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Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items For discussions about other vintage (over 25 years old) electrical and electromechanical household items. See the sticky thread for details. |
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15th Nov 2018, 8:06 pm | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 501
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Heater element advice
I have a Miele rotary iron which failed a pat test. Using a insulation tester it is leaking to earth.
Is it possible it has got damp, element on isolation transformer at the moment, is there anywhere that can make elements, or any other suggestions please. Thanks |
15th Nov 2018, 8:21 pm | #2 |
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines.
Posts: 3,897
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Re: Heater element advice
Cook the element out of the ironer, get it good and hot. if necessary unseal the ends, cook it till the insulation is well and good and reseal with high temperature silicone ( flue sealant).
Common element problem in cookers. |
15th Nov 2018, 8:49 pm | #3 |
Heptode
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 501
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Re: Heater element advice
Ok. I thought perhaps. I only have a 2A isolation transformer. Wound the variac to 2A current draw. Element was half a meg. After about 20 mins when i left inceased to 5M plus.
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15th Nov 2018, 11:30 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK.
Posts: 5,273
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Re: Heater element advice
Sounds good, I keep meaning to do the same to my dads hostess trolley.
You can get a custom made element from Midland Elements in Longton if the original element needs replacing and isn't available as a spare. http://www.hightemperatureelements.co.uk/
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Kevin |
16th Nov 2018, 10:30 am | #5 |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Wimborne, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 1,407
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Re: Heater element advice
I think you will need to unseal it and cook it though as if you don't then the moisture evaporates to a gas and the resistance seems well qnd good but the moisture is still trapped inside the casing so when the element cools it condences again and you are back to a low insulation value.
Cheers
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Lee |
16th Nov 2018, 2:02 pm | #6 |
Heptode
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 501
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Re: Heater element advice
I would of thought if the moisture can get iƱ, it can get out?
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16th Nov 2018, 2:11 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 5,554
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Re: Heater element advice
If you can apply 24 volts to it for a long time perhaps a couple of days it should dry out but will need to be used regularly in order to stay dry.
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16th Nov 2018, 4:08 pm | #8 |
Heptode
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 501
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Re: Heater element advice
It will be used daily. Not been to the workshop to check the elements today. Yesterday was looking promising
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16th Nov 2018, 5:39 pm | #9 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 14,007
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Re: Heater element advice
I successfully 'restored' the elements in an old cooker which lived in an outbuilding and was only used for a few months a year (to boil up 'mash' for the owner's hens) by blasting the elements with an industrial heat-gun (powerful enough to solder 15mm Yorkshire fittings).
As others have said, the problem is moisture creeping into the mineral-insulation between the element and the outer jacket. Get it hot - a few hundred Centigrade hot - and keep it hot for a few hours. |
16th Nov 2018, 5:57 pm | #10 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 989
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Re: Heater element advice
Just stick it in a domestic oven turned to 200 degrees.
That will drive out the moisture, without resorting to passing current through it. Whatever suits you, really! Cheers. SimonT.
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The honesty of imperfection.......... |
16th Nov 2018, 6:05 pm | #11 |
Heptode
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Tonbridge, Kent, UK.
Posts: 686
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Re: Heater element advice
There are some areas that look potentially rusty. Check that it hasn't pin-holed in those areas. If it has then it will need to be kept in a dry place and used regularly. Or get it good and dry and seal those areas with metal (aluminium) duct tape.
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16th Nov 2018, 7:12 pm | #12 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,536
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Re: Heater element advice
The ally tape might not suffer but the glue'll stink, at the very least......
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17th Nov 2018, 5:32 pm | #13 |
Heptode
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 501
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Re: Heater element advice
One is almost stopped leaking, the other on its way down, fingers crossed, thanks for comments.
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