B. A. T.

Basic Appliance Training

Basic Electricity
&
Reading Schematics
 &

Presented by Jim Campbell

 General Housekeeping
• Please turn your Electronic
communication devices to vibrate.
• If you must take a call, be respectful of
others and please leave the room or
area.
• If your phone rings audibly, you will be
required to sing a full verse of a Justin
Bieber song, including chorus.
Thank you
 Program Outline
• Safety
• Fundamentals
• Voltage, Current Flow, Resistance,
Wattage
• Terminology & Symbols
• Terms used in the Electrical and Major
Appliance Industry
• Recognizing symbols
• Things that are Consistent
 Program Outline
• Circuit Fundamentals
• Complete Circuit
• Series
• Parallel
• Combination Circuits (Series/Parallel)
• Electrical Components
• Switches/Controls, Timers, Motors,
Transformers, Printed Circuit Boards
(PCB), Thermistors & Sensors
 Program Outline
• Use of Instruments
• Volt meters, Ohm meters, Watt meters,
Ammeters, Capacitance
• Tips & Tricks
• Jumpers, Cheater Cords, Simulators
• Hop-scotching
• Testing complete circuits
• Reading Schematics
 Electricity & Troubleshooting
• The most common problems occur
with the greatest frequency
• 85 % of the calls you encounter are
going to be common problems
• Pumps, Inlet Valves, Belts & other
common problems that you will see a lot
of and often – these don’t really take too
much thought to find
 Electricity & Troubleshooting
• 15 % of the calls you encounter are
going to cost you the greatest amount
of time to troubleshoot and diagnose
• Trip after Trip
• Part after Part
• These problems are going to be head
scratchers, hard to figure out, have to use
a VOM, have to read and interpret the
schematic and do some heavy
troubleshooting
Safety
 Safety
You should practice working on every
piece of equipment like it is “Live” or
has power going to it.
 Safety
• Disconnect power before servicing or
moving appliances
• Test to ensure power is OFF
• Follow Safe Servicing procedures as
outlined by the manufacturer
• Reconnect all Safety grounds
• Make sure all panels and covers are
re-installed correctly
 Safety
• Use properly
sized extension
cords – shorter
the better
• Use a GFCI to
protect yourself
Fundamentals
 Fundamentals
• Remember:
• Current always takes the path of least
resistance
• When using an Ohm meter, it’s input
follows this rule
• Study schematics on working equipment
• Practice makes perfect
 Fundamentals
• Voltage is pressure that creates a flow
of electrons
• Measured in Volts
• With a Volt meter
• Voltage is the potential difference
across two points – L1 to N, L1 to L2
 Fundamentals
• Current is the actual flow of electrons
through a load or conductor and is
measured in Amps with an Ammeter,
clamp-on or in-line

• Resistance is the opposition to current

flow and is measured in Ohms with an
Ohm meter. Normally drops voltage.
• Caution: using an Ohm meter – disconnect
power
• An Ohm meter can lie to you!
• Will the proper current flow in the circuit?
Electron Flow
 Fundamentals
• Voltage and Current relationship
• Increase voltage, more current flow
• Decrease voltage, less current flow
• Current and Resistance relationship
• High resistance - Low current flow
• Low resistance - High current flow
• Watts and Current relationship
• Current (Amps) x Voltage (Volts) = Watts
• Watts / (divided by) Volts = Amps
 Fundamentals
Ohm’s Law – Watt’s Law
 Fundamentals
• Ohm’s Law and Watt’s Law expresses
the relationship between Volts, Amps,
Ohms and Watts relative to a
complete circuit when voltage is
applied, current is flowing and when
actual work is being performed by the
circuit.
 Fundamentals
• No matter how you look at it, Ohm’s Law &
Watts Law is important but not used on a day-
to-day basis.
• Tough to
remember
 Fundamentals
• We don’t have to use Ohm’s or Watt’s
Laws for most troubleshooting tasks
but when you need them, nothing else
will help.
• You have to remember the basic
concepts of the Laws.
• btw – there is an app for that !
 Fundamentals
Application of Ohm’s / Watt’s Law
• 5000 watt @ 240 Volts heating
element, what should the resistance
be?
• V2 / W = Ω thus 11.5 Ω

