I'm working on a side project where I need to figure out how a hair dryer works...so I took apart a hair dryer and made a circuit diagram (below). I am much more mechanically inclined than electrically, but would love to have a basic understanding of what is happening in this circuit.
Things I know...
- The motor is AC (120V, 60Hz)
- Switch #1, the 'ON / OFF' switch has three positions; OFF, LOW, and HIGH
- Switch #2, the 'Heating Element' switch has three positions; COOL, WARM, and HOT
- Switch #3, the 'Cool Shot' switch, some how short circuits / turns off the heating elements
- When Switch #1 is in its third position, the 'input' is connected to both 'outputs'
- When Switch #2 is in its third position, the 'input' is connected to both 'outputs'
- Switch #3 is normally closed
Things I would like to know...
- How does the motor change speeds? Are the diodes responsible? Are the heating elements responsible? What are they doing to cause this change?
- Do the heating elements change the voltage seen at the motor?