Hi --

I have a small actuator in a dishwasher which closes / opens a vent during the wash / dry cycle. The actuator just pushes a flap to close off the vent. It has two leads coming off it, a white and red wire. The actuator has NO markings whatsoever on it, but the wiring diagram indicates these are the neutral / lead lines of the standard 120V supply fed to the dishwasher. I need to test the actuator, as the vent is not closing causing water to spit out the vent during washing. I don't know if the actuator is bad, or the control board is not sending out voltage.

My question: is it safe to apply line voltage (from an 120v electrical outlet) to the leads of the actuator for the purpose of testing it?

Thank you!

 

Do you have a multimeter?
It might be easier and safer to measure the voltage reaching the actuator.
You could check continuity between the control board and the actuator.
You could measure the resistance of the actuator - zero or infinite would indicate it is faulty.

 

Hi --

Yes, I thought of trying to measure the supply voltage coming out from the board, but I can't get leads from a DVM into that area when the dishwasher is running as it has to be closed up, which is why I wanted to test the actuator (which I can pull off). I will try the continuity test you suggest.

Thanks for the helpful advice!!

 

If the actuator is AC, it may normally show just a few ohms, so it may not be viable test, but if it was shorted, I would suspect it would also have damaged something on the control board.
If you have access to the actuator leads, you could also carefully test with a 120v AC source.
But many dishwashers, Maytag for e.g. have low voltage DC for the devices controlled inside that are exposed to water
Is the actuator on the actual outside of the wash compartment?
Max.

 

Check if there is a printed schematic diagram tucked somewhere on the appliance, or search for it on the web. Should clear doubts.

 

If you are sure the actuator or solenoid is a 120 VAC coil then yes, you can disconnect it and apply an external 120 VAC and see what it does. Just be careful.

Ron

 

If you are sure the actuator or solenoid is a 120 VAC coil

If you are very sure the actuator or solenoid is a 120 VAC coil

 

That actuator might actually be a "wax motor". Google it or Youtube it. They are typically used to open the soap dispensers.
it's not a motor at all. It's wax, a spring and a PTC thermister. They may take a while to warm up.

 

Wax motor, I learn something everyday!

 

Wax motor, I learn something everyday!

They have been around for a long time. But many don't even call them that. It is what most older furnaces and gas water heaters use to control the gas valve from coming on if there is no pilot light present. They in that application are commonly called the capilary tube, it goes from the main gas valve to the pilot light.