"mm" wrote in message
...
Do you think it is possible to temporarily partially bypass the hot
surface ignition system on an GE electric oven, about 3 years old?

The oven won't light now, and my friends really need to cook now,
before they can get it fixed. The repairman indicated it was NOT the
ignitor, but didnt' have time Friday to fix it.

I've just read a lot on the web, but still have questions.

"As power flows through the ignitor it heats and allows a specific
amount of current to flow to the oven valve which is in the same
circuit."**

Do you think that temporarily it is possible to hotwire the oven
valve with 110 volts and use a long Bic lighter** to light the flame??

When it says above "a specific amount of current" does the ignitor
really control that, or is it just an on-off switch?. Does it just
forward whatever voltage/current the control provides, up to 110
volts, to the valve and the valve uses what current it is designed
for?

**Like people use to light charcoal and gas barbecue grills.

I have friends who have to do cooking every day all week for their
daughter's wedding at the end of the week..

It broke Thursday night. The repairman came at the end of the day
Friday for 5 minutes and looked and just said that if it was the valve
it was 200 dollars, and if it was the control it was 600 and they
should buy a new oven. He said he was going to come back with a
helper, to diagnose it. The man, my friend, is thinking of buying a
2000 dollar oven, so that it will continue to work longer than 3
years, but don't want to buy in a rush.

Seems to me for this week only, we could run a wire from the hot side
of the ignitor to the outside of the oven through a switch and back
to the other side of the ignitor (or to the gas valve?). When the
switch is turned on by the cook, gas would flow. The gas they would
light with the long Bic lighter, like ovens were lit 50 years ago.
Would this work??

Looking at the schmatic on the webpage, I get the feeling that the
control would still regulate the amount of gas according to the
termperature the control is set for, but I'm not sure. If it
wouldn't, is there a way to include that in the rigging?.

Thanks a lot.
mm

***This is from Applicance 411, FAQ, but I saved it as file last night
(never really done that before) and I see that I have lost its url,
although it is still in my browser history if anyone wants it.

I do not believe in nor support bypassing controls. Do your friend a favor
and do not attempt to bypass the controls. Instead help him remove the old
one and install the replacement.