Kettle won’t heat, base is fine

Question

Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle

Hot water kettle with digital temperature control.

5 Questions View all

Valentine @valentine89505

Rep: 37

2

1

Posted: Jul 1, 2023

Options

Kettle won’t heat, base is fine

Hello,

Fellow has sent me thru the normal rigamorole with descaling, and when that didn’t work, sending a replacement base. The kettle is the problem, and now they are offering to replace the kettle. But I want mine to work, I don’t want to throw another unrecyclable piece of trash into the landfills.

Does anyone know how to start investigating what’s wrong with it, or anyone else who has successfully repaired a Fellow Kettle?

Thank you!

Answer this question I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Yes No

Score 3

6 Comments

@valentine89505 can you post some good pictures of the base and the bottom of the kettle.? Let's see how this all comes together. Do you have a multimeter and some basic hand tools, like screwdrivers etc?

Adding images to an existing question

Jul 1, 2023 by oldturkey03

Have you opened up the kettle? I know there's a fuse or maybe a diode that can go bad. Looking at how this is working may solve your issue.

Jan 1, 2024 by Ian Zeringue

I have one of these that stopped heating. I tested the thermal fuse and it was good (it has continuity), and the heating element measures about 12 ohms so it is also good. The contacts on the kettle and the base are all clean and bright. So i assume the control in the base is bad even though it powers up and shows the "Fellow" logo and then lets me set the temperature.

Jun 24, 2024 by Tim McVey

I have the same issue - the base turns on, correctly senses the water temp, but does not heat up. How do I isolate the base versus the kettle as the failure? I have a multimeter.

Thanks for your assistance.

Oct 6, 2024 by todd12x12

Follow up: for some reason i got the idea that the little peg in the bottom of the kettle was not working, causing the control in the base to not turn on the current to the heating element. Fellow unhelpfully tells their customers to "descale" the appliance--after it stops working when it is impossible to boil vinegar or whatever they recommend you go buy for "descaling." So i took a wirebrush with a small amount of acetone and carefully cleaned that little peg in the bottom of the kettle. Then i cleaned the kettle with soap and water, and after that it worked fine. I suspect anybody could achieve the same thing with a wet toothbrush and a bit of baking soda. I don't know why the company can't just say to try that.

Oct 6, 2024 by Tim McVey

Show 1 more comment

Add a comment

2 Answers

@valentine89505 can you post some good pictures of the base and the bottom of the kettle.? Let's see how this all comes together. Do you have a multimeter and some basic hand tools, like screwdrivers etc?

Adding images to an existing question — oldturkey03
Have you opened up the kettle? I know there's a fuse or maybe a diode that can go bad. Looking at how this is working may solve your issue. — Ian Zeringue
I have one of these that stopped heating. I tested the thermal fuse and it was good (it has continuity), and the heating element measures about 12 ohms so it is also good. The contacts on the kettle and the base are all clean and bright. So i assume the control in the base is bad even though it powers up and shows the "Fellow" logo and then lets me set the temperature. — Tim McVey
I have the same issue - the base turns on, correctly senses the water temp, but does not heat up. How do I isolate the base versus the kettle as the failure? I have a multimeter.

Thanks for your assistance. — todd12x12
Follow up: for some reason i got the idea that the little peg in the bottom of the kettle was not working, causing the control in the base to not turn on the current to the heating element. Fellow unhelpfully tells their customers to "descale" the appliance--after it stops working when it is impossible to boil vinegar or whatever they recommend you go buy for "descaling." So i took a wirebrush with a small amount of acetone and carefully cleaned that little peg in the bottom of the kettle. Then i cleaned the kettle with soap and water, and after that it worked fine. I suspect anybody could achieve the same thing with a wet toothbrush and a bit of baking soda. I don't know why the company can't just say to try that. — Tim McVey

Matt Zieminski @cvneutron Rep: 41k testy 25 18 942 · Answer 1 · 2024-01-03T16:58:13-07:00

Based on what you're describing and what I was able to gather online, it sounds like your heating element has failed and you will need to replace the thermal fuse.

If you decide to attempt this repair yourself I strongly encourage you to document your repair so fellow (get it) Fellow Stagg EKG owners can benefit in the future. Learn how to create a guide on iFixit here.

I created some general guidance on what you can do below.

Safety First! Before you begin, remember that safety is paramount. Always disconnect your kettle from the power source before attempting any repairs or diagnostics. This precaution is crucial to prevent electric shock or damage to your device.

Remove the screws. At the bottom of the base should be 3 triangle head screws, 2 3mm and 1 2mm. You can find the bit in your iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit, or feel free to buy one here and here.
1. You can also use a Torx T7 and Torx T8 bit if you have those handy.
Open the base. The bottom should open up easily once you've removed the screws, but you may need to pry it open using an opening tool (also found in the iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit). Prop it against something sturdy or hold it open with your wrist using your less-dominant hand. You'll need your other hand to turn more screws in the next step.
1. Be careful! There is a blue wire that connects the base to the rest of the device, on the side where the spout is.
Access the fuse. In the base, on the end nearest the handle, you'll find a white-sheath with a red wire coming out of it going into what looks like a wire nut. Beneath this wire is a small Phillips screw you need to remove in order to access the fuse. Once the screw is removed, you can remove the sheath around the fuse coming from the red wire.
1. You may need to use tweezers to remove the screw as a magnetized driver doesn't always pick it up.
Replace the fuse. The fuse is made by Microtemp, and the model number is G4a00 184C. G4 line is for 10A 250v which is 15A 120v. Aupo brand (Aupo BF184 10A) is another option.
1. Use Crimp Connectors to remove the old fuse and attach the new one.
2. If you don't have Crimp Connectors, you can use electrical tape to hold the new fuse together temporarily.
  1. Note that this is not a good option long-term and you should properly connect the new fuse with Crimp Connectors.

I too am having the same problem. I tested the continuity of the thermal fuse in the kettle base with my multimeter and registered no change from the baseline reading. Should I still try to replacing the fuse? If it is not the fuse, where do you think I should be looking next to figure out what the problem is? — Ted Humburg

Throw Away @throwaway70845 Rep: 1 · Answer 2 · 2024-09-17T06:29:03-07:00

Throw Away @throwaway70845

Rep: 1

Posted: Sep 17, 2024

Options

I had the same issue - correctly reading the temperature but not heating. I’ve replaced the fuse and it’s made no difference. Unfortunately I don’t have a multimeter so I can’t be sure.

Anyone else had this issue after replacing the fuse?

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No

Score 0

1 Comment:

did you crimp or solder? If you soldered the fuse in you may have blown it as It is a thermal fuse.

Dec 5, 2024 by Edmund

Add a comment

Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle

Kettle won’t heat, base is fine

2 Answers

Micro Connector Crimper

Pro Tech Toolkit

iFixit Opening Tool

iFixit Precision 4 mm Screwdriver Bit

Add your answer