Toasters
This page covers toasters
Summary
In most modern toasters , the mechanism that allow for the toaster to work is triggered by the user pushing down the lever, provided that the toaster is plugged in and the power is on. Lowering down the lever closes the circuit and permits electricity to run through , it charges the electromagnet with current and thus holds the lever down for a period of time determined by a timer inside the toaster.
First let’s find out whether the toaster still get hot : when the toaster is plugged and you press the handle maintaining it at the bottom does the toaster’s inside resistances light up and the toaster starts to get warm.
Safety Warnings
- Pleas take extra care when disassembling the device
- Double-check it's not still plugged in when you open it
- Never poke anything in where the toast goes if it's plugged in
- Handle with care as it might still be hot
- Pleas take extra care when disassembling the device
Disassembly
The screws to remove the external cover are usually situated at the bottom of the toaster so you might want to turn it upside down. Once unscrewed take extra care around the area where the handle is as it can hold the circuitry for the on/off display light as well as the timer , and you don’t want to tear any wires apart.
Simple Faults and Repairs
Handle doesn't stay down
When the handle won’t stay down, it might be due to the electro magnet not working as it should.
Sometimes cleaning up the area around the handle as well as the electro magnet itself using compressed air and some IPA is enough to get the magnet back working as normal.
Handle / Toast won't pop up
When the toast wont pop up, it might be due to the timer being at fault.
Some toasters used to have a bimetallic strip which bent as it heated up and so triggered the pop-up when the toast is ready.
Some toasters charges a capacitor that acts as a timer and when reaches a certain voltage cuts of the power that goes through to the electromagnet which releases the handle. It might be a faulty capacitor in this case that prevents the toaster from popping up.