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Timer caught fire/ / Overheating
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Search waterheatertimer.org / all results Search using
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Fire inside timer Timer caught fire/ / Overheating |
 MultimeterTest for breaks in wire/ Test for voltageMost appliance require 80% rated voltage to function correctly Buy Multimeters at Amazon Electric testers at Amazon Resource: How to test and replace element How to test thermocouple Element tests for 120 volts How to test wire |
Safety
when testing wires: Never touch wet or previously flooded appliance. Never stand on wet surface when working on electric. Never stand on bare soil, put down dry boards. Tape tester leads to wood sticks to keep hands away from power. Use non-contact voltage tester before touching wires. Never touch or lean into any made of metal. Remove metal objects from pockets. Do not use oxygen or fuel accelerants in same room as electrical repairs Resource: Basic house wiring |
 Non-contact voltage testerTest for power without touching connectorsNEVER assume power is OFF Buy: Non-contact voltage tester Amazon Electric testers at Amazon Resource: How to test electric power is off |
Twist-on wire connector assortmentsDo not reuse old connectorsBuy: Connector assortment at Amazon Connector assortment at Amazon Resource How to select and install twist-on wire connectors |
Weatherproof wire connectorConnector cavity is full of siliconeBuilt-in cover keeps silicone in place Protect from water, dust etc Buy from my affiliate links Weatherproof size 14 to 6 Amazon Weatherproof size 22 to 8 Amazon Resource How to select and install connectors |
Wrench to apply wire connectors Tighten connector Buy: Wire connector blaster Twist connector wrenches at Amazon Resources: How to twist wire How to select and install twist-on wire connectors |
 Buy: Blue for 16-14 wire Yellow for 12-10 wire Resource: How to install terminals |
 TerminalsBuy:Terminal kit Blue for 16-14 wire Yellow for 12-10 wire |
Push-on wire connectors in place of twist-on connectorsBuy:Push on wire connectors Amazon Red 3P connector for 10-14 gauge wire Lever connectors for stranded wire at Amazon |
 Buy End cutting nippers at Amazon |
  When removing insulation from wire, do NOT score or put cuts on surface of copper wire. Doing so increases resistances on wire and creates weak point. Buy tools: Wire strippers at Amazon Linesman pliers Utility knife at Amazon End cutting nippers at Amazon |
 Keep wires straight Use solid copper wire If wiring terminal or end of wire are covered with green, use emery board to clean terminal and sandpaper to clean wire. |
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Timer
fire:
Cause: Stranded wire under COM2 terminal got hot, came loose and caused fire Solution: Replace timer When installing timer, Use only solid copper wire Solder end of stranded wire to make solid Resources: for timer manuals, wiring and purchase GM40 series, GE 15000 series, Tork series Intermatic defrost timers Resources Match breaker and wire size |
 Fire inside timer caused by stranded wire Keep enclosure door closed at all times |
Two alternatives. 1. crimp a ferrule onto the wire so the screw terminal digs into that, and the strands are protected. 2. Use a terminal type in which the wire strands are protected from the screw. |
Fire
caused by stranded wire
Do not use stranded wire under screw plate on timer, contactor, relay, outlet, switch or any electrical device Resources: Terminals What is amperage Basic house wiring How to troubleshoot household electricity |
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| Causes of timer fire | ||
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Both wires MUST be same
gauge Straighten each wire If wire is corroded or overheated, clean the end with sandpaper and wipe with cloth. If wire has been melted, cut back and reattach, or replace wire. Tighten screw very tight against copper wire |
Use wire connector |
Use push-on wire connectors |
3
wires/ or different gauge wires Join wires with wire connector or push-on connector Run jumper to screw terminal. Buy: Push on wire connectors at Amazon Red 3P connector (shown) for 10-14 gauge wire Connector assortment Resource: How to select and install wire connector |
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Fire safety/ Do not put stranded
wire under screw plate Do not install stranded wire under screw. Problem1: picture shows 2 different gauge wires under screw plate Problem2: Stranded wire will expand and contract and come loose under screw plate, even if it is the only wire under the screw plate Attach stranded wire and solid wire with wire connector, and run solid copper jumper wire to screw terminal Take photo of wires before starting.  Resources: Timer caught fire Load ratings for Intermatic timers/ pdf |
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  12 Ga |
