Burned power switch problem

[JeanAmos]

Hey guys, my problem isn't really tech related, but I have my hotplate wich has burned switches (and not working). I hoped one of you may have electrician skills: I need to know wether I but new switches or if there is a way to clean them. The switch is made from few metal pieces wich make contact with each other, and most of them are burned.

The switch model number: 50.57021.010

[JeanAmos]

12 hours ago, James Evens said:

Are you sure that you are qualified enough to work on these devices?

worst case your home catches fire

Yeah I am. I mean it would have catch fire already

[Gerowen]

Depending on how the switch attaches to the hotplate you can probably find an acceptable replacement at your local Radio Shack or auto parts store.  Our Radio Shack keeps components like this in stock, and Advance Auto Parts carries all kinds of do-it-yourself electronics components that are aimed at use in cars, but would work just fine in other applications.  You can also get them on Amazon as well.  Switches just open and complete a circuit when they're toggled, so as long as the conductive materials within the switch can handle whatever load is being passed through them, whether it's a button or a lever or whatever doesn't really matter.

 

One thing I would advise though is that, since the insides of that switch are burnt, you may want to examine further inside the hotplate and make sure other electrical contacts or wires aren't burned as well.  Many home appliances like these are woefully under-built and use wiring that is "just" thick enough to carry the load necessary to operate the device, and as a result the electrical components break down over time.  Space heaters are also bad for having wiring that is literally the bare minimum necessary to operate the device.  This sometimes compounds over time because as contacts corrode or get gummed up with grease and dirt, impedance goes up, which makes the wiring that used to be barely sufficient, not sufficient any more, which generates heat and causes more charring and/or corrosion, which just feeds back into the same cycle until something fails, hopefully in a way that doesn't involve fire.  If the switch is charred, there's a reasonable chance other parts are too, and if they are, I would just buy a new hotplate.