• 120 Volts put across 10 Ohms of

resistance, what should the amps be?
• 120 V / 10 Ω = 12 Amps
Questions ?
Electrical
Terms &
Symbols
 Puzzle Terms
find these terms in the puzzle
• Ampere • Load
• Breaker • Ohm
• Buss • Pole
• Choke • Relay
• Circuit • Volts
• Conductor • Watts
• Cycle • Power
• Diode • Zero Ohms
• Hertz • Infinite
• Line-One • Resistance
• Neutral • Voltage drop
Electrical Symbols
Electrical Symbols
Electrical Symbols
Electrical Symbols
Electrical Symbols
 Electrical Symbols

There is only one thing about electrical symbols that

will be constant from schematic to schematic, manuf.
to manuf., and product model to product model; that is:

In-consistency
 Symbols
Identify Components
Place the numbers on the lines beside the symbols on the
next page to make the proper match.
1. Compressor Motor – 13. Single-Pole, Double-Throw
C,S,R terminals (SPST) Switch
2. Crossover 14. Centrifugal Switch
3. Ballast 15. Plug Connector
4. Permanent Connection 16. Resistor / Heater
5. Adjustable Buzzer 17. Fuse
6. Incandescent Lamp 18. Multi-Position Switch
7. Fluorescent Lamp 19. Coil
8. Heat Rise Thermostat 20. Circuit Breaker
9. Adjustable Thermostat 21. Heater
10. Chassis Ground 22. Capacitor
11. Transformer 23. Pushbutton (DPST)
12. Grounded Service Cord 24. Single-Speed Motor
Electrical Symbols
 Symbols
Identify Components
1. Compressor 13. SPST Switch
2. Crossover 14. Centrifugal Switch
3. Ballast
4. Permanent 15. Plug Connector
Connection
16. Resistor or Heater
5. Adjustable
Buzzer 17. Fuse
6. Incandescent
Lamp 18. Multi-Position Switch
7. Fluorescent
Lamp 19. Coil
8. Heat Rise
20. Circuit Breaker
Thermostat
9. Adjustable 21. Heater
Thermostat
10. Chassis Grnd. 22. Capacitor
11. Transformer
23. Pushbutton (SPDT)
12. Grounded
Service 24. Single-Speed Motor
Cord
 Circuit Fundamentals
• Complete circuit
• Most circuits are made up of four basic
components:
• Source – Supply – Potential - Voltage
• Conductors – Wires
• Load – Consumes voltage – power
• Switch - Control
• When tracing a circuit, start at the
source and trace it back to the source
• 240v or 120v or 24v or 12v
 Circuit Fundamentals
• Complete circuit
 Circuit Fundamentals
• Complete circuit – switches closed,
bulb lit
 Circuit Fundamentals
• Complete circuit
 Circuit Fundamentals
• Complete circuit
 Circuit Fundamentals
• Series circuit – current has one path to
flow – any break – circuit stops
working
 Circuit Fundamentals
• Parallel circuit – current has more than
one path – break in a branch – other
branches still work
 Circuit Fundamentals
• Combination circuits – contains both
series and parallel
 Circuit Fundamentals
• Common mistake made in
troubleshooting is taking readings to
ground.
• You must be 100 % comfortable with
circuits, voltages, before using this
method
• Many people are taught this method
and they get burned by it
Questions ?
Electrical Components
 Electrical Components
• Switches / Controls
• Not always in the HOT side of the circuit
• Normally Closed / Normally Open
• Drawn in their normal existence or as
they “come out of the package”?
Electrical Components
 Electrical Components
• Timers
• Box of switches
• Troubleshoot one switch at a time
• Sequence Charts, Esterline Charts
Electrical Components
Electrical Components
Electrical Components
 Electrical Components
• Transformers
• Step-Up
• Step-Down
• Double-Duty
 Electrical Components
• Motors
• Shaded Pole
• Split Phase
• PSC
• CSIR, CSCR
 Electrical Components
• AC / DC Motors / BLDC
• Permanent Magnet Motors
• Does not spin free
• More efficient
 Electrical Components
• PWM motors
• Newer Variable Speed motors & Newer
36 pole motors
• Maintains torque throughout ramp-up and
ramp-down – also saves energy across the
grid
Questions ?
Use of Instruments
 Use of Instruments
• Use of Measuring Devices for
Electrical Circuits:
• Ammeter
• measures current flow in circuit; clamp-on or
series type
• Volt Meter
• measures voltage applied to circuit or loads
• Ohm Meter
• measures resistance in circuit or loads
• Watt Meter
• measures power consumed by loads in circuit
 Use of Instruments
• Voltage across a switch – switch is
open
• No voltage across switch – switch
closed
 Use of Instruments
• Using an Am-meter in-line
 Use of Instruments
• Using an Ohm-meter – continuity - short

