A wax motor is a cheap linear actuator used in appliances like dishwashers and washing machines. It consists of a wax block, plunger, and heat source. It operates by heating the wax, causing the plunger to move. Wax motors are preferred over magnetic solenoids due to their smoother operation, low maintenance, and resistance to failure. They are also quieter and weigh less. However, they are slower and take longer to operate than solenoids.
A wax motor is an inexpensive type of linear actuator device designed to push a plunger, causing it to move. It is also called a wax cap and is used in many appliances where a short range of motion is required. Wax motors are found in appliances such as dishwashers and older model washing machines. Previously they were used to lock the doors of washing machines before the spin cycles were activated. Quite inexpensive compared to magnetic solenoids, wax motors are used to operate or pump thermal control valves and operate valves in heating mechanisms.
The three main components of a wax motor are a block of wax, a plunger that holds it up, and a heat source that heats the wax. It works very simply: an electric heater heats the wax block when activated. This causes the wax to heat up, which pushes the plunger out. When the current is removed, the wax cools and contracts, retracting the plunger in the process. Heating or cooling the wax then causes the plunger to eject or pull out.
Sometimes, return springs are built into the motor or spring force is applied from external sources to push the plunger back into the housing. A wax motor requires almost no maintenance and offers many advantages over magnetic solenoids, which are used for the same purpose. Magnetic solenoids use a coil of wire to create a magnetic field.
This field is used to push the steel plunger or pull it in. In some cases, a wax motor is preferred over a magnetic solenoid because it has a much smoother, smoother operation. Compared to a solenoid, it is slower to actuate and return, and as a result, is less noisy in operation. Wax motors also use resistive loads and those controlled with the aid of triacs do not need snubber circuits.
It’s also easy to check if they’re functional by measuring the resistance; it’s easy to spot a short or open circuit. As long as the resistance between the two terminals is within a certain range, the device is functional. One of the biggest advantages this motor has over a solenoid is that it is less prone to failure. A wax motor survives situations where the plunger is stuck and cannot travel all the way down.
Conversely, a solenoid in the same situation could burn out. Solenoids are also expensive compared to wax motors because they contain steel and copper wire. The motor also weighs less than a magnetic solenoid and is quieter; solenoids typically make clicking noises. Speed is an advantage of solenoids, however, and they only need milliseconds to operate unlike wax motors. It may take more than half a minute for the plunger to fully push out in a wax motor.
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