[budster12]

My wife insists on stopping the dryer to take out a few clothes to fold. Then she starts it up again while the is folding them. This goes on until they are all done. I've heard the greatest draw on the dryer motor is upon start up. Is this constant starting and stopping harder on the motor than simply letting it run until they are dry?

[spanky917]

Start up does cause current surge but not a problem really as long as motor is otherwise in good condition... although, I wouldn't get carried away!. a GREAT IDEA is to stop the dryer at mid-point in the drying cycle and clean the lint filter. The filter normally gets partially blocked during operation... cleaning out @ mid-point will help the clothes get dry quicker and prevent abnormally high temperatures at the end of the cycle.

[budster12]

Spanky917---thanks for the response. It will probably prevent some arguments.

[spanky917]

You're welcome... STARTING/STOPPING a few time is not a big deal... but
Electric motors do use much more current to start than to run but the 'start up' surge is measured in micro-seconds... it doesn't last long enough to be a factor unless the motor fails to reach "operating speed"... if that happens... internal temperatures of the motor will usually 'knock off' the internal limiter.. called a 'thermal cut-out'... if that fails... there will be a severe over heating of the inside of the motor which will cause a 'short' inside the motor's windings... this should trip a breaker or blow a fuse in the house. You should also be able to 'smell' an electrical fire. Usually limited to the inside of the motor. But BEWARE... if the inside of the dryer has an accumulation of lint that has not been cleaned out as it should have been... then the small internal fire can grow ! QUICKLY!!