An electric cooktop is a cooking appliance that uses surface heating elements powered by electricity. The heating elements are controlled by switches that regulate the electric current reaching the heating elements. An electric cooktop operates on a 240/120-volt circuit—240 volts for the heating elements and 120 volts for the clock, light, and other accessories. An electric cooktop may be part of a large appliance called an electric range or stove that also includes an electric oven. The control system for an electric cooktop may include a motorized timer and lots of dials, or it may be all digital.
Check a plug-in burner element:
- Unplug the range or disconnect power at the electrical service panel.
- Remove the heating element from its receptacle. Inspect it for burns or holes in the element and replace it if it appears damaged. Clean corroded terminals with fine steel wool.
- Test the element by plugging it into a working receptacle on the range. Turn power back on. If the element still does not heat, replace it.
- If the element heated in a different receptacle, you will need to test the nonworking element.
- Disconnect power to the range before continuing.
- Trace the wires from the burner's receptacle to the two corresponding terminals on the burner switch.
- Set a multimeter to RX1 (resistance times 1) and clip one probe to one of the corresponding terminals on the burner switch.
- Unscrew the receptacle and touch the other probe to each of the receptacle contacts in turn. Only one contact should show continuity.
- Repeat the test with a probe clipped on the second switch terminal. The other receptacle contact should show continuity.
Replace a receptacle that fails either test. Simply cut the wires to the receptacle and splice the new receptacle's leads to the wires using a porcelain wire cap.
Check and replace a wired electric burner:
- Unplug the range or disconnect power at the electrical service panel.
- Remove the drip pan and unscrew the element and the ceramic block from the range.
- Remove the clips that join the two halves of the ceramic block. Tighten any loose connections and test the element. Replace the element if the terminals are burned or corroded.
- Label and detach the wires from the element.
- Set a multimeter to RX1 (resistance times 1) and touch one probe to each terminal or terminal group. The meter should show continuity.
- Test for proper grounding by clipping one probe to the sheathing and touching each terminal. The multimeter needle should not move. Replace the element if it fails any test.
Change an accessory fuse:
- Unplug the range or disconnect power at the electrical service panel.
- Raise the cooktop, unscrew the fuse, and screw in a same-amp replacement.
- Reconnect the cooktop power source.
Replace a malfunctioning clock/timer:
- Unplug the range or disconnect power at the electrical service panel.
- Remove the screws or spring clips at each end of the control panel, located on the front or back of the cooktop. Move the panel to expose the controls and wiring.
- Remove leads and unscrew the timer from the panel, then remove the timer.
- Install a new timer by reattaching leads in the same way they came off the old timer.
- Reconnect the cooktop power source.
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