Well aware of the so called Sunbeam guarantee. I went through this for five years before the pandemic started. I returned three failed blankets during that period. I had to pay for return shipping for all of them. When I got to the third return, Sunbeam started dragging their feet and it took several email inquiries to get them to send the final blanket. It was after that that I decided to build my own. I used one of the failed blankets and rewired it, then added my own controller. Everything is now on 12 VDC with overload and short circuit protection. I can adjust from 15 to 80 watts. I did the same thing with one of their electric throws that failed too. This is the second year I've been using the blanket and throw and they work as well as the day I made them.
Whatever goes on with the Sunbeam blankets and throws occurs within the blankets themselves. When one failed, I swapped controllers and even changed out what I thought might be a faulty transistor in the blanket where the cord plugs in. Changed the transistor and no difference. I'm not sure if the blanket wire increases resistance over time or what, or whether there's yet another circuit within the blanket (other than at the plug in base) that fails, but they sure don't last like they once did. The Sunbeam I had growing up in the early 80's lasted at least 15 years and operated the same always; it was only my mother who tossed it after I moved out. I tried to see if it was still stored somewhere at her house after I started having all the trouble with the current ones, but long gone.
Whatever goes on with the Sunbeam blankets and throws occurs within the blankets themselves. When one failed, I swapped controllers and even changed out what I thought might be a faulty transistor in the blanket where the cord plugs in. Changed the transistor and no difference. I'm not sure if the blanket wire increases resistance over time or what, or whether there's yet another circuit within the blanket (other than at the plug in base) that fails, but they sure don't last like they once did. The Sunbeam I had growing up in the early 80's lasted at least 15 years and operated the same always; it was only my mother who tossed it after I moved out. I tried to see if it was still stored somewhere at her house after I started having all the trouble with the current ones, but long gone.
