Hoover Vacuum Cleaner

[Steve.S.]

Hi everyone,
I'm attempting to repair a hoover H 500 upright vacuum where the brush-bar doesn't revolve. I've bypassed the pcb and the motor itself does run. The switch to control this motor (there is also a separate suction working motor) is ok... on for carpet, off for flat floor. This then leads me to the pcb itself, see pictures. I suspect the component in picture 1 which has no continuity but am not actually sure what it is. Looks like a bimetal strip/

fuse type of item but can't find same or equivalent online. Anyone identify this and suggest replacement? Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Steve.S.]

 

[granddad]

Magnetic read switch maybe they look like that ...

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Looks like a reed relay, there should be a magnet to activate it.

 

[alec_t]

Move a strong magnet towards and away from it. You should hear a faint click when the reed contacts close. If the contacts have welded together you won't hear that click and the weld would have been caused by excess current/arcing, which could have damaged something else.

 

[Steve.S.]

Thanks for your input chaps. I'll try the magnet idea tomorrow. There doesn't appear to be a magnet anywhere near the component however. Do the letters/numbers mean anything to anybody (not to me!!!) DEU011 (poss OII or combination thereof!)-NZLG-67 If this checks out, the pcb becomes suspect...not really my bag, but I'll keep at it!

 

[Diver300]

I suspect that the switch could be to detect when something is in the right place to run, maybe when the handle isn't locked upright.

The magnet has to move relative to the switch, but it could easily be in a different part of the assembly.

 

[Steve.S.]

Morning everyone,
Well I tried the magnet as suggested by alec_t and yes it is a reed switch and yes it works! But still no physical magnet near. However as it is situated within 4" of the suction motor, would this generate a field when switched on, sufficient enough to cause the switch's operation?

 

[Steve.S.]

Hi
Well I think I'm suspecting a pcb fault with this.. which is a bit beyond my expertise..I'm better on house and car stuff..a bit more macro! Can anyone suggest where I could post the pcb to for test and repair? I know there are washing machine pcb repairers out there etc charging a set price but I've not come across anyone who deals with this size and type. Anyway let me know (UK based) thanks for the help so far.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Hi
Well I think I'm suspecting a pcb fault with this.. which is a bit beyond my expertise..I'm better on house and car stuff..a bit more macro! Can anyone suggest where I could post the pcb to for test and repair? I know there are washing machine pcb repairers out there etc charging a set price but I've not come across anyone who deals with this size and type. Anyway let me know (UK based) thanks for the help so far.

I doubt there would be anyone offering PCB repairs, as it's a fairly small 'low cost' board - presumably the official option would be to buy a replacement board?.

However, how do you actually set the beater to spin?, is there a switch, or is it by lowering the handle to the correct position? - where presumably a small magnet would activate the reed switch.

Have you tried applying a small magnet to the reed switch with it all connected up?, and see if the beater spins.

 

[Les Jones]

Does the brush motor work if a magnet is held close to the reed switch ?
(I am thinking that the magnet that should cause the reed switch to close has fallen off fro where it should be located.)

Les.

 

[Steve.S.]

Hi Nigel and Les,
Yes, I tried that with an old loudspeaker magnet but no joy I'm afraid. Nigel ...There is a switch labelled "carpet" which you press to activate the beater brush roller, otherwise the suction motor only works (on a flat floor) I know the switch itself is ok.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Hi Nigel and Les,
Yes, I tried that with an old loudspeaker magnet but no joy I'm afraid. Nigel ...There is a switch labelled "carpet" which you press to activate the beater brush roller, otherwise the suction motor only works (on a flat floor) I know the switch itself is ok.

Then what is the reed relay for?, it's presumably added for good reason.

 

[Les Jones]

That is NOT a reed relay. It is just a reed switch which is opperated by a magnetic field. A reed relay is a reed switch with a coil wound it. The speaker magnet may not provide a magnetic field with the correct orientation. (It is required to have the north pole of the field at one end of the reed switch and the south pole at the other end. )
If you short the contacts of the reed switch together will the motor run ?
Another remote possibiliy is that it is a tilt switch. I had another close look at the picture of the switch (Which is not well focused) but it really does look like a reed switch.

Les.

 

[alec_t]

it is a reed switch and yes it works! But still no physical magnet near

The reed switch mount has a hole for attaching the switch to something. That 'something' must either include a magnet or allow the switch to move close to a magnet.
When the reed contacts close, the relay on the pcb will likely be energised to switch power to the brush roller motor.

 

[Steve.S.]

When I isolated the reed switch (just one screw and a plug into the pcb) connected to AVO continuity ' passed magnet over and back it did switch on and off. I've no idea how the whole thing is supposed to work unless one of the components on the pcb is an electro-magnet? Obviously, there are no schematics available anywhere!

 

[alec_t]

I would guess the brush roller motor is intended to be switched off when the Hoover handle is in the upright (stowed) position.

 

[Les Jones]

The reed switch will be operated by a permanent magnet. (If they wanted it operated electricaly they would have used a reed relay. If we knew where the board with the reed switch was physically located we might be able to guess what condition was reqired for it to operate. (Did shorting the read switch out enable the brush to operate ? If it did not then the fault is probably nothing to do with the reed switch)

Les.

 

[Steve.S.]

I'll take a photo after dinner, As I said previously, if you bypass the whole pcb , the motor will work but obviously I couldn't operate the handle in this condition. I'll try shorting the reed with pcb in place also . Thanks to all for the continued ideas!

 

[Les Jones]

Here is a WILD GUESS. I found some pictures of the H500 and it looks like you gan plug ahoe into it
I think there MIGHT be a magnet on the connector on the end of the hose If this is the case then the switch works the opposite way to the way you are assuming. When the reed switch is closed it would inhibit the brush motor.

Les.