short

continuity
 Use of Instruments
• Testing Low Voltage power supplies
• use a known load to verify the power
supply on the board is working correctly.
• Banana Plug adaptor + resistor
• Most of the newer Digital meters have
protection built in-to them.
• Replacement meters
• look for Hz capability
• look for Capacitance capability
 Use of Instruments
• Use Back Probes for small connectors
• Fluke TP88 – fits test leads # TL71
• Pomona 6262 – fits standard test leads
 Use of Instruments
• Hop-Scotch method
• Interpreting Volt Meter Readings
• No voltage at the load – circuit is open
• Full voltage at the load – load is bad
• Diagnosing loads
• If full voltage is applied to a load, it should be
working
• Verify the Operation of a Load by
• Visual observation
• Proper amp draw
• Measuring proper amps – confirms operation
Questions ?
Tips & Tricks
 Tips & Tricks
• Jumpers
• Simulators
• “Shootin’ from the Cord”
• Testing full circuits
• Testing hidden components
• Cheater Cords – SMOKE TEST
 Tips & Tricks
• Jumpers
• 2 rules
• Come out with the same amount you went in
with
• Never, Never, Never jumper a LOAD
• Use jumpers to verify a switch or control
is closed
• Force the current flow to verify the circuit
 Tips & Tricks
• Simulators
• When working on Electronic controlled
units, simulate the inputs that the main
CPU (Central Processing Unit) or MCB
(Main Control Board) is looking for.
• Jumper input switches to force the input
• Connect known resistances in place of
thermistors – make the board see what
it’s looking for
 Tips & Tricks
• “Shootin’ from the Cord”
• Testing full circuits, verify as many
components as possible
• Testing hidden components, eliminates
tearing apart the product to test
components
 Tips & Tricks
• Cheater Cords
• Power up suspected components
• Verify diagnosis
• “Smoke Test”
 Reading Schematics
is
NOT
Rocket Surgery
Rocket Science or Brain Surgery

It takes Patience and

Perseverance!
 Reading Schematics
& Troubleshooting
• Reading schematics is an art. It takes
constant practice, practice, practice.
• The main issue we have with getting
good at reading schematics is;
85% of service calls are calls that
happen with the greatest frequency
With these calls, we don’t need to read
a schematic or wiring diagram to
diagnose the problem.
 Reading Schematics
& Troubleshooting
• When you have trouble figuring out
what is wrong with a piece of
equipment is the wrong time to try to
learn to read a schematic.
• You need to practice reading
schematics even on equipment that is
operating OK.
• Remember - Practice, Practice,
Practice
 Reading Schematics
& Troubleshooting
• Using Strip Circuits
• Strip circuits are easy-to-use
diagnostic tools.
• Strip circuits isolate any given circuit
that operates a load. If we were
troubleshooting a motor, we would
look to the strip circuit for the motor.
The strip circuit for the motor would tell
us every component and the circuit
that would be active to run the motor.
 Reading Schematics
& Troubleshooting
In this diagram
of a refrigerator /
freezer electrical
system, what
would be the
strip circuit for
the compressor?
 Reading Schematics
& Troubleshooting
• Sequence Charts (Esterline)
• Sequence charts (Esterline) are designed
for one purpose, they breakdown the
action that occurs inside a Timer as the
timer advances through a cycle.
• The chart shows, by increments, which
switches are open or closed inside the
timer at any given point in its rotation.
Reading Schematics
& Troubleshooting
Reading Schematics
& Troubleshooting
Reading Schematics
& Troubleshooting
Reading Schematics
& Troubleshooting
Questions ?
 Symbols Quiz
• What is it?
 Symbols Quiz

Centrifugal Switch - Correct

 Symbols Quiz
• What is it?
 Symbols Quiz

Resis-thermist-heater
 Symbols Quiz
• What is it?
 Symbols Quiz

Mobile – Ohm (mobile-home)

 Schematics
• Basic Electric • Maytag Electric
Water Heater Dryer
• Whirlpool Electric • Maytag Neptune
Dryer Washer
• GE Harmony • GE Refrigerator
Washer • Jenn Air Range
• Whirlpool Electric • Whirlpool
Range Dishwasher
• Kenmore Gas • Frigidaire Front
Dryer Load Washer
Schematics
Schematics
Schematics
Schematics
Kenmore Gas Dryer
Maytag Gas Dryer
Maytag Gas Dryer Wiring
diagram
Maytag Front Load Washer
GE Refrigerator
Jenn Air Range
Whirlpool Dishwasher
Frigidaire Front Load Washer
 Questions ?
Comments !
Suggestions ?