In sci.electronics.repair DaveC wrote:
I presume the way 3 heat settings are accomplished is through the use of
2 different wattage heater elements. For example, Low = 1000w element;
Medium = 1500w element; High = both elements.

This may be right. Another way it can be done is with two equal wattage
elements. Low = one element across 120 V, medium = one element across
240 V, high = both elements across 240 V. More common in electric ranges
that have off-1-2-3-4 pushbuttons instead of "infinite" heat controls,
but possible in a dryer.

How is it possible for the dryer to fail in a mode that results in only
medium heat?

Using your assumption, "low" element open, or faulty temperature switch.

Just trying to get a few ideas before opening it up.

Open it up. Most GE washers and dryers will have a schematic folded
up and taped somewhere inside the control panel. If you can read this
and drive a DVM, you can make some tests of the switches and the elements
at the control panel wiring, before having to pull the drum out to get at
the elements. Unplug the dryer first and watch out for sharp edges of
sheet metal inside it.

Matt Roberds

DaveC wrote:
This GE dryer (USA 240v model) has 4 heat settings: Hi, Medium, Low,
Fluff (no heat). It also has a moisture-monitoring setting ("More
Dry" and "Less Dry").

I presume the way 3 heat settings are accomplished is through the use
of 2 different wattage heater elements. For example, Low = 1000w
element; Medium = 1500w element; High = both elements.

There is now one heat setting: medium. All the settings of the heat
switch result in the same medium heat.

The filter screen is clean and the airflow out of the vent hose (I
disconnected it and checked the flow) is unchanged from a year ago
(the last time I remember checking it out). Mains voltage verified.
No overheating external connections.

How is it possible for the dryer to fail in a mode that results in
only medium heat?

Just trying to get a few ideas before opening it up.

GE model DBXR453ET3WW

Thanks,

Consider that your dryer is not just 240V it is 120-240V any element
can be running at 120V or 240V or 0V at any one time. It might also cycle,
but I don't think any do that to control the temp.


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
. ..
DaveC wrote:
This GE dryer (USA 240v model) has 4 heat settings: Hi, Medium, Low,
Fluff (no heat). It also has a moisture-monitoring setting ("More
Dry" and "Less Dry").

I presume the way 3 heat settings are accomplished is through the use
of 2 different wattage heater elements. For example, Low = 1000w
element; Medium = 1500w element; High = both elements.

There is now one heat setting: medium. All the settings of the heat
switch result in the same medium heat.

The filter screen is clean and the airflow out of the vent hose (I
disconnected it and checked the flow) is unchanged from a year ago
(the last time I remember checking it out). Mains voltage verified.
No overheating external connections.

How is it possible for the dryer to fail in a mode that results in
only medium heat?

Just trying to get a few ideas before opening it up.

GE model DBXR453ET3WW

Thanks,

Consider that your dryer is not just 240V it is 120-240V any element
can be running at 120V or 240V or 0V at any one time. It might also
cycle,
but I don't think any do that to control the temp.



Dryer elements that I've seen have all been 240v, I also had a Kenmore dryer
that had separate button thermostats which cycled the element depending on
the temperature setting, I figured most dryers did it this way.

If you have two elements and are only getting medium then the low element is
not working, either it's burned out, the overtemp thermostat is tripped or
defective, or the switch is bad.

DaveC wrote:
This GE dryer (USA 240v model) has 4 heat settings: Hi, Medium, Low, Fluff
(no heat). It also has a moisture-monitoring setting ("More Dry" and "Less
Dry").

I presume the way 3 heat settings are accomplished is through the use of 2
different wattage heater elements. For example, Low = 1000w element; Medium =
1500w element; High = both elements.

There is now one heat setting: medium. All the settings of the heat switch
result in the same medium heat.

The filter screen is clean and the airflow out of the vent hose (I
disconnected it and checked the flow) is unchanged from a year ago (the last
time I remember checking it out). Mains voltage verified. No overheating
external connections.

How is it possible for the dryer to fail in a mode that results in only
medium heat?

Just trying to get a few ideas before opening it up.

GE model DBXR453ET3WW

Thanks,

Hi,

I presume the way 3 heat settings are accomplished is through the use of 2
different wattage heater elements. For example, Low = 1000w element; Medium =
1500w element; High = both elements.

Close, 2 of the same wattage elements and usually a couple of different
thermostats.

There is now one heat setting: medium. All the settings of the heat switch
result in the same medium heat.

One of the two elements broken, element grounded are a couple of
possible trouble makers.

Some take apart helps....
http://www.applianceaid.com/take-apart.html
http://www.applianceaid.com/ge-dryers.html
http://www.applianceaid.com/grounded.html

jeff.
Appliance Repair Aid
http://www.applianceaid.com/

Appliance Repair Aid wrote:
DaveC wrote:

This GE dryer (USA 240v model) has 4 heat settings: Hi, Medium, Low, Fluff
(no heat). It also has a moisture-monitoring setting ("More Dry" and "Less
Dry").

I presume the way 3 heat settings are accomplished is through the use of 2
different wattage heater elements. For example, Low = 1000w element; Medium =
1500w element; High = both elements.

There is now one heat setting: medium. All the settings of the heat switch
result in the same medium heat.

The filter screen is clean and the airflow out of the vent hose (I
disconnected it and checked the flow) is unchanged from a year ago (the last
time I remember checking it out). Mains voltage verified. No overheating
external connections.

