Analisis dan Perbaikan Masalah Thermostat Magnetic Rice Cooker dengan Metode Studi Kasus

Abstract

A rice cooker is a widely used household appliance due to its ability to automatically regulate temperature during the cooking process. The magnetic thermostat is a key component responsible for shifting the switch from the "cook" mode to the "warm" mode once the rice is cooked. If this component weakens or fails, the rice cooker will continue to heat the contents beyond the necessary limit, causing the rice to burn. This study aims to systematically document the procedures for diagnosing and repairing rice cookers affected by a weakened magnetic thermostat. A qualitative case study approach was employed, consisting of five stages: identification, observation, diagnosis, repair, and functional testing. During the identification phase, it was observed that the switch did not automatically transition from the "cook" position to the "warm" position. Inspection of the internal components revealed no visible physical damage, shifting the focus to the thermostat. The diagnosis confirmed that the magnetic thermostat had lost sufficient magnetic field strength due to long-term exposure to heat, preventing the circuit-breaking mechanism from triggering at the intended temperature. The repair involved replacing the weakened thermostat with a new component of equivalent specifications. Functional testing confirmed that the switching mechanism was restored to proper operation, as evidenced by the rice cooker automatically transitioning to the "warm" mode upon completion of the cooking cycle. These findings serve as a reproducible technical reference for diagnosing and repairing thermostat-related malfunctions in rice cookers.