How to check the resistance of a heating element with a multimeter. Checking the washing machine heating element

Any malfunction of the equipment entails a decrease in the quality of washing. Heating problems can affect operating conditions in a variety of ways. Even if the machine does not stop and the cycle starts, the laundry that comes out remains stale. How to check the heating element in a washing machine? Below are the steps to perform a DIY diagnosis. It is important to verify that the heater is faulty before making any repairs or replacements.

How to determine the serviceability of the heating element? Typical faults

The element is installed in the washing machine tank to heat the water. The machine performs three main functions: fills, heats and drains water. During the process, pollution is affected by several factors:

• The laundry is treated with detergent.
• Subject to thermal and mechanical stress.

As a result, high temperature, powder and a rotating drum help remove dirt and get clean things out of the tank. Once you exclude one element, washing will cease to be so effective.

You can verify that the heating element is malfunctioning without a tester by external signs:

• After 20 minutes of washing, the sunroof glass is cold.
• Traces of powder remain on things, granules do not dissolve well.
• The laundry develops an unpleasant musty smell.

What affects the performance of the heating element? This is the quality of tap water and the stability of the network voltage. If your water contains a lot of magnesium and potassium salts, it is recommended to install filters. Otherwise, when heated, salts are deposited on the spiral. Over time, the scale hardens, disrupts heat transfer, and the part burns out.

Here are the problems that are typical for the element:

• Breakdown to the body . Dangerous problem that may result in electric shock. The insulation of the housing is broken and the heater breaks through. Modern SMA models have a built-in security system that displays an error code on the display.
• Break . Happens when there is a sudden surge in voltage in the network. The machine may freeze during the heating phase or may not start the cycle at all.
• Closure. At the same time, it can knock out a machine gun indoors. The equipment can no longer be used. Needs renovation.

If you suspect a breakdown of the heating coil, proceed to diagnostics with a multimeter.

How to remove and ring the heating element?

You need to find out which side the heater is located on. Inspect the body of the washer. The large rear hatch probably hides a TEN behind it. In the publication " How to replace the heating element in the SM"We gave an example of element placement in different models.

Once you get to the part, disconnect the power wires from the contacts. It is not necessary to dismantle the product for diagnostics.

How to check the heating element in a washing machine with a tester:

• Calculate the resistance of the part. It may differ for each manufacturer. To do this, take the operating voltage (220 V) and power (indicated in the manual). For example, the power is 1800 W. Make the calculation using the formula: R=220²/1800=26.8. It turns out that the normal resistance of the heating element should be 26.8 Ohms.

Checking the operation of the heating element of a washing machine with a multimeter is carried out as follows:

• Set the toggle switch to resistance detection.
• If the screen shows normal values ​​(about 26.8), then the part is working.
• Number 1 on the screen indicates a broken spiral. The product cannot be repaired, only replacement is needed.
• A value of 0 means a short circuit.

Now you need to check for a breakdown in the housing.

Important! Failure of the dielectric can lead to sparking and fire of the machine.

Switch the tester's toggle switch to buzzer mode. Place one probe on the contact and the other on the ground. The buzzer beeping means a breakdown. The heater must be replaced.

When replacing a part, remember the heating element connection diagram. During the disassembly process, you can photograph the stages of work. Here is a detailed inspection video:

Visual inspection

If you do not have a multimeter, then the performance of the part can be checked by visual inspection.

First way. The wash should be started. And start watching your electric meter, in particular the wheel. If it picks up speed, then most likely the heating element is working.

Second way. Visual inspection. Remove the heating element. To do this, you need to unscrew the nut that is located in the middle. Next, you need to press on the end of the protruding bolt so that it goes deeper, and pry off the heating element with a knife. Now that we have the heating element in our hands, we can carefully examine it from all sides. If you find even minor cracks or black spots on the part, then most likely it is faulty.

Please take note

1. When you install a new heating element or return the old one to its place, carefully ensure that all connections are absolutely tight. Make sure that the heating element is in the correct mount located at the bottom of the tank. Otherwise, the part will touch the drum during washing. Which, of course, will not have a very good effect on its future performance.
2. Do not neglect preventive measures that will help extend the life of the heating element. Once every six months, run the wash in the standard cycle with an empty drum. Instead of washing powder, add a spoon or two of citric acid. This method will remove scale formed during operation. Read more about methods of dealing with scale on heating elements.

Conclusion

If your washing machine has stopped heating water, do not rush to buy a new one. Perhaps the problem lies simply in a faulty heating element. The part should be dismantled and ringed to confirm or exclude the guess that it is the heating element of the washing machine that is damaged.

