Stove tops are the easiest part to disassemble of a stove when carrying out Cooktop Repairs in Adelaide. You do not even require tools to remove the elements, control nobs and pots. You should hire a professional for the job as it can be dangerous if you do it alone without having prior experience.
Cooktop parts change very little over decades, from the controls to the elements there is very little difference between the maker and the years of manufacture. This makes salvaging parts from the old cooktops cost-effective and cooktop repairs environment-friendly as it keeps them out of the landfills.
9 important steps to follow when carrying out Cooktop Repairs in Adelaide:
Step 1 – Safety First
A cooktop that runs on ‘240 volts’ at ‘30 amps’ that is ‘7500 times’ what is needed to kill you, so kindly turn off the power before you do anything inside the cooktop. If your cooktop is hardwired, remove the fuses or turn off the breaker, do not just loosen the fuses, take them out. It might be a pain to go back & forth from the breaker box every time you have to test something, but it is not as excruciating as being fried at 240 volts &30 amps. All you have to do is unplug cooktops when carrying out Cooktop Repairs in Adelaide. First, you have to pull the cooktop out and unplug the cooktop, if you do not get back there over and over again this is a good time to clean behind the cooktop and retrieve the toys of your pet.
Step 2 – The Damaged Parts
At the very first glance, the cooktop top looks like as though just the element has blown. This is an easy repair, just unplug the old element and plug in a novel one. However, on a closer examination, the socket into which the element plugs are damaged. Remove the element and the pot and disconnect the element socket from the pothole. Put back the screw in place so you do not lose it. Then, set your multimeter for the ‘max’ setting for AC voltage before you connect the multimeter to the ends of the element wires and plug the cooktop in. This step is extremely important for Cooktop Repairs in Adelaide. When you test the wires to the socket you get no voltage when the control is turned off and source voltage when the element control is turned on. This tells you that the element control should be good!
Step 3 – Parts & Tools
- Two contact 8 inches element
- Long lead element socket.
- And just in case you still need to replace it 1 element control.
- Phillips Screwdriver
- Multi-meter
The total cost if you were to purchase new parts would come to about 75 dollars. When you get the chance you salvage some parts from cooktops put out to the garbage. Some older cooktops bolt the wires to the element and insulate connection with the ceramic covers. These elements are chiefly designed to plug in or bolt to the leads. Parts and tools are an essential part of Cooktop Repairs in Adelaide.
Step 4 – Opening the Cooktop
The control head on cooktops opens in three ways. Some have a panel on the back of the head, some you get rid of the whole back and in some the control head comes forward. Begin by removing the screws holding the back panels on the back of the cooktop exposing the wires and put the screws back. Then, remove the screws on the back of the control head and tip the head forward ensuring none of the wires in the back of the cooktop bind or get damaged in the entire process. This step holds a lot of significance in the process of Cooktop Repairs in Adelaide.
Step 5 – Replacing the Element Socket
If you are working on an old cooktop do not be surprised if all the live wires are dark brown or black, if you run into this use some masking tape and a marker to prominently label the wires. The newer stoves have colour-coded wires. There are 2 white wires and 2 dark brown or black wires tied together which go from the element control behind & under the cooktop. The white wires are the short leads, and the dark brown or black wires are the long leads. These are chiefly for easy Cooktop Repairs in Adelaide.
• Untie & unclip the wires so that they can freely move but do not pull them out from under the cooktop or disconnect them from the element control.
• At the front of the cooktop, tie the novel socket leads to the ends of the old leads with the help of tape and using the old leads like a snake, pull the novel leads through the cooktop to the element control.
• Now, reconnect the element socket to the pothole.
• Disconnect the novel leads from the old leads.
• Thereafter, disconnect the old leads from the element control and connect the novel leads to the element control.
• Then, reassemble the control head and place the panels on the back of the cooktop.
Step 6 of Cooktop Repairs in Adelaide – Test Assemble Test
Once you reassemble the control head and place the panels on the back of the cooktop, test the socket one more time ensuring the pilot light comes on and the socket displays no voltage when the control is off and source voltage when the control is on. Remember to set your multimeter to the max setting for ‘AC voltage’.
You have to make sure that the control is off and remove your meter, replace the pot and plug the novel element in. Test one more time to ensure the element heats up & shuts off automatically. Remember to put something on the cooktop or the element can overheat & burn out.
Step 7 of Cooktop Repairs in Adelaide – Replacing Stove Top Element Controls
Almost all cooktops made today are built to the same standard of colour-coded wires depending on your respective regional standards. Albeit these controls look different, the oldest one is 30 years old the youngest one is 5 years old. They are virtually the same element control – 240 volts, 15 amps with a pilot light switch. Also, they all connect the same way!
Step 8 of Cooktop Repairs in Adelaide – Control Markings
The controls are marked ‘TOP’ for the top of the control switch. This is to make sure ‘off’ is in the correct position. The markings can be confirmed by setting your multimeter for continuity, turning the switch on and testing the connectors. Before you do this, be sure the cooktop is unplugged or you will trash your meter!
Step 9 – The Person does your Cooktop Repairs in Adelaide
A good repair person will always explain everything to you, substituted parts, upgrades, and they will show you the parts that need replacement, or explain why your cooktop cannot be repaired if that is the case.
The common reasons repairing professionals cannot repair your cooktop for less than buying a novel one are:
- Your cooktop needs too much work.
- The parts required are no longer available in the market and there is no substitute for them.
For reliable and efficient Cooktop Repairs in Adelaide, make contact with the Trade Focus Appliance Repairs. You may also contact us if you are looking for a company that offers Laundry Appliance Repairs in Adelaide. Not just this, we are also your ‘Adelaide Oven Man’.