White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-08-29

pound.
The next application considered is
that of heating. Here again many heat
| ing elements do not admit of repair.
! refer particularly to the totally en-
closed heating units and the Calrod
| type of unit; these units are machine
made and are sealed at the factory. It
is practically impossible to make re-
pairs on them. Heating elements con-
sist of nickel-chrome wires or ribbons
Solder does not adhere to this material.
In the first place it is not readily
timed and in the second place, if the
element is operated at red or glow
ing temperature, the solder will melt
Immediately. Heating wires are some
times brazed but it is not often that
the average household is equipped to
do satisfactory brazing.
Broken Heating Elements
The best way to connect broken
heating element is to lay the broken
ends together and draw them tight
with a small iron bolt The joints
should be long enough to give suffl-
Gent contact to prevent overheating.
The increased resistance resulting from
| insufficient contact surface will cause
a hot spot that will sooner or later
| fail again. If such spices are made
| frequently in the same element, it will
soon be appreciably shorter, the resis-
lance will be lowered and wattage in
creased The increased vantage for
given heating unit means increased
temperature and consequently shorter
| life.
Many pieces of household equipment
in which heating units are used may
be repaired by replacing the heating
units when they burn out For ex-
ample, it is not necessary to buy new
stove, a new iron, or toaster, or even
a new percolator when the heating
| unit burns out These are made up
and may be purchased as requirements.
If the householder installs them
himself he should be sure that they
| were designed for the particular equip
ment in which he intends to use them,
| and also that they are replaced in the
same way as the originals. This posi-
ton is essential in elements in which
polarity must be considered. The bolts
and nuts by which connections are
made to the new units should be set
up snugly and carefully as they will
loosen in time due to contraction and
expansion, caused by heating and cool
ing. They should not be drawn up
too tight originally. Many heating ele-
ments are protected from voltage
or excessive heating by means of fuses
or thermostats. The householder should
learn how these things operate when
he buys the equipment, then when the
heating element fails to function he
should look first at the fuses or pro-
tective devices before tearing out the
heating element. Heating elements
J that are supposed to be covered with
liquid while in operation should always
be protected by some sort of thermal
fuse as the liquid may evaporate, thus
exposing the heating element and al
lowing it to burn out.
iHiotors
| Household motors are made in sew
eral different types and sizes. For in
stance, there are the small universal
motors used on vacuum cleaners, sew
ing machines, and mixers. There is
also the repulsion- induction motor
used on the refrigerator or furnace
stoker. Again these motors may be of
the capacitor type. Occasionally small
household motors used on washing ma
chimes, ironers, small grinders or bench
tools may be of the split phase type.
Much the same thing may be said
about the care of all Of these differ
ent types of motors. Keep them clean,
dry and free from dust and grit. They
should be fabricated with light house,
hold lubricant, and only enough should
be used to insure their not running
sionally with kerosene and the dirty
oil removed and replaced with clean
oil. Do not use gasoline as these small
motors are likely to spark when start
ing and If the gasoline has not been
completely evaporated fires may re-
repulsion motors are equipped with
commutators. These will wear as well
as the brushes. The brushes should be
repaired when they get SO short that
| they make poor contact. Poor brush
contact results in over-heating and
sparkling. If the brushes become so
badly worn that the metal springs
touch the commutator or If there are
hard places in either the commutator
or the brushes grooves are likely to
be worn into the commutator. This
condition can be corrected only by
putting the armature into lathe and
turning the commutator down. The
mica insulation should be cut back I'M
til it is just below the surface of the
copper. After turning down the COM
mutator, either sand the brushes to fit
m. raploca than with f,nu Onac