If this manipulation does not reveal the malfunction, then a careful inspection of the heating element will help to fully verify its functionality. If the defect is confirmed, the electric heater must be replaced. A new part can be ordered through the service center.

An electric kettle has become an indispensable appliance in any kitchen. It heats water quickly and consumes little electricity. However, like any other device, sooner or later it may fail. There are many reasons for this situation, but most often they come down to the fact that the device does not work due to damage to the heating element. Therefore, many are interested in the question of how to ring the heating element in a kettle and, if necessary, change it?

Types of electric kettles

Principle of operation

To understand what could cause a malfunction, you need to understand the principle of operation of this device. Regardless of the model and its cost, electric kettles operate on the same principle: the main heating element is installed in the lower part - a heating element, which is connected to a thermostat. When the device is connected to the network, the heating element heats up, gives off its heat to the water and brings it to a boil. When the water temperature approaches 100°C, steam is produced. It passes through the channel and reaches the thermostat, after which the kettle turns off.

Operating principle of an electric kettle

Despite the fact that the operating principle of the device is quite simple, its repair will be easy only for an experienced technician. But those who encounter a similar problem for the first time do not know how to change the heating element in a kettle. Only a few prefer to fix the problem themselves, while others go to the store in search of a new device for boiling water.

Private breakdowns

There are a number of typical problems that are directly related to deviations in the operation of the heating element. Among them it is necessary to highlight:

1. Slow water heating. This malfunction is associated with the heating element, since there is a significant layer of scale on it. Deposits are formed due to insufficient maintenance of equipment. Scale is fossilized minerals and salts found in tap water. During use of the device, they harden and deposit on the walls, including the spiral. If the scale is not removed in time, the heating element may burn out. For the same reason, damage to the contact rods of the heating element occurs. Not everyone knows how to ring an electric kettle and determine the cause of the malfunction at home. Therefore, repairs should be entrusted to experienced professionals.
2. The electric kettle turns off prematurely. The reason is quite simple - scale formed on the heating element. The heating element has a fuse that trips when it overheats. For repairs, it is necessary to clean the device from plaque.
3. break of the spiral thread. The breakdown occurred due to scale on the heating element or turning on the device without liquid. The spiral can also burn out due to low-quality parts that were used in the manufacture of the heating device.

How to find out the performance of the heating element

To understand what could be the reason for the breakdown of the kettle, you need to ring the heating element. However, other causes of malfunctions should be ruled out first.

• wire burnout;
• The power button is broken.

You can ring the heating element using the measuring instruments at hand.

Checking with a multimeter

Most people who repair equipment have such devices. To do this, you need to turn on the multimeter (tester) in resistance measurement mode, and then touch the contact rod with one end of the measuring device. If the thread inside the heating tube is broken, an incorrect value will appear on the tester screen. The operating resistance for a kettle with a power of 2000 W will be 25 Ohms. If no deviations are found inside the tube, then one of the taps needs to touch the contact rod, and the other to the metal tube. If there is no short circuit, then the screen will show an infinite resistance value. And if it is, then it will be fixed and such a heating element cannot be repaired.

Checking the heating element

Test using power supply

Testing using a heating element power source is done as follows: a battery (-) must be connected to one of the heating element rods, and an LED light bulb is connected to the (+) pole, the second output of which is connected to the other rod of the heating element. If the light bulb lights up, the spiral is intact.

Checking with an indicator

Checking the operation of the heating element

This verification method is dangerous because it must be done while the device is connected to the network. You need to act very carefully. In the socket you need to determine where the phase is located. After this, the contact rod must be connected with a piece of wire to the phase. If you touch the opposite rod with the tip of a special screwdriver, the lamp will light up. And if you lean the indicator against the handset, it will not light up. This means that the integrity of the spiral is broken.

How to replace the heating element in an electric kettle

To replace the heating element in an electric kettle, you need to completely disassemble it:

• remove the cover. To do this you will need a Phillips screwdriver. Raise the cover and unscrew all the screws;
• remove the handle - you need to unscrew the screws at the bottom of the kettle, then unclip the handle. Depending on the model, the mechanism may be located at the bottom of the device or directly on the handle itself;
• to dismantle the heating element, you need to remove the on/off button of the device, then unscrew the screws that were hidden under the handle;
• After this, the heating element can be freely removed. Then install a new heating element and put all the parts back together.

Replacing the heating element in a kettle

After completing the repair, do not forget to check the functionality of the device. Replacing the heating element is a quick and easy process that anyone can handle. When repairing an electric kettle, you must follow safety precautions, especially when checking the device.

