Niagara Chair Heater Elements
 

Hey everyone, I figured someone out there might know something about this chair.

It was my grandfathers. Its a Niagara massage chair. It has back/seat/leg rest massage units and a set of rollers that will run up and down the backrest.

It has a set of heat elements in the back. They used to work fine but they're stopped working a year ago or so. I took the seat apart today and verified that the connection to the power supply is intact. I read 288 Ohms across the element connection and I read 120V on the board.

The other problem I've got is the back roller tends to get stuck if I'm fully reclined.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

It is geting too late to get out the calculator. That resistance equals about thirty watts output from the heating element I think at 120 volts into the element. If this is enough for chair heat is unknown to me.

Another test is to see if there is 120volts at the element connections when the unit is on. If there is and still no noticeable heating the resistance of the element has gone too high.

There is a chance it is a variable heat unit and the output to the element is too low voltagewise and the defect is in the control circuit. I have no real knowledge about these type of chairs. Just replied as no one else with more knowledge did. They may yet.

I think it came out to be bout 50 watts. I dont know if thats a good number or not.

Theres no control unit, just a switch on the panel. I verified 120V at the connector that feeds the elements in the seat back.

Perhaps you are correct, the resistance of the elements has gone too high.

As far as I can tell there is no variability. Just a simple switch.

This is a bit of a mind bender. I was trying to reason if even my late night estimate of 30 or so watts was enough. Fifty watts I suspect your should feel but again am not certain.

A sixty watt bulb generates a reasonable amount of heat even with the light energy component subtracted from the issue. For sure though if there is 120v at the actual element terminations and you feel no heat the resistance is too high.

Twelve watts per square foot on a ceramic bathroom floor heating situation will drive the tile temperature to about 90 degrees in an hour. You have basically no thermal mass so it would be much quicker in that chair.

I also wonder if there is a high limit thermostat in the back somewhere that has gone high resitance.

One hundred and seventy feet of floor heating probably nichrome wire has a cold resistance of about nineteen ohms. We measure one the other day. The output from it at about 120v is 6-700 watts.

What about a switch that makes contact when someone sits in the chair?

Niagara Cyclo Massage Sales, Service, & Parts: Rollassage Chairs

They've got a service and parts link/number. Maybe more info available there. I think these chairs are usually pretty pricey, so maybe worth repairing.

i dont think theres a switch in here for sitting. Theres a switch on the control panel which sends power to the elements. The elements do receive 120V.

I think their resistance has changed too much and they just need replacing.

I've been to that website before. I havent tried calling them or anything. This was kind of a side project.

Interestingly enough, the place on that website is local to me. I was shocked.