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Kenmore Canister vacuum cleaner: Bypassing the diode when connecting wire to the motor

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Kenmore Canister vacuum cleaner: Bypassing the diode when connecting wire to the motor amandaF 07-06-2008
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Posted by amandaF on July 6, 2008, 10:21 am
Hi,

When the vacuum stopped working - I knew it was electricity issue but
forgot about the lose prong on the ply which at that point was not
visible after I pushed it in a while back, a friend of mine tried to
check the wiring to the motor. In opening the housing, he must have
yanked it since the wire connecting motor to diode became detached at
the connecting point to the diode. he didn't have volt meter to test
th circuit and so when the motor didn't run, he said that the diode
was bad. In fact, he was calling the diode "fuse'.

Yesterday, I got another friend take a look at the vacuum cleaner.
connected the wire bypassing the diode and tested the circuit with his
volt meter. He found out there was no electricity coming in and
checked the plug and we found the one prong almost disconnecting. So,
we replaced the plug and the vacuum is working. (He said that the
diode can be bypassed w/ no consequences.) He was rushing and so I
didn't push him to put the diode back and re-do the wiring but I am
concern whether this setup is potentially dangerous to cause motor
damage. In fact, the light at the base unit came on and went off
soon after when I was vacuuming a small area. It made me wonder
whether the light bulb there got damage due to bypassing the diode.

Anyway, should I put the diode back and re-connect? I do have a UPS
(Uninterruptible Power Supply for computers) unit and I am wondering
whether plugging the vacuuming cleaner to it instead of the wall
outlet until I put that diode back and re-do the wiring. Or is it
okay to just use the vacuum w/ bypassing that diode?

Posted by Tony Hwang on July 6, 2008, 1:20 pm
amandaF wrote:
> Hi,
>
> When the vacuum stopped working - I knew it was electricity issue but
> forgot about the lose prong on the ply which at that point was not
> visible after I pushed it in a while back, a friend of mine tried to
> check the wiring to the motor. In opening the housing, he must have
> yanked it since the wire connecting motor to diode became detached at
> the connecting point to the diode. he didn't have volt meter to test
> th circuit and so when the motor didn't run, he said that the diode
> was bad. In fact, he was calling the diode "fuse'.
>
> Yesterday, I got another friend take a look at the vacuum cleaner.
> connected the wire bypassing the diode and tested the circuit with his
> volt meter. He found out there was no electricity coming in and
> checked the plug and we found the one prong almost disconnecting. So,
> we replaced the plug and the vacuum is working. (He said that the
> diode can be bypassed w/ no consequences.) He was rushing and so I
> didn't push him to put the diode back and re-do the wiring but I am
> concern whether this setup is potentially dangerous to cause motor
> damage. In fact, the light at the base unit came on and went off
> soon after when I was vacuuming a small area. It made me wonder
> whether the light bulb there got damage due to bypassing the diode.
>
> Anyway, should I put the diode back and re-connect? I do have a UPS
> (Uninterruptible Power Supply for computers) unit and I am wondering
> whether plugging the vacuuming cleaner to it instead of the wall
> outlet until I put that diode back and re-do the wiring. Or is it
> okay to just use the vacuum w/ bypassing that diode?
Hmmm,
Are you sure it's a diode? I tend to think the first guy was right
saying it is fuse. Diode has no business with AC motor. And if you
plug in the vacuum into UPS box, I am certain you'll damage it.
UPS can handle computer which is not heavy load, vacuum needs lot more
than computer; typically 12 Amp. or so. Bypassing fuse is a safety
issue, if and when there is a problem, there will be no protection.
If you really want to have peace in mind, wire back in the fuse.
If you are interested, google about diode and see what this thing does.
Good luck.

Posted by amandaF on July 7, 2008, 10:13 am
> amandaF wrote:
> > Hi,
>
> > When the vacuum stopped working - I knew it was electricity issue but
> > forgot about the lose prong on the ply which at that point was not
> > visible after I pushed it in a while back, a friend of mine tried to
> > check the wiring to the motor. In opening the housing, he must have
> > yanked it since the wire connecting motor to diode became detached at
> > the connecting point to the diode. he didn't have volt meter to test
> > th circuit and so when the motor didn't run, he said that the diode
> > was bad. In fact, he was calling the diode "fuse'.
>
> > Yesterday, I got another friend take a look at the vacuum cleaner.
> > connected the wire bypassing the diode and tested the circuit with his
> > volt meter. He found out there was no electricity coming in and
> > checked the plug and we found the one prong almost disconnecting. So,
> > we replaced the plug and the vacuum is working. (He said that the
> > diode can be bypassed w/ no consequences.) He was rushing and so I
> > didn't push him to put the diode back and re-do the wiring but I am
> > concern whether this setup is potentially dangerous to cause motor
> > damage. In fact, the light at the base unit came on and went off
> > soon after when I was vacuuming a small area. It made me wonder
> > whether the light bulb there got damage due to bypassing the diode.
>
> > Anyway, should I put the diode back and re-connect? I do have a UPS
> > (Uninterruptible Power Supply for computers) unit and I am wondering
> > whether plugging the vacuuming cleaner to it instead of the wall
> > outlet until I put that diode back and re-do the wiring. Or is it
> > okay to just use the vacuum w/ bypassing that diode?
>
> Hmmm,
> Are you sure it's a diode? I tend to think the first guy was right
> saying it is fuse. Diode has no business with AC motor.

