Thread Number: 17987
Stumped by a pilot light |
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Post# 293114   7/28/2008 at 11:14 (5,722 days old) by turquoisedude (.)   |   | |
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I admit it - I am stumped... I am trying to get the dial lamp on the '56 GE pull-out dishwasher working and it is just not cooperating. I did have to rewire the bakelite socket because the wiring was crumbling; the new hookup wires tested fine. I tried reconnecting it to the same leads that the old one went to and nothing happened. I then tried hooking up another lamp to the leads from the dishwasher and nothing happened. I don't have my volt meter (it is packed somewhere in the horror show I call my basement) but when I did a basic continuity test I was definitely getting power to the leads. Were these kind of lamps 110V? My guess is yes, but I am not sure. Anyone out there every run across a problem like this before? Oh, and just out of curiousity - is the calrod element in this style of dishwasher supposed to heat continously throughout the cycle? I am guessing that it is, but again, I defer to the experts! |
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Post# 293115 , Reply# 1   7/28/2008 at 11:19 (5,722 days old) by turquoisedude (.)   |   | |
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It's a bad photo, but I tried to show the wires that the lamp is supposed to be hooked up to. The yellow one seems to be the 'hot' lead and comes from the Calrod element; the white is what I assume to be the neutral and is coming from the timer. The bulb has 'GE 43' printed on it, but no voltage information... I just can't think of what else to check!! |
Post# 293116 , Reply# 2   7/28/2008 at 11:20 (5,722 days old) by turquoisedude (.)   |   | |
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Post# 293153 , Reply# 4   7/28/2008 at 13:57 (5,722 days old) by turquoisedude (.)   |   | |
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Post# 293169 , Reply# 5   7/28/2008 at 15:20 (5,722 days old) by coldspot66 (Plymouth, Mass)   |   | |
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Did you check the heating element for continuity, assuming the pilot light is wired through it? |
Post# 293174 , Reply# 6   7/28/2008 at 16:12 (5,722 days old) by spinout (Phoenix)   |   | |
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The bulb is rated for 1/2 amp of current, so it would not be in series with the main heater unless it has a shunt. Look for a series component that draws less current. Is the #43, in fact, the original bulb specified for this machine? |
Post# 293275 , Reply# 7   7/29/2008 at 07:37 (5,721 days old) by turquoisedude (.)   |   | |
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Coldspot, The heating element checked fine for continuity - in fact, it does heat (I powered up the machine just to test the components and it seems fine although I was kinda concerned that it seems to be on as soon as the cycle starts). Spinout, I wish I knew if this was the original bulb - I will assume it is since this was the bulb that was still with the dishwasher after 52 years in storage. Do you have any idea where I could find a replacement? I looked at a couple of local electrical-supply places and had no luck. |
Post# 293308 , Reply# 9   7/29/2008 at 11:38 (5,721 days old) by turquoisedude (.)   |   | |
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Radio Shack here also used to have a lot of spare parts like bulbs, but since Circuit City took them over in Canada they are shedding them. I am seriously thinking of venturing into Newport, Vermont (maybe 20 minutes from Ogden) - I think there's a Lowe's there. I am being a stubborn little devil and holding out until I have the pilot light working before I film the dishwasher running! |
Post# 293415 , Reply# 10   7/29/2008 at 22:05 (5,721 days old) by cadman (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
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Something's amiss here. Do you have any sort of ckt diagram for this guy at all? GE liked to use the screw-in "night light bulb" style for 110v applications, and in a bulb size such as your #43, typically a neon indicator. Unless there's a tap on one of the coils (and even then, 2.5v?) this just doesn't make sense. Not saying it's not possible, but it seems very weird considering the other parts and their electrical ratings on that washer.
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Post# 293496 , Reply# 11   7/30/2008 at 07:53 (5,720 days old) by turquoisedude (.)   |   | |
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No, I don't have the wiring diagram for this dishwasher unfortunately. The one from a 1959 GE that I do have no longer featured a lighted dial. I am going to have to find me a voltmeter on the weekend and figure out what's up. The bulb reminds me of a radio dial lamp and it also looks a lot like the bulbs that GE had in the triple-whip food mixers to light the mixing bowl. I may just need to do some comparing to one of those - I have about 5 of them buried somewhere in my basement... I figure if worst comes to worst, I will wire in a regular 110V bulb. |
Post# 293515 , Reply# 13   7/30/2008 at 09:39 (5,720 days old) by marukap (St. Louis)   |   | |
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Go to this link, scroll down to "Lighting and Electrical," click on "Light Bulbs." Don't miss the "Neon Indicator" section in the bottom right of this last page. Hope this helps, Marty Kaplan CLICK HERE TO GO TO marukap's LINK |
Post# 293533 , Reply# 14   7/30/2008 at 10:55 (5,720 days old) by turquoisedude (.)   |   | |
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Post# 293643 , Reply# 15   7/30/2008 at 18:19 (5,720 days old) by marukap (St. Louis)   |   | |
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You're most welcome. |