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9 Steps to trouble free Laundering

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth. South Africa

Step to trouble-free laundering
  1. Pre-treat stains and spots
  2. Sort fabrics carefully
  3. Separate colors Whites one-side and colors in another load
  4. Mix large and small items together in the same load
  5. Make sure about the water temperature (check garmine labels)
  6. Select the correct washing program
  7. Use the correct amount of laundry product
  8. Use appropriate kind of laundry product
  9. Rinse and Dry clothing properly
If you have more tips on laundry results, please leave a comment below.


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Call 083 52 52 52 2 for more information

Smeg Toaster repairs

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth. South Africa

Even undress the Smeg toaster looks great

Another gemini thermo fan oven bits the dust

Oven repairs in Port Elizabeth

Actually that is wrong the Defy Gemini multifunction thermo fan oven did not bite the dust but rather it bit white powder.

The Defy GTF oven is one of the best Domestic oven ever build - With a little practice Everyday-Joe can produce the same tasty roast just like the Masterchefs do it.

Defy Masterchef Multifunction Thermo Fan
White powder everywhere! This is how it looks when the bake element explodes, fortunately the powder is harmful and you don't have to dump your Roast. Read more about the powder here . . . .

Unfortunately like all things they need special attention at some stage but that why you know me. Should you heed more advice or leave a comment below or send me an email.

Happy Roasting 

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Microwave Oven Oil frying

Microwave oven Repairs in Port Elizabeth. South Africa

Did you Know?

 You cannot fry food in oil in a Microwave oven.

The oil will get hot but it will not boil, so you will not be able too get the crispiness

Microwave ovens need water to fry something

Darn!

Do you know how to get something crispy in the Microwave Oven?

Leave a comment below of send us a email.

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Voltage

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth. South Africa

Voltage
Ghd Pcb
What is voltage and why does it affect my appliances, is questions I get asked regularly


Putting the answer in layman’s terms - Voltage is Energy and the voltage number is the amount
supplied from a energy source.


Simple! - Not! This is where things get interesting. The energy amount supplied is not necessary the
amount that is going to reach the end.


Voltage flow is called Current
To get the energy(voltage) from here to there is called current flow and normally the best means is done
through copper conductors(wire or printed circuitry on a pc board).


Disturbance in a current flow is called Resistance
The negative part about these current flows is that every disturbance in  the flow will cause a
resistance (voltage drops);

  • The further the current flow the more the voltage drop
  • Switches and circuit breakers causes voltage drops
  • Joints will cause a voltage drop
Now we get to the other potential problem;
Voltage resistance causes a Heat build-up  
There is mathematical ways one can work out these resistances and drops in advange but I not going
to risk boring or losing you, it is better if you go look it up yourself the different formulas.
Just take my word on this one, the bigger the energy lost the bigger is the bigger is the heat buildup.
Now that we have the above out of the way we are getting to the reason for this post!
Common reasons why Appliances fail

  • Dust and fluff
    • Blocking ventilation holes preventing circulation
  • Fluff around a motor will make the operating temperature go higher and all most small
motors need is  between 3 to 5 degree temperature rise to burnout
  • Bad connection
    • Any connection is also a disturbance in the current flow and a potential heat build-up area.
    • Heat (current) makes metal expand and contract when cools down.. Over a period of time
connection wear loose and then it really starts heating up, till eventually something burns

Conclusion

Have you appliances serviced regularly periods by a reputable service provider. Ask them if they do
down to earth test

 Should you need more - feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email.
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Single Induction Cooker

Stove Repairs in Port Elizabeth. South Africa

Single Induction Cooker

Exposed Induction Cooker 


The single induction cooker  saves up to 50% on electricity and is much faster  than any traditional methods.

While single induction cookers has many features the one that impressed me is that they are compatible with inverters and generators. Which means while you are out bun-du-bashing you can use the cooker connecting it to your vehicles battery via a inverter. This makes for a quick and easy cooking.

Induction cooker Control Module
How induction heating works

Induction heating method is very similar to the principles used in a microwave oven - Joule heating;- currents react with the intrinsic resistance of the medium

Hu!

Putting it simpler - It is a phenomenon that involves AC currents with two metallic circuits not in direct contact with each other, will exchange energy by varying magnetic fields. 
 High frequency coupling transfer energy to a medium that causes resistance will cause heat. 

The normal electric current frequency from the mains to any appliance is 50Hz, which is too low to produce any heating results. The only method one can produce a high enough frequency is through an oscillator.

Sadly like most electronic equipment they all fail at some point but not to worry that why you know me.

That reminds me another safety features that impressed me was the dry pot and high/low voltage protection.

Induction cooker main parts

Heads Up

  • Ordinary aluminium pots and pans don't work on induction cooker - True 
  • Only expensive cooking equipment works with induction cooker -  Not True 
A Simple test to find out if your cooking pot or pan are compatible with a induction cooker. 

All you need is a small magnate. 
If the magnate sticks to the bottom of the pot, it can be used on a induction cooker. SIMPLE! 

If you should need more advise or tips feel to drop me a email or leave a comment below.

