I have a mostly still good electric range with burners on the top - not the new flat top kind. Anyway, one of the elements came loose from the part that holds it together so I ordered a new one. Now I have a problem of a different kind. When I turn it on high to heat it up, its o.k., but when I lower the temp .. it sometimes stays on high. Other times, I start it on medium heat and it will go to high... and sometimes it works just fine. My question is -- is the problem with the element or is it with the stove where the connection is? I hate to have to buy a new stove but I am a little wary about it now. What if someone who doesn't know about the problem turns it on? Everything else is o.k.

On Apr 3, 11:19*am, Dottie wrote:
I have a mostly still good electric range with burners on the top - not the new flat top kind. *Anyway, one of the elements came loose from the part that holds it together so I ordered a new one. *Now I have a problem of a different kind. *When I turn it on high to heat it up, its o.k., but when I lower the temp .. it sometimes stays on high. *Other times, I start it on medium heat and it will go to high... and sometimes it works just fine. *My question is -- is the problem with the element or is it with the stove where the connection is? *I hate to have to buy a new stove but I am a little wary about it now. *What if someone who doesn't know about the problem turns it on? *Everything else is o.k.

It sounds like the switch that controls it is shot. Those
switches just have a thermal element in them so that
when you select something less than 100%, it starts
to cycle the heating element on and off. If you have the
control set at low and it;s on high, I don't see how that
could happen except that the switch/control is shot.

Dottie,

I agree with trader, the surface element switch is going bad. Not hard to
replace, if you are handy. $20-$50?.

Dave M.

On Apr 3, 4:19*pm, Dottie wrote:
I have a mostly still good electric range with burners on the top - not the new flat top kind. *Anyway, one of the elements came loose from the part that holds it together so I ordered a new one. *Now I have a problem of a different kind. *When I turn it on high to heat it up, its o.k., but when I lower the temp .. it sometimes stays on high. *Other times, I start it on medium heat and it will go to high... and sometimes it works just fine. *My question is -- is the problem with the element or is it with the stove where the connection is? *I hate to have to buy a new stove but I am a little wary about it now. *What if someone who doesn't know about the problem turns it on? *Everything else is o.k.

The switch.
It has a device that turns the hot plate on and off on a regular cycle
adjusted by the knob.
We call them simmerstats in the UK.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Regulator_(stove)

On 4/3/2013 3:24 PM, harry wrote:
On Apr 3, 4:19 pm, Dottie wrote:
I have a mostly still good electric range with burners on the top - not the new flat top kind. Anyway, one of the elements came loose from the part that holds it together so I ordered a new one. Now I have a problem of a different kind. When I turn it on high to heat it up, its o.k., but when I lower the temp .. it sometimes stays on high. Other times, I start it on medium heat and it will go to high... and sometimes it works just fine. My question is -- is the problem with the element or is it with the stove where the connection is? I hate to have to buy a new stove but I am a little wary about it now. What if someone who doesn't know about the problem turns it on? Everything else is o.k.
The switch.
It has a device that turns the hot plate on and off on a regular cycle
adjusted by the knob.
We call them simmerstats in the UK.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Regulator_(stove)
We call them infinite heat switches in the U.S.

On Apr 3, 3:39*pm, RBM wrote:
On 4/3/2013 3:24 PM, harry wrote: On Apr 3, 4:19 pm, Dottie wrote:
I have a mostly still good electric range with burners on the top - not the new flat top kind. *Anyway, one of the elements came loose from the part that holds it together so I ordered a new one. *Now I have a problem of a different kind. *When I turn it on high to heat it up, its o.k., but when I lower the temp .. it sometimes stays on high. *Other times, I start it on medium heat and it will go to high... and sometimes it works just fine. *My question is -- is the problem with the element or is it with the stove where the connection is? *I hate to have to buy a new stove but I am a little wary about it now. *What if someone who doesn't know about the problem turns it on? *Everything else is o.k.
The switch.
It has a device that turns the hot plate on and off on a regular cycle
adjusted by the knob.
We call them simmerstats in the UK.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Regulator_(stove)

We call them infinite heat switches in the U.S.

Sounds like the solution to our energy problems.

Reduce our dependancy on foreign oil?
..
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
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wrote in message
...
On Apr 3, 3:39 pm, RBM wrote:

We call them infinite heat switches in the U.S.

Sounds like the solution to our energy problems.

Add my name to the "It's a bad switch" column.

On Wed, 3 Apr 2013 17:03:07 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

Reduce our dependancy on foreign oil?

We don't need to rewrite thermodynamics to do that. Just shoot all
liberals and the problem will correct itself.

On Wed, 3 Apr 2013 08:19:31 -0700 (PDT), Dottie
wrote:

{snip}

Dottie I would look at the socket the heat element seats in..

