Electric ovens have their fair share of advantages over their gas counterparts, from being cheaper to easier to clean and install. However, they have some downsides too, including heating up slowly, and if there’s a power outage in your home – no cooking. Since most use electricity as the primary fuel, there can be a wide range of electric problems causing it to malfunction or not turn on entirely. Heating elements may also cause problems and need to be repaired or replaced often. It’s always advisable to purchase only OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) replacements to increase the longevity of parts that wear out.
So, you just discovered that your oven won’t turn on and you’re wondering what could be the problem. You highly suspect the culprit is a blown-up fuse; perhaps it has blown a few times before. But also there could be other reasons behind it. While you can DIY and replace some issues like a blown-up fuse (requires a lot of caution), others are more complex and might require the work of professionals like those at Quality Appliance Repair Calgary LTD. The problem can also be a simple issue like forgetting to engage the timer switch on your oven! Your oven can’t turn on without setting the timer.
We will go through steps to confirm if the oven fuse is the problem and how to replace it. Read on!
Caution! Ensure that your oven is unplugged from the main socket or disconnected at the circuit breaker point. Also, disconnect any grounding wire, if any.
Step 1: Locate and Visually Inspect all Fuses
A fuse is a short metal wire of varying diameters enclosed between two metal caps, mostly in a ceramic tube or a small glass cylinder. It functions as an overcurrent safety breaker in a circuit by melting when a current limit is exceeded.
The first fuse to look at will be at the plug (connects the oven or range to the main power). After dislodging the fuse (you can use a small screwdriver), look out for signs of blowing. Visually studying the fuse will work well only for glass-type fuses, where you’ll easily notice the melted wire (metal smear) in it if it’s blown. Next, locate the fuses on the range or oven. Depending on the type, it will most likely have its fuse collections on the top part or at the side cabinets. It won’t be hard to locate. There will be fuses for different oven and range components, i.e., the control board and thermostat. If one of them is blown, the oven won’t work.
If the fuses are made of ceramic, it will be hard to determine which is blown. You’ll need a multimeter for this.
Step 2: Using a Multimeter to Test for a Blown Oven Fuse
The best way to ascertain if the fuses blew up is by making use of a multimeter. This gadget measures several electrical properties, one of which is the resistance of a fuse element. This will tell us if the fuse is blown or not with 100% precision. Configure the multimeter to RX1 (Resistance * 1) and move it to the lowest range of the Ohms scale before using it to troubleshoot your fuses. You can test if your multimeter is working by bringing together the testing metal tips. There should be little to no movement to show little or no resistance. It shifts to 100% resistance when they are apart.
You can now test the fuses one after the other. Ensure you place the fuse to be tested on a non-conducting surface like plastic or wood. Place either multimeter metal tips on either end of the metal caps of the fuse and note the readings.
Step 3: Translating Multimeter Readings
If the multimeter readings are between;
- 0 and 5 Ohms = Fuse is Ok.
- Higher readings = Fuse is Faulty.
- No change (still 100%) = Fuse is blown
If the change doesn’t go under 5 Ohms, then the fuse is working but faulty and should probably be replaced.
Step 4: Replacing Fuses
Before replacing a fuse, ensure you purchase one with the right electrical rating for your oven or range. Mark the fuse specifications from your blown fuse and get a replacement of the same type. You can consult your oven or range’s operating manual if the blown fuse has no markings on it. Never repair a blown fuse by replacing the wire with another or a foil; always purchase an identical fuse type for replacements on all your appliances. It’s always advisable to have a stock of fuses available in case the need for replacement arises.