Happy Cooking
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Hot Curles

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth. South Africa

  • Thermo Hair Rollers
Had the pleasure of repairing a vintage electric hot cruller this week. Not many of then still around. the Thermo Ceramic hair rollers are back and has taken their place. 

Rat in Fridge

Fridge Repairs in Port Elizabeth. South Africa


Ice in ventilation fan
Have you ever heard a faint scratching noise coming from the refrigerator - like a rat looking for something
nice but don’t panic it’s only Ice.
It is not common for Ice to build up around the ventilation fan but it does happen and only in “frost-free”
refrigerators. Certain times of the year it’s worse. In Port Elizabeth middle December up to middle
February is the time when most frost free refrigerators over ice due to condensation. We start getting
the plenty of calls at that time but it could be that the problem started before Xmas because of the
following reasons.

1. Ice Cream and Lollies
During holiday season, hot weather and weekends the freezers are loaded with ice cream, lollies
and ice.The refrigerator doors are been opened a lot more than normal and each time you open the
refrigerator door hot -moist-air comes gushing in, condensate on the ice-plates (condenser)

2, Door left open
Leaving the door open is a sure way to get the refrigerator all iced up. Especially when visitors are
around for the holidays everybody is sneaking to the refrigerator for some leftovers and they don’t
what to let anybody hear they are in the refrigerator, so they close the fridge door ever so softly.
Just close enough to prevent the “open door” alarm from going off and open enough for the moist air to
sneak into the refrigerator.
There are a couple of other reasons why refrigerator over condensate (ice) but I am not going to talk
about them in this post because they are going to cost you money to sort out and the reason for this
post is to save you money.
Ok! I won't leave you hanging
The other things that can cause over icing is a faulty temperature probe, broken heater element and
ventilation fan but let’s not go there (expensive repairs).



Quick Fix
Switch the refrigerator off just before everyone goes to bed at night because you don’t want anyone to
open the fridge doors again (to keep cold air inside). In the morning switch the refrigerator back on
again.


With this method you will melt the excessive condensation (ice) on the condenser (ice-plates) but your
food won’t go-off or defrost in the freezer. If the scratching is gone then you know you on the right track.


Most of the time you have to do this ritual (switching on and off) 3 to 4 nights in a row.

Condensor iced up 
Just a word of caution:  
“Remember to switch the Refrigerator back on again the next day.”
If the switching on and off didn’t solve your problem then unfortunately you are going to need me.

Leave a comment below or send me a email should you need more information or would like to add..


Electric Heating Elements

Oven Repairs in Port Elizabeth. South Africa
Heating Elements

Elements are used in all appliances. 
Fridges has them to help defrost excessive ice condensation.
Washing machines use an element to heat up the laundry water. 
Tumble dryers use heating elements to heat up the air that blows through the turning drum. We also use heating elements in kettles and urns to make coffee and tea.


Defy bake element
In this post I am going to about the elements used in Stoves and Ovens.
 
How do an elements work
Electric current flows through coiled resistance wire - the resistance causes the wire emanates  heat.
How an heating element is made
It is basically electricity passes through a tub.
  • The outer layer is made from copper or stainless steel that holds everything in places
while emanating heat.
  • Insulating layer-  middle part made out of ceramic that conducts heat but not electricity.
insulates the outer layer and resistant wire from each outer.
This white powder is not poisonous but can change the taste of food.
  • Inner section -  Inner section is a coiled resistance wire (made from 80%Nickel & 20% Chromium)
which conducts electricity and generates heat.
Broken defy bake element
Electrical heating elements are made to withstand high temperatures
There are many different elements with various wattage output. Watts (energy) is just a term they use
to describe the current flow(usage). One watt is defined as the current flow of one ampere with
voltage of one volt.
Huh ! don’t worry for the average person this is useless information. Just remember the higher the
watts of your kettle or Urn elements the faster it will boil the water.
Power struggle - Amps Volts and  Ohms in a heated debate
Reasons why Heating Elements fail
  1. Bad ventilation - It is common for people to use aluminum foil or the flat tray that comes with
the oven and slides into the side of the oven as a drip tray. Big mistake! This pan should only
be used with your thermofan settings or in the middle of the oven right underneath the roast.
“But the book says!” I know but trust me on this.


When this tray is positioned at the bottom of the oven just above the bake element, the tray
acts as a barrier by trapping the heat, preventing the heat from reaching the thermostat. In
this trap-barrier the temperature is much higher than that of the top oven section. The
thermostat probe is normally installed in the top section or middle section of the oven
(because hot air rises).
This little boo boo is the single biggest reason why bake elements fail but the manufacturer's
has realised their mistakes and the new spill trays has vent holes on the sides so the hot air
can rise.
  1. Overheating -   Due to bad Thermostat control (not the same as when you have poor ventilation
as described above). Severe overheating is normally caused by a thermostat that is busy failing.
The element gets extremely hot before it cools down. Sometimes this extreme heating can cause
deformity on the element, resulting a shorter lifespan of the element.
3. Oven door seal faulty -   a bad door seal will give you a combination of the first two points.