Burnt plastic? Poor contact for coil element?

Oren-- check it

On Wed, 3 Apr 2013 21:22:59 +0000, nestork
wrote:


Add my name to the "It's a bad switch" column.

Add my name to the socket for the element coil needs inspection.

On Apr 3, 9:30*pm, "
wrote:
On Apr 3, 3:39*pm, RBM wrote:

On 4/3/2013 3:24 PM, harry wrote: On Apr 3, 4:19 pm, Dottie wrote:
I have a mostly still good electric range with burners on the top - not the new flat top kind. *Anyway, one of the elements came loose from the part that holds it together so I ordered a new one. *Now I have a problem of a different kind. *When I turn it on high to heat it up, its o.k., but when I lower the temp .. it sometimes stays on high. *Other times, I start it on medium heat and it will go to high... and sometimes it works just fine. *My question is -- is the problem with the element or is it with the stove where the connection is? *I hate to have to buy a new stove but I am a little wary about it now. *What if someone who doesn't know about the problem turns it on? *Everything else is o.k.
The switch.
It has a device that turns the hot plate on and off on a regular cycle
adjusted by the knob.
We call them simmerstats in the UK.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Regulator_(stove)

We call them infinite heat switches in the U.S.

Sounds like the solution to our energy problems.

Talking of which, are you aware that the USA is now exporting gas
(natural) by tanker to the UK/elsewhere in Europe. Small scale at the
moment. But when it ramps up, your gas cost will be the same as ours.
(ie lots more)

USA is closer to us thantheME.

On Apr 4, 4:29*am, Oren wrote:
On Wed, 3 Apr 2013 21:22:59 +0000, nestork

wrote:

Add my name to the "It's a bad switch" column.

Add my name to the socket for the element coil needs inspection.

Er, If faulty, that wouldn't keep it permanently "on".

On Wed, 3 Apr 2013 22:40:55 -0700 (PDT), harry
wrote:

Talking of which, are you aware that the USA is now exporting gas
(natural) by tanker to the UK/elsewhere in Europe. Small scale at the
moment. But when it ramps up, your gas cost will be the same as ours.
(ie lots more)


Last week or so there were reports the UK was short on NG and would be
buying from Russia. What's up with that?

Small scale, yes. BUT name the LNG company, its location, and why it's
the only (?) LNG port federally licensed ...point, one company has an
advantage over small ones.

USA is closer to us thantheME.

Lucky for you, we're here to help.

On Wed, 3 Apr 2013 22:42:54 -0700 (PDT), harry
wrote:

On Apr 4, 4:29*am, Oren wrote:
On Wed, 3 Apr 2013 21:22:59 +0000, nestork

wrote:

Add my name to the "It's a bad switch" column.

Add my name to the socket for the element coil needs inspection.

Er, If faulty, that wouldn't keep it permanently "on".

Would a faulty socket cause a switch to go bad?

There is a switch where the element plugs in -- and there are two wires on the switch. One of them looks scorched -- slightly burned -I am going to call tomorrow and see if I can get a repairman to check it. Would rather not have to buy a new stove. Thanks for the help.

On Apr 4, 5:08*pm, Dottie wrote:
There is a switch where the element plugs in -- and there are two wires on the switch. *One of them looks scorched -- slightly burned -I am going to call tomorrow and see if I can get a repairman to check it. *Would rather not have to buy a new stove. *Thanks for the help.

If you already have a new heating element, then the switch is the
thing that would keeo it at a temperature that is different from what
is desired. Watch the repairman and learn everything that you can, it
won't hurt to ask a few simple questions that don't delay the
repairman, that's how most of us on this group ggot started. IT's
great to have a woman or two on this group. Their reasning powers are
the same as for men, it is just their upbringing in most cases tends
to steer them away from being electrically and mechanically handy.

My daughter spent a day or so helping me change the head on the motor
on her Ford Pinto many years ago, she now is not cowed by problems
with her car, she knows what she can do and what it is advisable to
leave to specialists.

On Thu, 4 Apr 2013 15:08:53 -0700 (PDT), Dottie
wrote:

There is a switch where the element plugs in -- and there are two wires on
the switch. One of them looks scorched -- slightly burned -I am going to
call tomorrow and see if I can get a repairman to check it. Would rather
not have to buy a new stove. Thanks for the help.

Yep, I can easily see that happening. There is probably a bad contact
in the switch, and it's overheating the switch itself at that wire
connection, the heat is burning the wire too. Since you called a
repairman, he'll do the job, but otherwise I would have suggested
replacing both the switch and that wire.

There are no other parts in *that* burner. They consist of the element,
switch, and the wires. With all three replaced, that burner assembly is
entirely replaced. Of course the other burners are still old parts, but
as long as they work, you're set to cook. Electric ranges are now all
that complicated at least not those older ones.