Hotpoint Condenser Dryer TCL780 Only Heats Up On Set Programmes

[nickking360]

Firstly apologies if you can't assist with dryers, I did check and I didn't see anything to say you didn't but at the same time I didn't see anything to say you did.

We have a Hotpoint TCL780 Condenser Dryer, it recently stopped getting drying clothes and just ran cool.  I did various investigation work (basically I googled it!), everything appeared to point to a problem with the thermostats. 

I bought a couple of replacement thermostats off eBay, fitted these but no change, the dryer still didn't get hot.  I did a bit more digging and it suggested I replaced all 3 thermostats rather than the 2 I had already replaced.  In the end I decided to buy the entire heater unit complete with thermostats.

Before this arrived I was playing around with the dryer and I found it did get warm when using one of the Set and Forget programmes, i.e. 1 Ready To Wear 2 Cottons Cupboard Dry, it only doesn't work when you try and set using one of the number, i.e. 60.

The replacement heater unit arrived and I fitted it yesterday, anyway there is no change it still only works on the Set and Forget programmes.

I've already cleaned out the dryer, removed any fluff etc, we've also had the 'safety' repair several months ago so it should all be good to go  

Any suggestions on what to try next?

[nickking360]

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hi. Not drying only points to thermostats as just one possibility. It's a shame you wasted time and money on the heating element as it's one of the parts that can be easily tested with a meter to see if it's faulty or not. If a dryer isn't heating it can be a problem with the pcb, a connection or wiring fault, a stat, a cut-out or the element. You have to trace the fault with a continuity test meter.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Condenser dryers may also have a way of cutting the heating if there is water detected in the base (via a float switch) or if the condenser drawer is full or the device that detects whether it is or not is faulty or jammed. 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Also  If the heater works on some setting but not others it surely means all the cut-outs (TOCs) and the element and wiring are OK. To be honest I wouldn't risk buying any more parts speculatively although I can imagine you not wanting to get beat by it.