Top iron not hot...the bottom one works fine but not the top.

well not totally true. main reason for not getting hot is an internal thermal fuse(they look like a resister). and they can be replaced. and they are cheap. they are hardwired in, usually crimped on the hot wire. may have two, one for top heating element and one for bottom element. since it doesn't work anyway, take the unit apart and have some fun trying to fix. its already broken, can't break it anymore.

Faulty or cheap waffle irons do this

There is most likely a build-up of minerals around the steam holes. Minerals are in ordinary tap water. The coat the heating surfaces, act like an insulator and prevent iron from getting hot. Clean the hot plate with a fine needle or other fine object and then put in a mixture of vinegar and water and let it steam out. To prevent future mineral build-up, use half distilled water and half tap water. If you can't get distilled water, use ordinary drinking water you can buy from your supermarket (it also cheaper). Don't use 'all' distilled water as it boils (steams) at higher temperature and could ruin your iron. Good luck.

turn the knob at the bottom of the clock clockwise from zero to manual. should work fine. use a heavier cable not an irons

there are bad solder connections on the vertical output ic. if you can solder well, get an iron with a fine tip and look for an ic mounted to a metal heat sink. it will be about an inch or so long with 7-9 pins all in a row,on the under side of the board you can usually see the the rings around the pins if you look close or use a magnifying glass. i have fixed dozens of these using only a hot soldering iron and rosin core solder.

1. Make sure the browning contol is set to at least 4.
2. Let the iron pre-heat at least 4 minutes
3. Carefully, touch you hand to the top with a quick touch or about 1/4" away.
4. The top and the bottom should feel the same. CAUTION THEY ARE VERY HOT
5. If the top isn't very hot the element inside isn't working.
6. Unplug the unit and let it cool
7. Remove the top lid cover with the assembly screws
8. Remove the element shield under the lid
9. With the element exposed, chech the wire connection to ensure no lose connections
10. With volt meter connect to the element, plug the unit in CAUTION ELECTRICITY CAN KILL!
11. There should be 110 house voltage at the element terminals
12. If not power is seen. disconnect the power and the meter.
13. Reassemble the shield and lid.
14. Remove the control panel from the front face of the iron
15. Locate the adjustment knob electrical terminals
16. Locate the supply side terminal and the output terminal
17. MAKE SURE THE POWER IS UNPLUGGED
18. Inspect the thermostate control for any lose wires or debrie entrapted in the contacts area.
19. Clean and re-inspect the thermostat, then reassemble.
20. If the units still fails to work, unplug it again to check the contacts in the rotational housing
21. At the rear of the until locate the area where the wires are routed from the front panel control to the top rotational housing
22. Closely inspect the area where the wires are routed to the top of the unit.
23. If any of the wires seem worn replace them.
24. After inspecting the heating elemement, its connections, the temperature control and the wires routed to the top of the Iron - you should have found the problem. To further troubleshoot you will need specialzed equipment that could be hazardous such as a cheater plug to apply house current directly to the top element to ensure that it is functioning. If this is done and the element still does not heat then the element is bad.

Yes there is a solution, I have a DG580 with the same problem. I had to replace the electric cord which cost $17.00 and took 30 min to replace and now works like brand new.

Steve

before you make your 1st waffle, spray it really good on top and bottom plate with PAM spray, once at the beginning is all it should take- good luck!

This normally means that the iron is not heating up enough check that you have adjusted the temp so it is not as the water will either come out of the bottom when not hot enough to steam or when the jets get dirty and need cleaning.

Thanks J