Burnt electric connection to in line heater element

[Spider53]

I have a Hotpoint FDW80G (SERIAL No 70116 1309 ) approx 8 yrs old which tripped out the ring main circuit breaker following filling of machine at start of the cycle. There was a smell of electrical burning too but no fault code. After leaving for a while switched back on to see if tripping reoccured, which it didnt and machine pumped out the water too.
Closer inspection revealed the connector block was burnt and melted on one side.
I have previously replaced the heating element a few years ago and machine has been operating fine since.
Any ideas of possible causes and what I need to be testing to identify the fault so I can assess whether or not a repair will be cost effective on a machine of this age would be gratefully received.
Cheers

[electrofix]

Re: Burnt electric connection to in line heater element

the fault is just a burnt connection

new heater with new terminals crimped onto clean wire

Dave

[Spider53]

Re: Burnt electric connection to in line heater element

But something must have caused it to burn surely? If I just replace it surely the chance is it will happen again?

[electrofix]

Re: Burnt electric connection to in line heater element

bad dirty or faulty connections will cause it to burn.
If an electrical connection is not 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} then the resistance of the joint will get higher. The higher the joint resistance the more heat will be generated in the connection

Remove connection and check joint on the heater. If it’s in any way corroded or contaminated change it. Then as long as new connections are on clean wire t will be ok. You may have to cut the wire back to get at clean copper and if you want to make sure you could solder the wires into the crimp joints

Dave

[Spider53]

Re: Burnt electric connection to in line heater element

I might struggle to clean this up and the plastic shroud is also burnt / melted.

[electrofix]

Re: Burnt electric connection to in line heater element

agreed

take it the plug in the picture is not out of the heater as its not burnt

new heater and new terminal’s on clean wire

Dave

[Spider53]

Re: Burnt electric connection to in line heater element

No the good looking one is on the drain pump! Took connector out to get view of burnt one.
Do you know where I would be able to get compatible female part of the connection to the heater? Also any advice upon whether to get an original part or would OEM part be OK? I fitted an original one last time so that will be to genuine heaters now!

[Spider53]

Re: Burnt electric connection to in line heater element

Looks like a genuine part as it is only a few £s more!
Any suggestions where I could get the female end of the electrical connector to replace the burnt one?

[electrofix]

Re: Burnt electric connection to in line heater element

you can fit 2 separate terminal in the heater connection as long a 1 of them is insulated so they cant touch

there are 2 types depending on how you feel about the wire feeding it. If when you strip it back the copper is clean and shiny then normal insulated crimps will work

of the wire looks a bit dodgy then I would use uninsulated crimps. then solder the wire in the crimp to make sure of a good connection. you can then buy insulating covers and cover one of them

insulated crimps
https://shop.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/3051182 … -connector

uninsulated

crimps
https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/non-insu … g-tab.html
you need 6.3mm 1.5 cable should be ok

covers
https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/rigid-te … minal.html

chances are Halfords my stock some of them but you will need the correct crimper for each terminal

if you needed to get the correct connector you may be talking about a new wiring harness and weeks waiting for it

also I see 2 heaters listed for this range but your should be the later 1800watt (lower then previous one)

gen
https://shop.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/c000740 … er-element

non gen
https://shop.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/c000740 … er-element

to be honest fit quite a few compatible heaters if there is a big price difference and not had a lot of problems with them

Dave

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