On Fri, 9 Feb 2007 11:43:59 -0500, "RBM" rbm2(remove
wrote:

On the three posts , if you connect a volt meter across the two outer posts,
do you get 240 volts?



"badgolferman" wrote in message
.. .
Steve Barker, 2/9/2007,10:35:23 AM, wrote:

there's nothing to a dryer. So no real reason to replace it (at a
cost of $300 - $1000) just because it needs a $79 element. As
mentioned before, make sure you have proper electric service to the
machine. Then unplug it and start taking it apart from the back.
You'll find there's about a half a dozen parts that make up the
entire machine, and you'll probably find the element burned out.
COULD be a thermostat switch, but they are easy to check with an ohm
meter.

There are three single post connections on the back of the drum with
only one wire going to them. When not running they each have 15 VAC on
them and when running they each have 120 VAC. With the wires off they
all have some resistance between each other but not the same ohm value.
If the element was bad wouldn't there be an open between those three
connections?

I'm assuming for the moment that it is an electricla problem. There
woudl be an open if the element was bad, unless there is another way
to get from A to B. Sometimes there are multiple paths to the same
place. Is there a wiring diagram on the inside of the cover you took
off, or anywhere?

When you don't know if there is an alternate electric path, the best
thing is to disconnect one of the two wires from its post, and measure
the wire only to the other post. You can also measure from the post
only (with the wire disconnected) to the other post to confirm that
there is an alternate path. The total resistance of two resistors in
parallel is found with the formula 1/a + 1/b = 1/total . If, for
example, b is infinite, the 1/a = 1/total .

But maybe all the elements are good and it's some other problem.

Before to measure voltage before measureing resistance at the same
place. Don't want to burn out the meter, or yourself.

Keep close track of whether the dryer is plugged in or not.

There are also two other sensor type items with two wires each. One is
black and has numbers on it. It has a short between the posts with the
wires off. The other also has a short between the posts with the wires
off.

That wiring diagram would give an idea what they are. One might be
temp sensor, that opens if it gets too hot, or a dampness sensor if
you have that feature on your dryer.


BTW, my washer and dryer are 27 years old and working fine. I only
do laundry for myself, but still, when they are 37 years old that will
be like 18 years for two people.