Tristar hot plate not electronics but there is a problem with it !

[carolmaille]

Hi An elderly lady has a Tristar double hotplate - simple plug it in, turn the dial on each ring around, the power light goes on, it heats up. Well yesterday I went and bought an inductor one with her as this is no longer working. But that's complicated as she is going blind really having a nob to rotate that you feel fully up or fully down would probably be easier. I know she could buy another one - maybe that will be the answer. In the meantime there is not much inside them. If I measure resistance across the hot plate if it is short then it has gone , is that it?
One of the rotating dials does not click - maybe broke, don't know if they go to a bimetallic strip or something or a resistance switch ?
Anyway the power light just goes on for one side and that doesn't heat up (either) Thanks for the good leads.

 

[Diver300]

The control knobs will contain bimetallic strips, so they cycle between on and off.

The heating elements will not fail short circuit. They may short to the casing, or they go open ciruit.

Our obsession with touch screens and little indicator lights is making things really difficult for blind or partially sighted people.

 

[ZipZapOuch]

Hi An elderly lady has a Tristar double hotplate - simple plug it in, turn the dial on each ring around, the power light goes on, it heats up. Well yesterday I went and bought an inductor one with her as this is no longer working. But that's complicated as she is going blind really having a nob to rotate that you feel fully up or fully down would probably be easier. I know she could buy another one - maybe that will be the answer. In the meantime there is not much inside them. If I measure resistance across the hot plate if it is short then it has gone , is that it?
One of the rotating dials does not click - maybe broke, don't know if they go to a bimetallic strip or something or a resistance switch ?
Anyway the power light just goes on for one side and that doesn't heat up (either) Thanks for the good leads.

The spring metal in the knob that doesn't click has likely broken or the plastic housing that held the flexible metal conductor has cracked and you no longer have good contact (any contact?) as it is switched. This is a mechanical repair as you said - not really electronics or even electrical if it's the broken housing if the knob assembly).

The other burner may be a failed "thermal switch". This is an electronic component that actually worked as it should - it didn't really fail. It opens if it senses too much current or other electrical issues. Time for a new (newer) one.

 

[carolmaille]

Thank you so much for understanding. To be honest I also have an elderly mother and the fact that most 'goods' are black with white lettering rather than the other way around - also makes it harder for them. So yes a bimetallic strip that might have broken and one element so possibly within it one strip and one element that works and maybe to see if the element has gone open circuit ? I cant find a fuse in it, must be in the 'fused' plug. This is France by the way and so two pin and double insulation standards I guess. Thank you so much

 

[Tony Stewart]

Check out recycled goods stores for older models.
Also download the service manual here https://www.partstown.ca/tri-star-manufacturing/parts

 

[carolmaille]

Hi Thanks, I am ordering her old one on line and I shall keep the new induction one she cant use and I will test out the broken one Thanks everyone

 

[ZipZapOuch]

Hi Thanks, I am ordering her old one on line and I shall keep the new induction one she cant use and I will test out the broken one Thanks everyone

Which part of France are you in? I keep going back - and looking for interesting things to see/do.

 

[carolmaille]

In 24, where do you go to or visit ? I was in Brittany a week ago for a few days staying with a friend

 

[ZipZapOuch]

In 24, where do you go to or visit ? I was in Brittany a week ago for a few days staying with a friend

I'll be in Biarritz next month. Paris (again) in August. My wife is currently in Reims. I don't know how it happened but we've made a lot of friends in Europe during our careers.

 

[carolmaille]

Well that is a pretty good attitude I think - take every opportunity you are lucky to have her.
Infact with the heater plate - I can see now that the bimetallic strip on one side was not getting the pressure to turn it on and a bit of cleaning - it has come back. I took the plates out though and they don't really want to go back in easily. One is open circuit, blown the other okay. But really it is a simple device, not even any soldering as the spade clips just pulled off. If only I had not taken the plates out it would have been very easy to get one side working, oh well

 

[ZipZapOuch]

Well that is a pretty good attitude I think - take every opportunity you are lucky to have her.
Infact with the heater plate - I can see now that the bimetallic strip on one side was not getting the pressure to turn it on and a bit of cleaning - it has come back. I took the plates out though and they don't really want to go back in easily. One is open circuit, blown the other okay. But really it is a simple device, not even any soldering as the spade clips just pulled off. If only I had not taken the plates out it would have been very easy to get one side working, oh well

The bimetallic strips can lose their flexibility over time because they keep getting warmer and warmer as the surface gets more and more oxidized over time. It sounds like it lived a good life and was well used.

 

[carolmaille]

Yes that must be it.

 

[rjenkinsgb]

For info, the bimetal control device is called a Simmerstat; there are readily available replacements for most types of hot plate.

Examples:

Energy Regulators - Simmerstats

www.cateringhardwaredirect.co.uk

 

[carolmaille]

Thanks that's the kind of useful info I need to keep somewhere