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I have a Whirlpool dryer Len2000pwo. The dryer would run for about a minute and shut off. The wire to the moisture sensor came off and was arcing the thermal fuse. We replaced the thermal fuse. The heating coil has no visible broken coils and still gets hot. We placed both the “limit” switches connected to the heating element casing. We replaced the belt and both the drum supports. We replaced the door switch and the timer switch. Nothing has worked. We replaced the motor. It still runs about a minute, turns off, and smokes-smells electrical. No wires have visible burn marks but the motor coils are black and burnt looking. Both the motors still turn freely. My circuit breaker never tripped either. The ground wires are secured. Can you please give me a clue to what is causing this? Can a bad terminal block be the problem? Or maybe the circuit breaker? I have been without my dryer for almost a month now.
Hi @bowhoney Burning motor windings are indicative of excessive current flow through the windings. Since you have replaced the motor it is not the motor that is the problem e.g. breakdown of insulation between the windings, shorting out windings and reducing resistance therefore increasing current. Most electric motors have a start/run capacitor in their operate circuit. The start capacitor is used to provide sufficient current to start the motor turning on the start winding and when the motor is up to speed a centrifugal switch inside the motor operates and switches the motor circuit over to the start winding and the run winding via the run capacitor which reduces the current necessary to maintain the motor turning. I’m wondering if you have a faulty capacitor. The start/run capacitor is usually mounted near the motor. It is one component with usually 3 wires connected, 1 in and 2 out which go to the motor. I can’t find a wiring diagram for the dryer so I don’t know if it has a start/run capacitor or not as it is not listed in the parts. Is there a wiring diagram / tech sheet taped somewhere inside the dryer? If you have the wiring diagram, post a picture of it back here and I’ll try to help further. Here’s how to do this. Adding images to an existing question just some thoughts
