If the washer is not spinning, the next check is of the washer control magnet. Washers use a control magnet, an electrical-mechanical component, to enable the gearcase to shift into the spin cycle. You can easily check the control magnet by using the volt/ohmmeter set on the RX-10 scale. With the volt/ohmmeter on RX-10 scale, connect the probes to both terminals of the control magnet. NOTE: When checking a suspected faulty control magnet, remove the wires from the washer wiring harness to avoid an inaccurate reading. Read the rest of this entry »
Next, check the dryer cycling thermostats as the possible cause for no heat in the dryer. The types of thermostats most commonly used in dryers (gas or electric), are the bimetal fixedand adjustable thermostats. Their primary function is to break the circuit to the gas main burner or the heating element when a certain temperature has been attained in the dryer drum. You can easily check these thermostats by removing one lead from the suspected thermostat. Set the volt/ohmmeter on the RX-1 scale. Place one probe of the volt/- ohmmeter on each terminal of the thermostat. You should see a continuity reading on the volt/- ohmmeter scale of approximately 0 ohms, or full- meter deflection. If the thermostat does not show continuity, replace the defective thermostat to restore the dryer to proper operating order. Read the rest of this entry »
If the heating element tests OK, you should next check all the electrical wiring from the dryer timer assembly, thermostats, and drive motor. Electrical wiring in a dryer becomes brittle and burned because of the excessive heat. To locate defects in the wiring, use a volt/ohmmeter to make continuity checks on wires that you suspect are faulty.
The problem of no heat in the gas dryer is much the same as the electric dryer, except that instead of checking for a possible defective heating element, you must check the gas ignition circuit. A sure and simple test is check voltage to the gas burner wiring harness. Read the rest of this entry »
Plain and twisted candle lamps are made in 25 W, 40 W and 60 W sizes and in pearl, plain, amber and silvered colours. They are made in be (bayonet cap) and sbc (small bayonet cap) versions.
These are used for wall lights and for period pendant fittings.
These are sometimes called ’strip lights‘ and are non-fluorescent, being tungsten filament lamps. There are two versions, one type is commonly used for applications in the home, and the second type is known as architectural lamps‘. Read the rest of this entry »
Unplug refrigerator power cord, open the refrigerator freezer door, locate the compact icemaker and place your hand on the ejector blade. Turn it slowly in a clockwise direction. If the icemaker ejector blade continues to turn unaided, the problem is a defective icemaker holding switch. The icemaker holding switch can be checked with the volt/ohmmeter. First, set the ohmmeter to the RX-1 scale. Next, place the probes of the volt/ohmmeter on the terminals of the holding switch. With the switch button depressed, you should see full-scale deflection (continuity), on the scale of the volt/ohmmeter. No reading on the ohmmeter means the holding switch is open and must be replaced. Read the rest of this entry »
Yes, you too can be the proud owner of a home-entertainment system and it doesn’t have to cost you a small fortune. If you have ever wondered how your mates get to have sound booming from seemingly every corner of the house when merely watching TV, we have the answer (naturally!). All you need to do is connect your TV to your video machine to your Hi-fi (these don’t have to be top of the range) after having acquired a couple of cables to make all the connecting possible.
You WILL NEED
(This will vary depending on what it is that you are connecting to what.) Read the rest of this entry »
There are some things you can do to prolong the life of your appliances and save endless hours of frustration, burning toast, getting marks on your favourite white shirt and taking melted ice-cream out of the freezer. As with many other things in life, appliances need looking after. Do this well and they will serve you faithfully.
There are too many brands of washing machines available to mention, old and new, but they all have two basic requirements to operate: they need water and they need power. This is one of those appliances where the manual comes in very handy. Read the rest of this entry »
Specific failure symptoms include: 1) The dishwasher won’t complete the dishwasher cycle. 2) The dishwasher has a burning smell during the cycle.
Check the dishwasher wiring for a possible loose connection where it connects to the house wiring.
Check for a circuit breaker in the circuit breaker panel that is defective.
Check the dishwasher timer assembly for erratic operation. If the dishwasher suddenly started when the timer dial is pushed to the ON-OFF position, the timer assembly ON-OFF contacts are defective internally. You will have to replace the timer assembly in order for the dishwasher to program through the cycle properly. Read the rest of this entry »
Problems with electrical appliances may not always result from a failure of the equipment itself. They can be caused by the failure of electrical supply to the appliance via the socket. A three-pin socket must have a live supply, a neutral return and a sound earth path. When a plug from an appliance is inserted, firm contact must be made at all three points. If the live or neutral pins of the plug or connection point within the socket fail to make adequate contact or are free to move, localized heating will occur within the socket. Typical signs of this problem are listed below.
There are various reasons for such problems. They may be caused by one or a combination of any of those listed here. Read the rest of this entry »
When an appliance is in use small sparks are generated at mechanical contacts, such as those found in switches and the junction between motor brushes and commutator. This results in the emission of spurious radio waves that can be heard as crackles on radio or television receivers or that are passed down the mains circuit to audio equipment. The suppressor is designed to eliminate the formation and transmission of these spurious radio waves. They are also known as mains filters. Read the rest of this entry »
