Electrolux Model 1521 powerwand runs even when the vacuum is off

[semiret]

I have not tried connecting the canister motor directly to power, but the vacuum does suck (maybe not the best term, but it does pick up dirt), so I will say the motor does run.

Here is what I am trying to determine
- The bag door switch has three wires (red, white and blue)
- The red wire connects to the on/off switch
- The white wire connects to the bag door open light. The other wire coming out of the light is black, which connects to the left side of the hose
- The blue wire connects to the left side of the hose. This is the same connection as the black wire from the light & the black wire from the cord winder

- The red & white wires have a direct connection. They are connected to a common bar, so always have continuity
- The red & blue wires have a connection only when the bag door is closed. When it is open, then the connection is broken

-
- I have multiple questions, but here's my first:
If the red & white wires have a constant connection, how come the light does not light when the bag door is closed?

- Question 2 (Related to Q1 and probably more inportant):
Explaination for Q2: When I look at the wiring diagram, it seems to me that connecting the black & white wires together should be the correct config.. However, when I do that, the power nozzle does not work at all. It's almost like the current continues to follow the black wire on the left side of the hose instead of following the white wire on the right.
Q2: If the current has multiple paths it can follow, what determines which path?

Thank you

Steve

PS - Sorry about the chart on my prior post. I was not able to update it so I have reproduced it here

These are tests of various connections to the cord winder

Terminal 1.................Terminal 2.......Vacuum.............Nozzle
light green................white............did not run .......ran with on/off switch
light green................black............ran................did not run
black/white................light green......ran................did not run
white/light green..........black............ran................always ran even with vacuum off

These results were the same even if the wires were reversed

 

[semiret]

In doing some research, I think I have answered my first question.

In the bag door switch when the door is closed, electricity flow between the red & blue wire as well as the red & white wire. However, the light does not light up because there must be enough resistance in the white wire (or bulb itself) that will prevent enough electricity to pass to light up the light. When the door is opened, the connection between the red & blue wire is broken, which causes all the electricity to flow between the red & white wire, thus the light lights up.

So, expanding upon this, I wonder if my problem is I have increased resistance somewhere in the hose circuit that prevents enough electricity to flow thru to operate the power nozzle thru the normal circuit that includes the on/off switch. This might also explain the motor burning out at the same time this problem started.

Working theory - now what to do about it

Steve

 

[semiret]

Took the vacuum down to the local repair shop - not authorized electrolux, but he's been in business for 40 years. No luck. Insisted that my power nozzle hose must have had it's own on/off switch. It never did

So, I just bought a good looking Ultralux Classic, identical to the one I have, off eBay.

Will be here between 7/8 & 7/16.

Hopefully I will be able to use that one to help find out what happened. I'll also have some spare parts. Probably should have done this first. The vacuum I just bought cost less than the motor I just replaced

Thanks to everyone for their help

Steve

 

[paul]

Even though you're on your way of fixing your UC 1521's problem on your own thought I'd let you know for future reference that I just checked the store locator at aerushome.com and discovered that the store in Eugene has closed, because it lacks the "View Map" | "Driving Directions" hyperlinks. Typically, Aerus leaves closed store locations in its locator due to another store in the region taking over its phone line; although since no one answered the phone that may not be the case. So the only Aerus dealers in your region are in Portland and Tacoma.

Also, fyi the Ultralux Classic was the last version of the 1521 and was manufactured from 1992 to 1993 besides the black sales award version. It was also the last of the metal US-designed tank vacuums. The plastic tank models originated in Canada and were brought to the US market in 1985 when the US and Canadian Electrolux affiliates merged.

Thanks for your thorough posts, which will provide a good reference for anyone else who experiences similar problems. I'll be interested to know what the culprit was when you get your eBay purchase and compare its wiring with your problematic one.

 

[semiret]

Solved

Received the Ultralux Classic I purchased over eBay yesterday & took it apart today

In comparing how the new machine was wired, it was obvious that my old machine had been wired wrong. The black & grey wires in the diagram in reply #16 were reversedI talked to my better half and she swears that the vacuum ran just find until the morning the motor burned out, when ther power nozzle started staying on even when the vacuum was turned off.

Nay3way, to make a long story short, I rewired my old vacuum to match the one I bought off eBay, and it works just fine.

I have no explanation for how the wires got switched, so I will just chalk it up to sun spots.

Now I have two Ultralux Classics. Maybe this is how vacuum cleaner collections are started

I have included the correct wiring diagram, just in case anyone may need it

Thanks to everyone for their help

Steve

 

[human]

Glad you got it fixed...

Sounds like persistence paid off. Shame you had to get a second machine to be able to figure it out but hey, you can't have too many Luxes around, can you?