A heating element (or tubular electric heater) in a washing machine is an important element that ensures water heating when working in different programs. The quality of washing and the implementation of all operating modes provided by the manufacturer depend on its performance. When the device stops heating water, technicians advise diagnosing the washing machine by checking two main elements - the heating element and the software module. As practice shows, most likely the first option will be the cause of the breakdown. Due to hard water and low-quality detergents, limescale deposits form on the internal parts of the washing machine. The device begins to wear out, because now more energy is needed to heat the water, and over time the heating element simply stops working. How to check the heating element of a washing machine and make sure that it is the problem?

Design features

The heating element is a hollow, curved metal tube, inside of which there is a high-resistance coil. This feature of the spiral is used to heat water. Inside, the entire space of the tube is filled with a dielectric substance with high thermal conductivity. The heating element in the washing machine is in constant temperature change mode. Such design features of heating elements sooner or later lead to failure of the spiral. In this case, the heater stops heating water and will have to be replaced. These are typical faults in Zanussi washing machines, and fixing them without help is not always easy, since not all models have it in the rear.

How to check the heating element of a washing machine without a device?

If the heating element fails, the device may operate, but will not execute the specified programs correctly. Having noticed uncharacteristic signs for normal operation, you can understand without the device that the heater is faulty. It is necessary to think about such malfunctions and their elimination in Zanussi, Candy, Whirpool, Indesit, Ariston, Electrolux washing machines in cases where:

• the laundry has an uncharacteristic odor after washing;
• When washing, the hatch door remains at room temperature and does not heat up (during normal operating modes, the glass warms up slightly from hot water);
• the laundry is not washed as usual, the quality of washing has noticeably deteriorated;
• The washing machine draws water, but does not complete the set program;
• knocks out the automatic switchboard;
• immediately after filling the water, it is drained;
• The machine finishes some washing modes earlier than usual.

If these signs appear when your appliance is operating, it is worth diagnosing the washing machine.

How to find heating element?

Modern manufacturers install a heating element both in front and behind the device:

• inspect the back wall of the device; if it is large, then most likely the manufacturer installed the heating element at the back;
• by tilting the unit on its side and looking from below, you can determine the exact location of the heating element;
• If, after removing the rear protective panel, the heating element is not found at the bottom of the tank, you will have to remove the front panel.

How to get to the heater?

There are several options for checking the heating element of a washing machine. But to carry out this diagnosis, it is important to get to the heater itself.

This is easiest to do when the heater is located at the rear of the appliance. For this it is enough:

• disconnect the device from the network;
• drain the water from the tank through the bottom filter;
• Remove the rear protective panel by unscrewing the fixing bolts.

At the bottom under the tank you will see wires leading to the heater.

It is more difficult to reach the heating element when it is located in front. In this case, you will have to remove the front cover of the case. The action plan is:

• remove the clamp securing the cuff by bending the edges of the elastic inside the machine;
• remove the lock on the washer hatch (most often secured with two bolts);
• remove the control panel of the machine, the plastic powder dispenser, the hatch door;
• remove the front panel.

And in this case, the heating element is usually located at the bottom of the washing machine tank.

Wherever the heater is located - in front or behind the machine - you should not remove it immediately. Before removing the heating element from the washing machine, you should test it with a multimeter. This will avoid unnecessary work.

How to check the heating element of a washing machine with the device?

To check, just disconnect the power cables from it. This will allow you to check the serviceability of the heater by ringing with a tester or multimeter.

An important parameter of the heating element is resistance. It can be calculated using the formula R=U*U/P, where U is voltage and P is heater power. The rated voltage for all household appliances in Russia is 220 volts. Most manufacturers indicate power in the technical data sheet of the operating manual. For example, for a washing machine with a power of 1800 watts, it turns out that the resistance of the heating element should be 26.8 Ohms.

How to ring the heating element correctly?

The power supply wires must be disconnected from the heater. We set the multimeter to the resistance measurement mode in ohms at 200. We touch the sensors to the terminals of the heating element. If the device shows 26 ohms, then the heater is working.

If the measuring device shows 1, this means a break or burnout of the coil inside the heater.

If the device displays 0 or a value close to it, it means that a breakdown has occurred to the housing. These measurements show only the state of the coil inside the heating element. If the spiral is working properly, there may be a breakdown on the housing. To check this malfunction, the multimeter must be put in dialing mode. The wires of the device are checked by connecting them together for the appearance of a sound signal, and the indicator should light up.

After checking, touch one terminal of the multimeter to the heater, and the other to the body of the washing machine or the ground wire. If there is a breakdown inside the heater, a sound signal will appear and the indicator will light up, as in the case of checking the operation of a multimeter.

