bleckmann or thermowatt

[busybr]

Hello gentlemen. I have the choice of purchasing either brand of element for my Bosch washing machine. As was noted in earlier threads by myself, my washing machine usage is excessive. With this in mind, should I spend the money on a bleckmann element (which is what was fitted to my machine and lasted about 12 months of my usage) or is the much cheaper thermowatt likely to be as good under the circumstances?

Thanking you in advance. 😀

[Martin]

Re: bleckmann or thermowatt

They both are equally as reliable.

[busybr]

Re: bleckmann or thermowatt

Hiya Martin. Thank you so much for the reply. I bought two Thermowatt elements and fitted the first exactly 5 weeks ago. Today the washing machine kept tripping the RCD in the house and continued to do so until the element was disconeccted. I fitted the new element and all is well.

The Thermowatt element was vastly cheaper than the Bleckmann, which was marketed as an “original” bosch part. At the price, I was prepared to take the chance. I hammer my washing machine; I know this. I just wondered if 5 weeks of my “normal” useage was fair for a Thermowatt element, or if I maybe had bad luck.

I’ll order a couple more Thermowatts, I think.

Thanks again.

[Martin]

Re: bleckmann or thermowatt

Blimey you sure get through elements don’t you? Makes me very suspicious that the reason the RCD trips is not entirely the fault of the element though. It could be an earth leak from the motor that only trips whilst both it and the heater are powered up? These faulty heaters…….what fails on them…..the insulation or the internal thermal links?

[busybr]

Re: bleckmann or thermowatt

Hiya

No idea; the Bleckmann element just stopped working, and the Thermowatt replacement has taken to tripping my house RCD…But I have done no test on it, I just whipped it out and tried the machine without it. When I reconnected it, the RCD trips. As all the faults with this machine have been with the heater (as was my last machine), it was the first thing I tried.

[Martin]

Re: bleckmann or thermowatt

Then you might like to check the insulation resistance on the motor and the rest of the machine as I think there are other issues.

March 4th and investigate….. 😉

[busybr]

Re: bleckmann or thermowatt

Hi Martin

I have no way of doing any of those tests, sorry 🙁 From my teenage years spent in a vac & washer repair shop, I can just about manage to exchange a heater element. If there is anything else wrong with the machine, it’s not showing it yet. I’ve done three 60C washes and one 90c wash since I typed that message yesterday. It’s sailed through all of them. Thanks.

[busybr]

Re: bleckmann or thermowatt

Hi Martin et al

Today I have been working in the home of an electrician, so I took with me my faulty element for him to test.

The conclusion was that the element is not open circuit, but there was practically no resistance (I forget the reading) from the element to the external casing 😯

Does this mean anything to you professionals? Thanks.

[Martin]

Re: bleckmann or thermowatt

In simplistic terms: A dead short to earth, hence why it took out the RCD.

[busybr]

Re: bleckmann or thermowatt

Hi Martin

Yes, I got that bit 😀 , I was thinking more along the lines of if there was any explanation as to how that would have happened? Cheers.

[Martin]

Re: bleckmann or thermowatt

busybr wrote:I was thinking more along the lines of if there was any explanation as to how that would have happened? Cheers.

Well, given the frequency with which elements appear to be failing on your machine I would be deeply suspicious and would wish to investigate further. First and most plausible reason would have been to suspect that the heater was coming on without there being any water in the tub. But that can be discounted by virtue of the fact that Bosch elements contain embedded thermal fuses which would blow long before the insulation failed. Secondly the great amount of high temperature (90deg) cycles would have a marked short-term effect on the heater to a point where it’s insulation could break down long before the thermal fuses went. Sadly true of many modern elements made today, genuine and pattern alike. Finally, I’m wondering if those elements you buy do in fact contain embedded thermal fuses? To confirm that you may wish to look at the stamped rating on the front plate? If it has this fuse protection there should be a fuse symbol stamped alongside its voltage and wattage rating.

[busybr]

Re: bleckmann or thermowatt

Hi Martin

Thanks as always for your kind reply. I must clarify the situation with ‘the elements I am buying’ (it is confusing, sorry 🙁 )

I bought my machine in March 2011. Towards the end of that year the spin cycle got louder and louder. In January 2012 the machine began tripping out the RCD and I called Bosch in to look at it.

They found that the heater bracket had split in two, causing the element to foul the drum. Of course although the faulty part was tiny, fitting it was no small task. It took three weeks for the part to arrive, and 2 hours for the guy to fit it. He also replaced the element at the same time, as it had signs of grazing where it had caught against the drum. This was a Bleckmann element.

It was that element which failed about 6 weeks ago. I replaced it with a Thermowatt, and that one has lasted 5 weeks of my ‘normal’ use. I have replaced it with another Thermowatt. I’ll check for the fuse symbol on the faulty one in a bit. 🙂

[Martin]

Re: bleckmann or thermowatt

Interesting stuff, so, are you sure that the element you fitted is secured by that retaining bracket? And, the faulty element with the earth leak, has that also got scored by the inner drum?

[busybr]

Re: bleckmann or thermowatt

Hi Martin

The last faulty element has a fine white covering of (I presume) limescale, and two clearer bits in the middle where the heater bracket was holding it down. I am sure the element is being held in place, and there was no sign of grazing from the drum etc.

It is a strange situation to analyse, given that modern washing machines are far from up to the use I give them, so I know I can’t say “my previous machines have been less problematic”. However, as this was the top model in the Bosch range when I bought it, I did have high expectations of it. Thus, when the heater bracket broke, I lost all faith in the appliance. Both of the Bosch engineers who visited (one to assess and later another to repair) did say they’d never seen such a part fail before and that it was just very bad luck. But deep down, I just can’t help but wonder if there is an underlying fault 😕

[busybr]

Re: bleckmann or thermowatt

Martin, the faulty element has two fuse symbols on it (one above each terminal).

[Author]

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