The hot air inside the oven escapes passed the damaged oven gasket. Again because hot air
rises it is very important that you have a good seal on the top section of the oven. Hot air leaking
causes the heating elements to work much harder and longer to maintained preset temperature.


4.Manufacturing - Manufactures are under constant pressure from the east to supply cheaper.
The competition forces them to cut corner by manufacturing with cheaper and  inferior product.Cutting on labor and staff is affecting the end results.
5.General operating errors

Overused - Domestic stove and oven elements are not the same as and Industrial oven.
Domestic ovens can only be used for unlimited periods of time per day. A household oven maximum working time is between 4 to 5 hours per day.  Using a heating element for extended periods of time at high periods will cause the element to deform and blister.

Spillages -  Elements that get douses with liquids that from a leaking pan could cause
 the element to cool down too fast in sections. This could cause the element too blister and  explode. 

Power fluctuation - Constant high power fluctuation causes small “ding’s” (damages) to  the
resistant wire and electronic components in the oven. This phenomenon is called “Electronic rust”.
When looking at AC power flow on a oscillator-screen one can see the power in waves going up and
down.

The signs of excessive Power fluctuations is the same as one power surge. It is just that the damaged
happened over a time period.
Elements are made to withstand high temperatures. Domestic elements range from 50 degrees to 300
degree Celsius.  
Once switch-on elements go full blast - there is no half heat and that’s why you need a controller like a
thermostat to regulate heat emanation of the element.
If you want more information or would like to add, leave a comment below or send me a email

Happy bakking

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Ghd styler Vs power Generator

GHD Repairs in Port Elizabeth. South Africa

Ghd resistors blown

Getting power from a power generator for your Ghd Straightener is never a good idea. I know some ladies want to style their hair even in the Bush or while they are out in the rural area.

It's Ok to use your styler if the power is been filtered through a Pure Sine wave Inverter but tapping directly from the Generator is bad idea. The power fluctuation is just to much for these little Pc Boards.

Ghd electronics are state of the Art!

Most people tend to forget that they are actually holding a very sensitive device in their hand and the unit should be treated with great care.

So next time when you go ruffing it up rather take a cheap battery styler or take your own inverter unit.

Feel free to sent me email or leave a comment below

www.pinepienaar.info
 
 

Inverter

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth. South Africa

Inverter Repairs
Inverters are the future!
O.K! come back this is not another boring post about something you are never going to use. Inverter's are here to stay and it is going to become a part of every household.
Over the year our National power supplier has work hard to building themselves a reputation as a total unreliable service provider. The municipalities are ripping their paying clients on their power bills to makeup for their inefficiencies.

Oops! You're still here, thanks for sticking around. I just had to get that out my system.
It not only that power suppliers has become totally unreliable but fossil fuel and the damage it does to our environment, has made it a matter of urgency to find an alternative power suppliers.
Why would you ever need a power inverter?
If you’re not a active outdoor camper you might be needing a inverter to watch you favorite soapy on televisions when the power is down. Sick people need inverter's to run their medical equipment in case of a power outage.
Up to this stage the authorities has try everything to discourage people from generating their power. With the anti fossil fuel movement that is growing daily, the world has started to looking  for alternative power source.

Some of the main alternative energy source area;
  • Sun - solar energy threw the use of solar panels converting the sun's heat to electricity
  • Water - perpetual motion is becoming big to harness the oceans waves. Water-turbines has already been in use for many years.
  • Wind - Wind power are very unpredictable and unreliable but if one use it with solar energy if becomes more reliable.
Power inverter is an electronic device that changes direct current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC)
  • Alternating Current (AC) - is electricity that reverse all the time (alternating), it is supplied through a national grid to home and businesses. Appliances like washing machines, microwaves and stoves run on alternating current. Most AC power is supplied in pure sine wave (I will tell you more about sine wave shortly)
  • Direct Current (DC) - is a electric current that flows in one direction. Used in portable appliances like laptops, radios, cameras and touches. The main source of DC power is batteries.
  • Sine Waves - Power has a frequency that can be seen and measure on a oscillator that looks a wave. Human ears can hear pure sine waves. Sine waves just looking at the way they interact with other Waves (devices).
A Modified sinewave is square and tend to cause interferences on other devices.
Your can read more about sine waves here.  
The main takeaway is to remember that if the electric current is not  pure it will cause disturbances on your radio, television and cell phone.
Inverter's have either a modified sine wave (square wave) or pure sine wave output. Now that you know more about the workings and uses of a inverter, I will tell you more where the inverter fits into the alternative power system.
  1. Power Generator Source; - Solar panels, wind and water turbine
  2. Voltage Regulator; - This unit is to regulate the power flow to the batteries
  3. Batteries; - 12 Volt or 24 V DC power
  4. Inverter; - Changes 12 Volt power to 220 Volt

  • Modified sine wave (step square) inverter's has limitations compared to a pure sine wave inverter that can run any type of equipment from oxygen concentrators to variable speed control power tools. are smooth actually very fascinating and one can learn so much from them .

Should you need more info feel to send me a e-mail or leave a comment below.

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