Try to repair portable column oil heater

beatcovid · Aug 14, 2021

This small column heater has been working for a few years until it won't heat anymore. If the heat element fails I give up but after opening up the cover I feel the problem is with some thermal fuse.

Because I only have an electrical background but I don't repair a oil heater before. Someone here should be able to tell me if my diagnosis is correct or not.

There are no signs of wiring damages. Using a multimeter I can be sure the following functions work fine:

on/off switch
temperature settings adjustment mechanism
heating element

There found two little things (see links for photos) each of them has two terminals. Tracing the electrical wiring it shows they simply work like electrical switches. I assume both are thermal fuse (but not sure). I have seen and used other thermal fuses but none of them looks the same as this one.

the first one looks functioning. Because the two terminals has always a very low resistance when taking readings between the two terminals
on the second one the two terminals are always showing sort of infinite resistance between them

Two questions: Do I have a broken item that functions like a thermal fuse? How likely I can find a similar device in another oil heater?

column heater - Google Drive

drive.google.com

afjes2015 · Aug 14, 2021

I would not even attempt to repair that heater. In my book it is not worth the chance that it may malfunction. Space heaters are dangerous enough brand new from the factory.

You can get a brand new one at HDepot for under $100 and feel safer.
Pelonis 1,500-Watt Digital Electric Oil-Filled Radiant Portable Space Heater-HO-0280 - The Home Depot

quatsch · Aug 14, 2021

If your own labor is worth $10 per hour it might be a toss-up between the HD route or the DIY route.

If more than $10, then it's probably the HD route.

Maybe you're already into this device for more than $100.

The new HD unit almost certainly won't last as long as your old device has.

joe-nwt · Aug 14, 2021

The two "switches" in your pictures are snap discs. The are safety limits for the appliance, both are high limits. Pretty sure the one with the little knob on the back is re-settable.

If you post a make and model of the heater we might be able to find a schematic and help further.

quatsch · Aug 14, 2021

If the heat element fails I give up
I only have an electrical background

So check continuity for the heating element. If it's GAME OVER, chuck the thing & buy new.

joe-nwt · Aug 15, 2021

beatcovid said:
There are no signs of wiring damages. Using a multimeter I can be sure the following functions work fine:

on/off switch

temperature settings adjustment mechanism

heating element

azeotrope · Aug 15, 2021

Those are very common thermal safety switches in the HVAC world. They are cheep to buy, the wires simply plug onto the back of each one, and they are held in place with only two screws.

The switch that is open circuit is the one that has failed. Some switches have a button on the back that requires a manual reset. I can see the button on the back of one but not sure if that is actually a reset on this particular switch or not, if you push the button and it resets the switch then you are good to go. If it doesn’t reset then replace the switch.

If you remove the switch you can look at the numbers on the side of it to see if you can determine what temperature rating it is.

It’s a simple and safe repair to make as long as you replace the part with a matching temperature rating and reset type.

This is completely fixable, you got this!

supers05 · Aug 15, 2021

+1 [emoji106]

column heater - Google Drive

Try to repair portable column oil heater

column heater - Google Drive

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