hotpoint aquarius wf 321 heat element wiring
Hello Everyone
As I had mentioned in my earlier post that my washing machine had stopped working midway and started flashing enhance and on/off lights. I somehow managed to fix that by heating up all the soldering points on the main board and tapping all the relay switches. I am now faced with another problem while plugging all the wires into the heating element. I have no idea what that (see picture 1) interlocked connector called but it has separated (see picture 2) and wont interlock anymore. I tried welding it but solder comes off it.
Does anyone know where can i find that wiring or how do i fix that problem?
Thank you
Solution Summary
AI-generated from this discussion
This thread was marked as solved. Here's a summary of the problem and the fix, generated from the discussion below.
Hotpoint Aquarius WF 321 heating element earth piggyback connector issue
- The problem
- After reconnecting the heating element on a Hotpoint Aquarius WF 321, the poster was unsure how to refit a separated connector on the element wiring and was concerned it might come loose. The machine had previously stopped mid-cycle with the Enhance and On/Off lights flashing, but that earlier fault was not the focus of the solved discussion.
- Likely cause
- The discussion identifies the connector as a piggyback earth connector. The strongest supported explanation is that it was either broken and needed replacing, or bent/not fully latched onto the heating element terminal.
- What fixed it
- Ensure both earth wires are connected to the heating element earth terminal and cannot be pulled off easily. If the piggyback tag is only loose, the spring tab in the centre can be adjusted so it latches into the hole on the male tag. If the tag is actually broken, it should be reterminated/replaced with a new piggyback connector using the proper tooling.
- Checks to try
- Connector identified as a piggyback earth connector
- Check both earth wires are connected to the heating element earth terminal
- Check the connector latches onto the male tag via the spring tab and hole
- Check the earth connections cannot be pulled off easily
- Assess whether the tag is broken or only bent/loose
- Parts or tools mentioned
- Piggyback connector
- Special tools to properly connect/retag the connector
Safety: Both earth wires must be securely connected. If the earth connection works loose the machine could be dangerous. Further diagnosis should be carried out by a suitably qualified appliance engineer.
3 Answers
I'm not completely sure what your problem is from your description and photos but one of the earth wires is fitted with what is called a piggyback connector so that the second earth wire can also connect to it joining them together. The earth wires can then connect to the Earth connector on the heating element.
If by any chance the piggyback connector is broken it would need retagging with another, they can be bought from places like Tandy I think but they usually require special tools to properly connect them. If you just mean that the earth wires don't fit tightly and are concerned they might come off there's a little springy bit in the centre of the connector that can be gently pushed in so that it latches onto the small hole in the male tag on the heating element connection.
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
Hello Andy
Thanks for the reply.
Yes the piggyback connector is broken.I have somehow managed to connect both the wires in the heating element for now but worried if it might come off. I did not try to latch it on to the springy bit in the centre of the connector. Are there any videos which could help?
Thank you
The second picture doesn't seem to show it broken, only bent with the second earth not pushed on, but you need to ensure both earth wires are connected and that they can't easily be pulled off. If the earth wire(s) work loose the machine could be dangerous. The connectors have the small spring-like tab in the centre and the small hole on the male connector so that when pushed onto the element they snap on and can't be pulled off without first releasing the clip to ensure they don't work loose and fall off. If the tag is broken you need to replace it with a new piggyback connector.
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
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