Bad heating element, or something else ?
Hello!
I have a problem with a multi function electric oven Whirlpool MT66 which is at least 10 years old, it can do microwave, grill, and "pulsed heat".
When I use this "pulsed heat" mode (a fan with a circular heater at the back of the oven), it will trip the RCD, but not really randomly, so I doubt that it's the heating element!
Apparently, I can repeat this scenario indefinitely: I preheat at 200°C, or 250, for 10 minutes... When countdown reach 0:00, RCD trips. I reset the RCD, insert food in the oven and turn it on again at 200 or 250°C, now it will trip the RCD every ~2-3 minutes (the hotter, the quicker), and the interval between each trip is so constant that I could predict, within 10 seconds, when it was going to trip.
Then finally, when countdown reach 0:00 and my meal is ready, this time it will NOT trip the RCD but ends normally..! But I did not test this last part carefully, because generally I don't bother turning the oven again for the last few minutes, in case it could trip again at 0:00, I prefer to not attempt...
So, I'm not sure but I think it's more a problem with an electronic component like a relay or transistor, or maybe a thermostat..? I'm not too bad at electronics so I'm not affraid of opening the case, I know I must not touch the big capacitor, etc, in fact I opened the back and checked the heating element with my multimeter and it looks fine... I think! But I will wait to read your answers before opening the entire thing.
Other than that, every other function of the oven, grill, microwave, plate rotation motor, fan on the back, buttons, display.. everything else than "pulsed heat", works great since so many year... I like it so much, so I would like to keep it and repair it if possible.
The RCD (Merlin Gerin Multi 9 ID, 40A, 30mA) begins to show mechanical issues, when it trips, sometimes I have to try 3-5 times to get the lever to lock in the ON position.
Also, I know I shouldn't have done that because from what I read, it's EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS AT HOME, IT CAN KILL YOU, but I tried to remove the Ground wire from the plug of the oven, and yes the issue does not appear when I do this, the oven can run at 250°C for hours.
What do you think it could be? If you are convinced that it's most likely the heating element that is failing, how do you explain the non randomness of the scenario above?
Thanks in advance to help me save this oven!
I have a problem with a multi function electric oven Whirlpool MT66 which is at least 10 years old, it can do microwave, grill, and "pulsed heat".
When I use this "pulsed heat" mode (a fan with a circular heater at the back of the oven), it will trip the RCD, but not really randomly, so I doubt that it's the heating element!
Apparently, I can repeat this scenario indefinitely: I preheat at 200°C, or 250, for 10 minutes... When countdown reach 0:00, RCD trips. I reset the RCD, insert food in the oven and turn it on again at 200 or 250°C, now it will trip the RCD every ~2-3 minutes (the hotter, the quicker), and the interval between each trip is so constant that I could predict, within 10 seconds, when it was going to trip.
Then finally, when countdown reach 0:00 and my meal is ready, this time it will NOT trip the RCD but ends normally..! But I did not test this last part carefully, because generally I don't bother turning the oven again for the last few minutes, in case it could trip again at 0:00, I prefer to not attempt...
So, I'm not sure but I think it's more a problem with an electronic component like a relay or transistor, or maybe a thermostat..? I'm not too bad at electronics so I'm not affraid of opening the case, I know I must not touch the big capacitor, etc, in fact I opened the back and checked the heating element with my multimeter and it looks fine... I think! But I will wait to read your answers before opening the entire thing.
Other than that, every other function of the oven, grill, microwave, plate rotation motor, fan on the back, buttons, display.. everything else than "pulsed heat", works great since so many year... I like it so much, so I would like to keep it and repair it if possible.
The RCD (Merlin Gerin Multi 9 ID, 40A, 30mA) begins to show mechanical issues, when it trips, sometimes I have to try 3-5 times to get the lever to lock in the ON position.
Also, I know I shouldn't have done that because from what I read, it's EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS AT HOME, IT CAN KILL YOU, but I tried to remove the Ground wire from the plug of the oven, and yes the issue does not appear when I do this, the oven can run at 250°C for hours.
What do you think it could be? If you are convinced that it's most likely the heating element that is failing, how do you explain the non randomness of the scenario above?
Thanks in advance to help me save this oven!
If the heat element is shorting to ground, it will apply full ac to the cabinet, without the ground it will NOT blow any breakers/fuses etc.
Comment