Having done exactly this with an old Hobart washing machine, I know that
they should measure less resistance, draw more current and act like
solenoids. E.g. move.

Yours are apparently both burned out.


---
James.


-----Original Message-----
From: pic microcontroller discussion list [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On
Behalf Of Martin McCormick
Sent: 2004 Mar 01, Mon 12:29
To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: [OT]: Strange Part Salvaged from Maytag Dish Washer

        Before sending our old dish washer to the recycler, I pulled the
solenoid water valve off of it and a couple of parts that I thought were
solenoids which do not behave like a solenoid should.

        The two parts in question are actuators of some type.  One used to
trip the latch on the soap dispenser and the other did something similar to
a "pre-rinse" dispenser.

        Both objects look like solenoids in that they have rectangular
bodies about the size of two nine-volt batteries end to end.  Two blade
terminals come out the side of each device and there is a metal shaft
protruding from one end making the whole thing also look kind of like a
switch except that I can't pull or push the rod in or out.

        Each part has the word Ltech stamped on it and a part number.

        If I read across the terminals with an Ohm-meter, they show megohms.
They also do exactly nothing when I feed up to 120-volts AC from a variac.

        Both parts snapped in to clips that held them firmly next to the
mechanical lever they were supposed to move.  My impression is that the rod
extended and pushed a spring-loaded lever which popped the lid on the soap
box, etc.

        It is remotely possible that both are solenoids that have burned out
as the release on the soap dish stopped working weeks ago, but I find it
unlikely that they both failed the same way.

        This particular machine had no electronics as far as I know, just an
electromechanical timer and mains voltage to all the electrical parts.  When
I fed the 120-volt AC to them, they drew no measurable current at all.

        What could these strange things be?


Martin McCormick WB5AGZ  Stillwater, OK
OSU Information Technology Division Network Operations Group

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