Stumped by a pilot light

[turquoisedude]

I admit it - I am stumped...
I am trying to get the dial lamp on the '56 GE pull-out dishwasher working and it is just not cooperating. I did have to rewire the bakelite socket because the wiring was crumbling; the new hookup wires tested fine. I tried reconnecting it to the same leads that the old one went to and nothing happened. I then tried hooking up another lamp to the leads from the dishwasher and nothing happened.
I don't have my volt meter (it is packed somewhere in the horror show I call my basement) but when I did a basic continuity test I was definitely getting power to the leads.
Were these kind of lamps 110V? My guess is yes, but I am not sure.
Anyone out there every run across a problem like this before?
Oh, and just out of curiousity - is the calrod element in this style of dishwasher supposed to heat continously throughout the cycle? I am guessing that it is, but again, I defer to the experts!

 

[turquoisedude]

The wires for the pilot light

It's a bad photo, but I tried to show the wires that the lamp is supposed to be hooked up to.
The yellow one seems to be the 'hot' lead and comes from the Calrod element; the white is what I assume to be the neutral and is coming from the timer.
The bulb has 'GE 43' printed on it, but no voltage information...
I just can't think of what else to check!!

 

[turquoisedude]

The 'before' picture

Here's what the lamp looked like before I started to mess with it!

 

[spinout]

GE 43 pilot lamp

This is a 2.5V, 500ma bulb which would NEVER be connected directly across a 110V line; rather, it would need a ballast of some sort or be current operated by being in series with another component (solenoid coil, motor winding, etc.). Neon lamps (with a small resistor in the circuit) were generally used as pilot lamps when connected directly across 110V during this era.

 

[turquoisedude]

That makes sense - is it possible that the heating element could have also been wired in series with the lamp??

 

[coldspot66]

Did you check the heating element for continuity, assuming the pilot light is wired through it?

 

[spinout]

The bulb is rated for 1/2 amp of current, so it would not be in series with the main heater unless it has a shunt. Look for a series component that draws less current.

Is the #43, in fact, the original bulb specified for this machine?

 

[turquoisedude]

Coldspot,
The heating element checked fine for continuity - in fact, it does heat (I powered up the machine just to test the components and it seems fine although I was kinda concerned that it seems to be on as soon as the cycle starts).

Spinout,
I wish I knew if this was the original bulb - I will assume it is since this was the bulb that was still with the dishwasher after 52 years in storage. Do you have any idea where I could find a replacement? I looked at a couple of local electrical-supply places and had no luck.

 

[thirtyater]

Radio Shack used to carry a good selection of pilot/appliance, etc. bulbs. They may be able to cross reference that #43 with a bulb for you. It has been several years though since I have shopped for rare bulbs there but it is worth a try.

Lowe's here in the big O has an impressive selection of bulbs too. They may be worth a try.

Good luck with that beauty!

 

[turquoisedude]

Radio Shack here also used to have a lot of spare parts like bulbs, but since Circuit City took them over in Canada they are shedding them. I am seriously thinking of venturing into Newport, Vermont (maybe 20 minutes from Ogden) - I think there's a Lowe's there.
I am being a stubborn little devil and holding out until I have the pilot light working before I film the dishwasher running!

 

[cadman]

Something's amiss here. Do you have any sort of ckt diagram for this guy at all? GE liked to use the screw-in "night light bulb" style for 110v applications, and in a bulb size such as your #43, typically a neon indicator. Unless there's a tap on one of the coils (and even then, 2.5v?) this just doesn't make sense. Not saying it's not possible, but it seems very weird considering the other parts and their electrical ratings on that washer.

 

[turquoisedude]

No, I don't have the wiring diagram for this dishwasher unfortunately. The one from a 1959 GE that I do have no longer featured a lighted dial.
I am going to have to find me a voltmeter on the weekend and figure out what's up.
The bulb reminds me of a radio dial lamp and it also looks a lot like the bulbs that GE had in the triple-whip food mixers to light the mixing bowl. I may just need to do some comparing to one of those - I have about 5 of them buried somewhere in my basement...
I figure if worst comes to worst, I will wire in a regular 110V bulb.

 

[thirtyater]

I am not surprised that Radio Shack doesn't carry many bulbs now. The last time I went to radio shack here I was in search of tuner dial string or cord or whatever you call it. They had no earthly idea what I was talking about. No luck.

 

[marukap]

A Wealth of Light Bulbs

Go to this link, scroll down to "Lighting and Electrical," click on "Light Bulbs." Don't miss the "Neon Indicator" section in the bottom right of this last page.

Hope this helps,

Marty Kaplan

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

 

[turquoisedude]

Thanks, Marty!

What a great source for all kinds of parts! I just emailed them to make sure they can ship to Canada. Found the GE bulb there in like, 5 seconds!!

 

[marukap]

You're most welcome.