paternoster2012
New Member
I recently purchased a Nesco food dehydrator.
When plugged into the wall, it powers a fan and a heating element. Together they blow warm arm over food to dry it out.
The top of the machine has a 'thermostat' with temperature settings from 32°C (90°F) to 68°C (155°F).
However, when the machine is actually in use, the temperature as read with a thermometer is 75°C (167°F).
Turning the 'thermostat' has little to no effect on the temperature.
This temperature is much to hot to dehydrate food, and actually cooks it. So I needed to lower the heat.
The first thing I did was to install a power switch on the heating element. This gave me the choice between too hot or too cold.
So I pulled the guts out of it and this is what I came up with in its current state. (I added the power switch)
**broken link removed**
The fan is working just fine and I don't intend to mess it.
The heating element is what I want to modify.
The 'thermostat' appears to be a potentiometer, but when I try to get a resistance reading I get a reading of .8 to 1.0 ohms no matter what position the dial is in.
The element is 112 Ω, which at 230 VAC is 478 watts, plus whatever the DC motor pulls. The dehydrator is rated at 230 VAC and 500 watts, so I assume everything is as it should be aside from the potentiometer.
Now here is my question I would like to pose.
My country is 220 VAC at Hz, but my wall socket reads 230 VAC.
I was wondering if I could use a toggle switch with a diode to halve the voltage flowing to the element. 115 V at 112 Ω is 118 watts.
I'd like to believe this would give me a nice warm air without being too hot.
Here is my proposed diagram
**broken link removed**
I was thinking of bypassing the potentiometer all together seeing as it doesn't seem to be working very well (cheap production quality).
I can't really replace it, as the dehydrator is kind of built around it.
118 watts isn't much, but I don't exactly need much either to warm some air a bit above ambient temperature.
Am I on the right track here? Is there perhaps another option I am over looking?
Thanks for your help
When plugged into the wall, it powers a fan and a heating element. Together they blow warm arm over food to dry it out.
The top of the machine has a 'thermostat' with temperature settings from 32°C (90°F) to 68°C (155°F).
However, when the machine is actually in use, the temperature as read with a thermometer is 75°C (167°F).
Turning the 'thermostat' has little to no effect on the temperature.
This temperature is much to hot to dehydrate food, and actually cooks it. So I needed to lower the heat.
The first thing I did was to install a power switch on the heating element. This gave me the choice between too hot or too cold.
So I pulled the guts out of it and this is what I came up with in its current state. (I added the power switch)
**broken link removed**
The fan is working just fine and I don't intend to mess it.
The heating element is what I want to modify.
The 'thermostat' appears to be a potentiometer, but when I try to get a resistance reading I get a reading of .8 to 1.0 ohms no matter what position the dial is in.
The element is 112 Ω, which at 230 VAC is 478 watts, plus whatever the DC motor pulls. The dehydrator is rated at 230 VAC and 500 watts, so I assume everything is as it should be aside from the potentiometer.
Now here is my question I would like to pose.
My country is 220 VAC at Hz, but my wall socket reads 230 VAC.
I was wondering if I could use a toggle switch with a diode to halve the voltage flowing to the element. 115 V at 112 Ω is 118 watts.
I'd like to believe this would give me a nice warm air without being too hot.
Here is my proposed diagram
**broken link removed**
I was thinking of bypassing the potentiometer all together seeing as it doesn't seem to be working very well (cheap production quality).
I can't really replace it, as the dehydrator is kind of built around it.
118 watts isn't much, but I don't exactly need much either to warm some air a bit above ambient temperature.
Am I on the right track here? Is there perhaps another option I am over looking?
Thanks for your help