How do toasters work???

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DrPizza

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
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Yeah, I know, resistance, I²R, etc. But, I was just heating up a bagel and thought, "how is it not shorting out?" The nichrome elements are woven in and out through steel (or is it aluminum?) Is there a coating in there that isolates the elements from the rest of the toaster? If so, what is that coating that reliably works (so that I don't get shocked) over such a wide range of temperatures?

edit: Looking inside mine, I'd swear that it's not mica sheets.
 
Last edited:
FoBoT

FoBoT

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Apr 30, 2001
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it is usually mica strips
works_figure3.gif

is it really new? maybe they have updated the technology
 
Modelworks

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
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depends on the model of toaster. Some use ceramics to hold the actual wire while others use bare metal that then connects to a high temp plastic far enough away from the metal supports that the heat loss incurred doesn't effect the plastic.

Mica is used for the shielding behind the elements but can't be used for structural support because mica is too fragile.
 
Macamus Prime

Macamus Prime

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Feb 24, 2011
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A toaster harnesses the black matter of the universe.

It is a "drain" of sorts to the massive energy and mystery that is all around us. Black matter is drawn into the toaster once it is switched on. Then, approx 2,000,000 units of energy are converted into heat which "browns" the bread - but, what is really happening is that the dark matter is mixed with anti-matter thus converting it to brown matter.

Toast is actually sort of like a filter, which brown matter (black matter and anti-matter) are placed on said toast.
 
guyver01

guyver01

Lifer
Sep 25, 2000
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DrPizza said:
Yeah, I know, resistance, I²R, etc. But, I was just heating up a bagel and thought, "how is it not shorting out?" The nichrome elements are woven in and out through steel (or is it aluminum?) Is there a coating in there that isolates the elements from the rest of the toaster? If so, what is that coating that reliably works (so that I don't get shocked) over such a wide range of temperatures?

edit: Looking inside mine, I'd swear that it's not mica sheets.
Click to expand...

The most common way for a toaster to create the infrared radiation is to use nichrome wire wrapped back and forth across a mica sheet, like this:

toaster1.jpg


Nichrome wire is an alloy of nickel and chromium. It has two features that make it a good producer of heat:



  • Nichrome wire has a fairly high electrical resistance compared to something like copper wire, so even a short length of it has enough resistance to get quite hot.
  • The nichrome alloy does not oxidize when heated. Iron wire would rust very quickly at the temperatures seen in a toaster.
 
B

bobdole369

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2004
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It technically IS a short. Anything less than about 10 ohms is really just a wire. A toaster - simply has conductor (nichrome) with appropriate properties to maximize heat and minimize oxidation.

Usually its on mica, which won't melt (its like rock you can make sheets from). SOme use ceramic backing.

Essentially it is a controlled short circuit - controlled with like a 15A fuse somewhere inline (cheaper toasters probably use a thermal shutoff).

And basically it passes the AC untouched through its coils. THe tons of electrons flowing through make it heat up, glow red, and give you toast.
 
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