 »
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 »
The information given here also applies to the grills on many cookers. This is a simple way to ascertain if the control is faulty. Short circuit failures on elements may damage regulators in which case, if you are in any doubt, renew it.
The following test is for a single circuit application, that is, a single element. For double regulators, that is, a double element, the same procedure will be required on both single and double operations of the switch. From off position an anticlockwise turn will put into circuit one element (usually the inner), a clockwise turn from the off position will put into circuit both inner and outer. Check that double regulators operate independently on a half turn each. For singles, use ony a full turn. Read the rest of this entry »
The speed control on this type of mixer results from the interaction of mechanical action and electronic control. Two variations of electrical control can be found but each uses the same mechanical action.
Two small spring steel plates are fixed to the cooling fan on the lower end of the armature shaft. They are slightly bowed and joined at either end by a small weight. Only the top plate is secured to the fan and shaft. When the motor rotates, the weights on each end of the joined plates are forced outwards by centrifugal force. As they are formed in a bowed configuration and joined at either end, the outward movement of the weights causes the lower plate to be forced downwards. The degree of movement is proportional to the rotational speed of the armature. This movement is used to actuate a switch on the speed control panel. Read the rest of this entry »
There are two main types of shavers: fully portable (powered by batteries, either dry cell or nickel cadmium rechargeable), and mains powered which usually incorporate a variable voltage option switch (110-130 volts or 210-240 volts). Correct maintenance is essential if they are to work efficiently and have a long and useful life while simple care and cleaning will greatly improve their smooth operation and reduce the likelihood of recurrent breakdowns. Read the rest of this entry »
The brush roll is supported on bearings at each end so the barrel rotates freely. Types of bearings, barrels and brushes differ from model to model as well as between manufacturers. Some manufacturers supply individual parts for the brush roll, such as brush strips, bearings and barrel; others supply only complete assemblies. The brush roll on some models may have removable brush strips, whereas others may be a solid brush roll of wood or plastic with fixed brushes. A small selection is shown here to highlight the differences. Read the rest of this entry »