10 gauge or 12 gauge? Compare your wire with short pieces of 10 and 12 gauge wire from local box store 10 gauge for 30 amp breaker. 10 gauge wire can have black-white and sometimes black-red 12 gauge for 20 amp breaker 12 gauge will have black and white wires . Resources: Match color code and amp rating for wire Basic house wiring |
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Add black tape when White wire
carries voltage (applies to 208 and 240V
circuits) With 120 and 277 Volt circuits, White wire is Neutral, and Black is Hot With 208 and 240 circuits, both wires are Hot, and both wires carry voltage Black tape on White wire identifies wire is Hot and not Neutral |
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Arc
fault breaker can prevent fire inside timer caused by a loose wire or
stranded wire Arc fault breaker trips when there is short to ground (same as GFCI) but it also trips when a spark is detected on the line Spark from loose wire will trip breaker... this will signal that wire is loose under the screw plate, or there is a ground fault on the line Only one GFCI-protection device per circuit... so you cannot have GFCI and Arc fault on same circuit... nor can you have 2 GFCIs on same circuit.... they will cause tripping It is OK to have more than one ordinary breaker or fuse per circuit Buy Arc fault breakers at Amazon  Resources: How to wire arc fault How to wire GFCI |
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Keep enclosure door
closed All electical connections must be made inside a box, and each box must have cover or dor to stop fire from spreading High heat even will be confined inside the box, and provide fire safety All electrical devices have amp rating and max amp overload rating Resource: Why you need ground wire |
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Match wire and breaker size with
load Match timer rating with load Attach wires to enclosure Attach wires to structure Resources Color code for wire and breaker Intermatic enclosures |
Use
Wire connectors, or conduit clamps to secure wire to enclosureBy code, all wire must be securely attached to enclosure to prevent wire pull-out. Wires or conduit must be secured to structure, so there are no loose wires. Wires inside the enclosure cannot lay over top of connection terminals. Join all ground wires together and cover with wire connector. Push ground wires down and away from connection terminals. Resource: Wire clamps |
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General household check-up Feel if breakers are warm-hot Check outlets, switches and other electrical devices for heat Use nose to smell for burned parts Use ears to hear cracklings Use eyes and look for sparks Resource: How to troubleshoot household electricity |
 This timer appears to have damage on 1 component... but actually several components have dark solder connections, showing that several parts overheated |
Burned
resistor on timer
R1 resistor burned, R2 resistor burned Replace timer No prevention steps Check that timer is receiving correct voltage and Load does not exceed rating. This is common problem as timer ages Normally if R1 or R2 are burned... look carefully and other nearby parts have signs of burning also. R1-R2 are usually first place you see overheat problem This is true with older and newer models in the GM and Woods and Tork series digital timers, including defrost series Frequently these timers with burned R1 are sold on ebay after they have been removed from service... simply because the timer looks good or repair seems simple. Check if one of the relays is still functional.. sometimes a timer can be used with one relay. Related solutions: Use correct voltage to match timer Do not exceed load rating on timer Use correct wire and breaker Resource: Match breaker and wire size Figure volts amps watts More resources: Compare similar timers Compare all box timers GM series defrost timers |
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Unburned
R1 R2 resistors Note there are no high-heat or burn residue at end of each part |
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Unburned
R1 R2 resistors Note there is no high-heat or burn residue at end of each part |
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Relay points Points on timer relay can get burned It is normal for carbon to build up on points, causing loss of electrical contact. Turn power off, and use nail file to clean points There are no replacement relays for these timers... but you can clean points with a nail file... and if relay is bad, frequently one of the two relays will still function, and load can be controlled by turning off 1 hot wire Resources: How to wire GM40 timer Difference between relay and contactor Contactors |
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Burned
part on electric water heater Replace part, cut back burned wire Resource: Electric water heater parts and replacement |
 Contactors/ relays |
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