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TIL dipping a dryer thermistor in ice water gives a way better reading than a multimeter alone
I had this Whirlpool dryer last Tuesday that kept cutting out after 10 minutes. Meter said the thermistor was fine at room temp but I wasn't convinced. An old-timer at the supply house told me to dunk it in ice water and test again - sure enough the resistance barely budged. But here's the debate: does this trick actually save you from misdiagnosing bad parts, or is it just extra work when a good meter and a wiring diagram do the same thing? Curious if anyone else has burned time swapping a part that tested good warm but failed cold.
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abby_robinson581mo ago
...and that's exactly why I always keep a bag of ice in my service van now, right next to the spare belts. People act like it's some kind of magic trick but it's just basic physics - parts act different when they're cold and a meter at room temp won't catch that. Honestly I'd rather spend the extra 5 minutes dunking a thermistor than swap it and come back next week when the customer calls saying it's still broke.
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angela_allen531mo ago
@abby_robinson58 how long you keep that ice in the van before it melts?
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