How is it possible for the dryer to fail in a mode that results in only
medium heat?

Just trying to get a few ideas before opening it up.

GE model DBXR453ET3WW

Thanks,


Hi,


I presume the way 3 heat settings are accomplished is through the use of 2
different wattage heater elements. For example, Low = 1000w element; Medium =
1500w element; High = both elements.


Close, 2 of the same wattage elements and usually a couple of different
thermostats.


There is now one heat setting: medium. All the settings of the heat switch
result in the same medium heat.


One of the two elements broken, element grounded are a couple of
possible trouble makers.

Some take apart helps....
http://www.applianceaid.com/take-apart.html
http://www.applianceaid.com/ge-dryers.html
http://www.applianceaid.com/grounded.html

jeff.
Appliance Repair Aid
http://www.applianceaid.com/

pop the top and watch the heater coil when it's running... if it cycles
"off" more than "on" (mine did about 10 seconds on and 50 off during a
minutes, no matter which temp you set it to, then suspect a clogged
exhause (not the little flexible 4" pipe leading from the dryer to the
wall - but the REST of it - the part that goes from the wall behind the
dryer to the outside... mine was clogged almost shut... when I cleaned
it out, problem solved. Now the dryer can get enough airflow that it
doesn't overheat the thermostat quickly (which shuts off the element),.

Steve Henderson wrote:

Appliance Repair Aid wrote:

DaveC wrote:

This GE dryer (USA 240v model) has 4 heat settings: Hi, Medium, Low,
Fluff
(no heat). It also has a moisture-monitoring setting ("More Dry" and
"Less
Dry").

I presume the way 3 heat settings are accomplished is through the use
of 2
different wattage heater elements. For example, Low = 1000w element;
Medium =
1500w element; High = both elements.

There is now one heat setting: medium. All the settings of the heat
switch
result in the same medium heat.

The filter screen is clean and the airflow out of the vent hose (I
disconnected it and checked the flow) is unchanged from a year ago
(the last
time I remember checking it out). Mains voltage verified. No overheating
external connections.

How is it possible for the dryer to fail in a mode that results in only
medium heat?

Just trying to get a few ideas before opening it up.

GE model DBXR453ET3WW

Thanks,



Hi,


I presume the way 3 heat settings are accomplished is through the use
of 2
different wattage heater elements. For example, Low = 1000w element;
Medium =
1500w element; High = both elements.



Close, 2 of the same wattage elements and usually a couple of different
thermostats.


There is now one heat setting: medium. All the settings of the heat
switch
result in the same medium heat.



One of the two elements broken, element grounded are a couple of
possible trouble makers.

Some take apart helps....
http://www.applianceaid.com/take-apart.html
http://www.applianceaid.com/ge-dryers.html
http://www.applianceaid.com/grounded.html

jeff.
Appliance Repair Aid
http://www.applianceaid.com/

pop the top and watch the heater coil when it's running... if it cycles
"off" more than "on" (mine did about 10 seconds on and 50 off during a
minutes, no matter which temp you set it to, then suspect a clogged
exhause (not the little flexible 4" pipe leading from the dryer to the
wall - but the REST of it - the part that goes from the wall behind the
dryer to the outside... mine was clogged almost shut... when I cleaned
it out, problem solved. Now the dryer can get enough airflow that it
doesn't overheat the thermostat quickly (which shuts off the element),.

FWIW, I had the same thing happen with my gas dryer -- I think it's a
common problem, especially with long exhausts.

--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form .

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

On Mon, 15 Aug 2005 07:05:14 GMT, wrote:

In sci.electronics.repair DaveC wrote:
I presume the way 3 heat settings are accomplished is through the
use of 2 different wattage heater elements. For example, Low =
1000w element; Medium = 1500w element; High = both elements.

This may be right. Another way it can be done is with two equal
wattage elements. Low = one element across 120 V, medium = one
element across 240 V, high = both elements across 240 V.

This is wrong. 120 V across both elements in parallel will be half
the wattage of 240 V across a single element.

More common in electric ranges
that have off-1-2-3-4 pushbuttons instead of "infinite" heat
controls, but possible in a dryer.

I hated those systems. A quick way to spot a dodgy switch is with an
inline wattmeter. Just cycle through the heat selections and watch
the meter.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: PGP 7.1

iQA+AwUBQwR+uQIk7T39FC4ZEQKYOQCYxcWsk+dTuVAC7/0abSroTujVNwCg4jxX
BkdRyamxil02BigRMAAFqOU=
=o/5R
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

In sci.electronics.repair ~^Johnny^~ wrote:
On Mon, 15 Aug 2005 07:05:14 GMT, wrote:
This may be right. Another way it can be done is with two equal
wattage elements. Low = one element across 120 V, medium = one
element across 240 V, high = both elements across 240 V.

This is wrong. 120 V across both elements in parallel will be half
the wattage of 240 V across a single element.

Your statement is true, but I don't think it's what I said. Maybe I
wasn't clear. If you have two 100 W 240 V elements, putting one element
across 120 V yields 25 W. Putting one element across 240 V yields
100 W, and putting both elements in parallel across 240 V yields 200 W.
Now I agree that this isn't a very linear progression (25-100-200), but
I was just using it as an example.

Matt Roberds