Faulty Electric Throw Blanket Diagnosis Troubleshooting

[@christopherblowfield7998]

Hi. The suicide switch that you refer to is called a thermal fuse. It is a fuse that goes open circuit when it's temperature exceeds it's rated temperature. This is most likely what has failed inside the controller for your blanket. If the controller was underneath the electric blanket when it was running, the controller could've beocme too hot and caused the thermal fuse to open. The repair could therefore be as simple as replacing the thermal fuse (so long as you can determine the correct temperature rating). The wires you have shown connecting to your blanket are a heater wire (one pair) and a temperature sense wire (the second pair). The blanket uses the sense wire to determine how hot the wire is getting. The controller can then thermostatically control the temperature of the heating wire to safe and comfortable levels. If the heater wire broke, the blanket would not warm up. If the temperature sense wire broke, the controller would stop the blanket from operating because it can no longer determine if the temperature of the blanket is safe. Fixing the wire would get the blanket working again. There are of course other possible failure modes for an electric blanket. I hope you are able to repair yours!

[@Remraf]

Thanks for your comment. I’m sure lots of people will find it really helpful. It’s good to understand why something isn’t functioning as it should. It eases the frustration a little. Cheers!

[@christopherblowfield7998]

No problem at all :-) I find it very frustrating too when things could be designed to be repaired easily, but there is no financial insentive for the manufacturers to do this. Obviously they benefit when products fails just outside the warranty period and you have to buy a new one. Anyway, keep up with the vids! All the best @@Remraf

[@shelleyjennings4344]

I received a handy heater electric throw blanket for Christmas. Yesterday was January 18. It’s less than a month and I’m getting the F5 code. I did not bunch it or store it carelessly. I followed directions. You are correct, sir. These blankets are “crap”. 😡

[@Remraf]

Yep, they should be removed from shelves. Pointless waste of money.

[@Youtuber35568]

Definitely agree these are a huge waste of money.......had a decent one burn out bought a more expensive one that one also burned out then bought another expensive one different brand same thing and they all went within 2 to 4 months...... they should either have them be like 5$ to 10$, have super cheap replaceable remote, say they're life expectancy is 3 to 6 months or not to sell them at all

[@Michealfarmer]

Yep, I agree. Why sell them at all would be the answer, it is clearly a failed product that cannot operate safely for long periods of time. It should not be on the shelves if it is designed to fail, which it is.

[@patriciagyorfi7758]

Doesn't matter how expensive or inexpensive. These blankets are designed to fail and are irreparable. I have at least 10 which make good pet blankets after they stop working.

[@bostonblackie9503]

Right now in Britain, with the cost of energy, these throws are selling like hot cakes. In Canada they have ones people can use in their van or camper during winter. I thinks some of them are chargeable. Which will no doubt be the next step in these blankets.

[@Remraf]

This blankets are frustrating at best. Great when they work, a complete waste when they don’t. But I guess it it fails you still have a blanket at the end of it!

[@morganwebb9117]

This has happened to mine after less than a month!

[@spaceted3977]

My Livivo Electric throw went Wrong !!! It was a Yellow Square Capacitor that was not soldered on one side !!! I soldered it and now it works fine !!! But the thin wires are impossible to fix if they ever go wrong !!!! They don't take solder, I don't know how they manage to solder them in, in the first place !!! You can't spot weld or crimp them, so the blanket can't be Fixed !!!! Usually it's the Connectors that are faulty, or the mains fuse in the plug is loose.

[@dumpsterfire6351]

Engineered to fail

[@spaceted3977]

My Blanket has packed up now !!!! So I`ve bought a New One !!!! I have never successfully repaired an Electric Blanket !!!! But it`s horrible being cold in bed, and my two small dogs would not be happy without one. Electric blankets are a cheap way of keeping warm. even though they don`t last more than a couple of years !!!!!

[@spaceted3977]

@@dumpsterfire6351 Most Definitely yes !!!! They are Crap !!!!

[@dumpsterfire6351]

@@spaceted3977 its actually a thing…they make parts that will only last so long. Isn’t that some BS. Hard to repair so just buy another. I have gotten decent at repairing electronics, troubleshooting and solder skills are decent.

[@foot2]

Did you smash your fingers? Hope you got better.

[@Remraf]

Yep, smashed them good and proper. Better now though! Cheers!

[@tfcig2019]

Had a throw size given to me, but it quit after 2-3 uses. Found a small burn hole, hot ash, cigarette maybe, that had melted one side of inside wire. Not sure if bad spot can be cut off & reattached, then covered w/electric tape or a wire cap? Not much knowledge of fixing electric items. Have fixed a few electric wiring, such as speakers, cords, etc. Not sure if this would be worth the effort/trouble &/or if it would have safety issues? Only used it outside, while burning items in burn barrel. (Possibly where burn came from - hot ash, popping from barrel) Any idea, if this can be fixed? Would greatly appreciate any info. Thanks for vid.

[@Remraf]

I would be cautious. The wire is extremely thin and would be hard to join onto. If you can solder it would be worth a try, just to see it it worked. All it would take is a bridge of wire in the gap between the break. The join would than need to be insulated so it doesn’t earth back out. It’s frustrating having equipment break and than there being no support whatsoever.

[@spaceted3977]

Any fault throw it away and buy a new one !!! You have to be very careful with them and never burn a hole in it !!! Mine had a capacitor that wasn't soldered in and the fuse was loose in the plug !!!! But you must not put something on the bed to make it overheat !!!! They only have a lifespan of a few years, but they are really good if you are sensible with them !!!!!

[@zigavojska1672]

How did you check the elements/wires. did you use Ohm meter with the sound indicator or measured the resistance. The sound indicator shoul whistle when you test itI think. On my blanket the wires in the element dont give any sound..they are probably bad?

[@Remraf]

You could measure the resistance (ohms) as you have stated. If you are finding high resistance than the wire is broken and the safety switch is thrown stopping the blanket from working. Low resistance indicates that the circuit (safety wire) is still functioning as it should be and the problem may be else where. Cheers.

[@spaceted3977]

The wires are impossible to test. They are the thickness of a human hair and they don't take solder !!! On mine a yellow Square Capacitor had not been soldered on one side in the Control Unit, and the Fuse was loose in the Plug. If the thin wires break it's dustbin time !!!! But mine works perfectly !!!!

[@maryhowsrd3381]

Thank you bi won't use it. A rip off. I just turned it on switch blinks not Safe sunbeam throw. Glad I read this

[@Remraf]

Yep. They have a terrible track record! Mine has long since been cart off to the tip!

[@kingchuckfinley]

I got a blanket for my wife last Christmas, and it shit the bed, and to be honest I think I needed a somewhat cynical slightly fired up Australian to tell me that it’s just a shit blanket

[@Remraf]

That’s hilarious! “Cynical slightly fired up Australian” describes me well! Lol!

[@carolynk6]

Thanks!

[@Remraf]

Thanks so much for your generosity! I appreciate it so much! And you’re the first to ever do so!!! You have made my day! Happy days!