I see.

> And if you plug in the vacuum into UPS box, I am certain you'll damage it.
> UPS can handle computer which is not heavy load, vacuum needs lot more
> than computer; typically 12 Amp. or so.

I was wondering about that. I use my UPS for PC+ monitor+ speaker. I
do not connect printer.

> Bypassing fuse is a safety
> issue, if and when there is a problem, there will be no protection.
I wanted to prevent that.

> If you really want to have peace in mind, wire back in the fuse.

I did. Since I was giving him my old Dell desktop with Altec Lansing
subwoofer multimedia set in exchange for the work, I asked him to do
the wiring the way the manufacturer made it. So I bought a soldering
kit and we re- did it.

> If you are interested, google about diode and see what this thing does.

I did. I also didn't think that it was diode. By the way, if I ever
need to replace that fuse, how do I got about finding the info of that
fuse used in this vacuum cleaner?

> Good luck.


Posted by amandaF on July 10, 2008, 12:18 pm
> > Are you sure it's adiode? I tend to think the first guy was right saying
> > it is fuse.Diodehas no business with AC motor. And if you
> > plug in the vacuum into UPS box, I am certain you'll damage it.
> > UPS can handle computer which is not heavy load, vacuum needs lot more
> > than computer; typically 12 Amp. or so.Bypassingfuse is a safety issue,
> > if and when there is a problem, there will be no protection.
> > If you really want to have peace in mind, wire back in the fuse.
> > If you are interested, google aboutdiodeand see what this thing does.
> > Good luck.
>
> Adiode"could" be used on a so-called "universal" motor which is actually a
> series would DC motor.
>
> But, indeed, a "diode" looking device that's essentially part of the motor
> is mostly likely a "thermal fuse" which will "pop" either from over-current
> or because it gets too hot.
>
> Thermal fuses usually don't blow without cause. If a consumer chooses to
> bypass rather than just replace such a fuse he should closely monitor the
> appliance.

Thanks for the info.


>
> ** Posted fromhttp://www.teranews.com**


Posted by TWayne on July 7, 2008, 7:41 am
> Hi,
>
> When the vacuum stopped working - I knew it was electricity issue but
> forgot about the lose prong on the ply which at that point was not
> visible after I pushed it in a while back, a friend of mine tried to
> check the wiring to the motor. In opening the housing, he must have
> yanked it since the wire connecting motor to diode became detached at
> the connecting point to the diode. he didn't have volt meter to test
> th circuit and so when the motor didn't run, he said that the diode
> was bad. In fact, he was calling the diode "fuse'.
>
> Yesterday, I got another friend take a look at the vacuum cleaner.
> connected the wire bypassing the diode and tested the circuit with his
> volt meter. He found out there was no electricity coming in and
> checked the plug and we found the one prong almost disconnecting. So,
> we replaced the plug and the vacuum is working. (He said that the
> diode can be bypassed w/ no consequences.) He was rushing and so I
> didn't push him to put the diode back and re-do the wiring but I am
> concern whether this setup is potentially dangerous to cause motor
> damage. In fact, the light at the base unit came on and went off
> soon after when I was vacuuming a small area. It made me wonder
> whether the light bulb there got damage due to bypassing the diode.
>
> Anyway, should I put the diode back and re-connect? I do have a UPS
> (Uninterruptible Power Supply for computers) unit and I am wondering
> whether plugging the vacuuming cleaner to it instead of the wall
> outlet until I put that diode back and re-do the wiring. Or is it
> okay to just use the vacuum w/ bypassing that diode?

Don't pluc it into a computer UPS. Most vacuums need much more power
than a computer UPS will provide (12A @ 120Vac = 1440VA - I doubt the
UPS is rated that high? Anyway, it wouldn't run and could be awfully
hard on the UPS battery and vacuum motor if it tries to run for very
long (low voltage possible, more likely no voltage under that much
load).

As for the diode, assuming it's really a diode, you indicated a light
that quit working. That light (and others if there are any) is likely
what the diode was for; just a cheap way to creating the lower voltage
they wanted for the "light", LED, whatever it may be.
I'm guessing of course, but if you ever want the lights to last, you
probably have to put that diode back in the ckt.
More importantly, there seems to be some question as to whether it's
a diode or a fuse, based on what you've been told. If it's in series
with the motor windings, it's not a diode; it's going to be a fuse,
thermistor or some other type of temperature/current element. That
makes it even more important to put back, so that you have the safety
protection the unit was originally designed with.
If it's only connected to the lights, etc. and not the motor, then it
is more likely a diode.

Either rewire it properly or bring it to a shop would be my advice, the
shop having preference right now, and based on this event, I'd not let
those folks work on anything electrical again for you.





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