Conclusion

In all cases of a malfunction of the coil or breakdown of the heater, it will have to be replaced with a new heating element. When tested, a serviceable heater should show the calculated resistance and have no breakdowns on the body.

It is important to replace a faulty part only with similar components from the same manufacturer. It is best to purchase parts for your washing machine from specialized authorized service centers.

The most common cause of failure of household electrical appliances is damage to the heating element. A tubular electric heater is present in almost all household appliances. A heating element is a tube containing a spiral with high resistance. In this case, heating occurs due to the flow of current through the tube. The inside of the component is filled with a conductive substance that retains heat.

The heating element has its own technical characteristics, by which the condition of the device can be determined. These characteristics can be measured using a multimeter. To carry out this procedure, you need to know some aspects of how to check a heating element with a multimeter.

Where are heating elements used?

Heating components are used in mechanical engineering, the food industry, the chemical industry, and also in medical production. For production purposes, heating elements are capable of heating solids, gases, bulk and liquid materials. In addition, these electrical appliances are used for smelting ores, copper, alloys, steel and aluminum.

The following heating elements are used in everyday life: for greenhouses and greenhouses, for saunas and baths, for electric heaters, for teapots, for washing machines, for irons, for baths and saunas.

How to check the heating element in an electric kettle

Before carrying out the measurement procedure, you must first calculate the resistance that corresponds to the electrical device being measured. In this case, you should know its power. This indicator is indicated in the equipment data sheet or on the case. To calculate the resistance, you must first calculate the current passing through the heating element. This is achieved by dividing the power by the voltage of the electrical network - 220 volts.

After this, the mains voltage follows - 220 volts divided by the resulting current. This will result in a value equal to the resistance. This value should appear on the display of the measuring device as a result of diagnosing the heating device.

To examine the heating element with a tester, you need to switch the device to the resistance measurement area. Then touch the rod with one tester wire. If an incorrect value appears on the multimeter display, this indicates a break in the thread located in the middle of the tube.

The resistance in a 2000W electric kettle should correspond to a value of 25 Ohms. If there is no discrepancy inside the tube, then you need to touch the rod with one probe and the metal pipe with the other. In this case, an infinite resistance indicator should appear on the display. If the reading on the display is of a certain value, this means that a short circuit has occurred.

How to check the heating element in the dishwasher

For this examination you need a multimeter. You can use the simplest measuring device. The switch should be set to the range that measures Ohms. In this case, the probes of the measuring device are applied to the contacts of the heating element.

If the electrical appliance is in working condition, then its resistance should correspond to a value of 21-22 Ohms. If the heating element is in a faulty state, then the display will show an infinite value. If no deviations from the norm are found, then at the next stage of diagnosis, current leakage to the housing should be determined.

In this case, you need to switch the relay of the measuring device to megaohms. Then you need to touch the power contact with one probe, and attach the second wire to the ground or to the surface of the electrical appliance. If the heating element is in working condition, the results will be equal to infinity.

In order to achieve more accurate results when carrying out measuring activities, the outer side of the heating element must have a dry surface. Otherwise, the tester will not display a resistance equal to infinity.

How to check heating element in a multicooker

To do this, it is recommended to disconnect the electrical appliance from the power supply. In addition, the conductors connected to the heating element connectors should be disconnected. The following is the process of diagnosing the heating element of the multicooker. This procedure is similar to those described above, only you need to calculate the resistance corresponding to this device.

Moreover, if the heating element is in working condition, then the multimeter will demonstrate a value close to that obtained as a result of calculations. If the indicator is zero, this means that a short circuit has occurred from inside the heating element and it should be replaced with a new one. If the result corresponds to one, this means that the heating component has broken; the heating element also needs to be replaced with a working one.

Check for current leakage. In this case, you need to connect one wire of the multimeter to the surface of the electrical appliance, and the second to the contact connections of the multicooker. As a result of this, the measuring device should show a value that will be equal to infinity.

How to check the heating element in an electric stove

To diagnose the heating elements of an electric stove, a multimeter is used. In this case, such an indicator as resistance is checked. The value of this characteristic corresponds to several hundred Ohms. If the resistance value is underestimated, this indicates a short circuit in it. If the reading is equal to infinity, it will be clear that the element has broken. These situations described above involve replacing a faulty heating tool.

The burners of an electric stove have four outputs. At the same time, they contain two heating components. These components have different power and resistance sizes.

The heating elements should not be interconnected with the body. For such an examination, you need to switch the multimeter switch to the range that corresponds to the buzzer. One of the probes is connected to the terminal of the heating element, the second conductor is connected to the surface of the electrical appliance. If the dialer beeps, it means there is a current leak. Such a component also requires replacement with a working one.