Looking for help/advice with Electric Oven problem

gerdalt

The oven in question is a Belling XOU590.
The main oven works just fine.
The top oven heats very slowly and after 20 minutes is only at about 100 degrees. Unusable.
The top oven has a dual grill facility and I attach a diagram of the heating element.
Now, here's the strange thing (to me anyway):
When I switch on the lesser grill, the inner grill element glows red and does its grilling job perfectly.
When I switch on the full grill, both parts of the element glow red and do an even better job grilling.
If I switch off the grill and turn on the top oven, the control knob for the top oven reflects the correct temperature - i.e. it comes on 'red' at about 150 degrees (the temp left by the grill). But it then gradually cools.
So, my questions:
What is supposed to heat the top oven? It must be the grilling element!!!
But that means the food in the top oven gets grilled - not oven cooked.
Is there some other hidden top oven element? I think not.
So, what heats the top oven?
And since the stat and the element work, why doesn't the top oven heat?

Sorry for long description but I need to say it all!!!

Help, please.

Ger

meercat

if its a fan oven then theres a seperate element which surrounds the fan
its probably burnt out and needs to be replaced

gerdalt

AAArrrgggg! A second element in the top oven???
I can't see where it is, but it is a fan oven.
The spare parts vendors only sell one element for the XOU590 'oven'.
Is it possible the top oven has a 'hidden' element that is the same spec as the main oven?
I need a parts breakdown manual!!

Ger

meercat

can you post a pic inside top oven
usually on the back
behind vent holes for fan

gerdalt

Pic attached.
When I switch on the top oven, air comes out of the upper vents in the picture.
Ger

meercat

You have no extra oven element
Thermostat most likely needs replacing
That's it on the back,just below the element

gerdalt

But which element heats the top oven?
Is it the grill one? And the fan just stops the food being grilled by circulating the heat?

Regards the stat, it does come on and off (audibly) and the red temp light also comes on/off suggesting the stat is working.

But it could be that the actual element-switching part of the stat is broken??
I guess that's what you are saying. Makes sense.

Many many thanks for your interest and help. Much appreciated.

Ger

gerdalt

"But which element heats the top oven?
Is it the grill one? And the fan just stops the food being grilled by circulating the heat?"

Just so I am very clear - is that the way it works?

G

P.S.
FYI a new stat costs €85 !!!

meercat

gerdalt wrote: »

"But which element heats the top oven?
Is it the grill one? And the fan just stops the food being grilled by circulating the heat?"

Just so I am very clear - is that the way it works?

G

P.S.
FYI a new stat costs €85 !!!

The element you pictured heats the top oven
The fan that runs is only a cooling fan that helps prevent the knobs and controls from heating/melting when the top grill is on

It's hard to say from an Internet forum exactly what the problem is and my best guesstimate is the thermostat

The Red Ace

Your oven has a separate element located between the roof of the main oven and the base of the grill compartment, you may have to access it from the side by removing a side panel

gerdalt

The Red Ace wrote: »

Your oven has a separate element located between the roof of the main oven and the base of the grill compartment, you may have to access it from the side by removing a side panel

AAArrrrggghhh!! But this totally contradicts what others say above??
Plus, as I noted above, when I look at a parts catalogue for the XOU590, there are only two elements shown - the main oven and the grill.
Now I am very confused
I was on the very point of ordering a new stat.
G

ellewood

gerdalt wrote: »

AAArrrrggghhh!! But this totally contradicts what others say above??
Plus, as I noted above, when I look at a parts catalogue for the XOU590, there are only two elements shown - the main oven and the grill.
Now I am very confused
I was on the very point of ordering a new stat.
G

Listen to red ace

Top fan is just cooling fan

Most likely bottom element in top oven is open circuit ie fcuk ed and need changing
Put on top oven and put you're hand on bottom of grill cavity is it anyway warm?

Have u a meter to check elements?

Or u could buy a new stat just to see if that helps!!!

gerdalt

OK, time to get serious and pull out the oven from its enclosure.
This I will do and inspect the various parts and report back.
Yes, why didn't I do this at first?
Mainly because it's VERY heavy and I am VERY weak!!!
I had hoped to take it out just once and replace whatever part has failed.
G.

gerdalt

Pulled out the oven and removed top cover and examined the contents.
There is indeed a 'lower' element below the top oven. Thank you Red Ace!!
I will repeat the symptoms:
The top oven does heat - but only very very slowly. It took 45 minutes to get up to 100 degrees.
Can anyone suggest how this might be? I could understand that a broken stat would either cause no heating or continuous heating. But slow heating?
The stat is not cutting in and out.
The lower element viewed from the back has three wires connected to one terminal and just one to the other terminal. What's that about? Three wires?
There appears to be a lot more electrics/electronics than I expected in a simple oven
I want to know how these things work - and of course fix the oven.
But first, how does it work? Where can I find a wiring diagram? A tutorial?
G.

>>> edit <<<
Looks like the lower element is indeed open circuit. Just metered it.
Still leaves me wondering what is heating the top oven!!! Even slowly.
>>>

The Red Ace

without making it too complicated just make a note of the connections or take a photo of them , get a meter and check the element for continuity/resistance, or better still remove the element and do a visual on it , you will probably find it distorted/split etc, btw the stat once cut in cannot cut out until it reaches the set temp. which will happen with a dodgy element. I am sure your ovens complaint is no different to all the rest of them, nearly always a faulty element

gerdalt

OK, the lower element is open circuit. Dead. Needs a new one.
BUT
The top oven is still heating slowly.
The bottom of the cavity is cold.
The heat is coming from the grill element!!! (scorched my skin touching it!!)
It is heating up - but not enough to glow red as when grilling.
I have to conclude that somehow the grill takes part in heating the top oven.
Perhaps the two grill elements are connected in series and hence produce less heat??
Is that possible?
G.

ellewood

gerdalt wrote: »

OK, the lower element is open circuit. Dead. Needs a new one.
BUT
The top oven is still heating slowly.
The bottom of the cavity is cold.
The heat is coming from the grill element!!! (scorched my skin touching it!!)
It is heating up - but not enough to glow red as when grilling.
I have to conclude that somehow the grill takes part in heating the top oven.
Perhaps the two grill elements are connected in series and hence produce less heat??
Is that possible?
G.

Yea the grill element turns into an oven element when top oven is on ie does not get hot enough to glow (or else it would just burn the top of what ur cooking)

So the lower powered grill ele is where ur getting up to 100' and that in conjunction with the bottom ele (in the floor of the grill) is ur top oven completed -so with the lower ele gone u have a top oven half working
Change the lower ele and problem sorted
The lower ele should be a single circuit so the lead with 3 connections is prop just the N side and it's running to other components nearby as well
Just get ele and change like for like and job done.

gerdalt

Brilliant. Many thanks Ellewood. Understanding at last!!
Any ideas on where to source a new element?
All the UK parts sites sell the grill and the main oven element but no mention of the top oven element for my cooker. Some top oven elements for sale there but not for the Model XOU590
Are there any good local sources for such a part?
Can't find a parts catalogue anywhere to get the actual part number.
Nothing on the Belling site.
Ger

[edit]
Found the part number on UK eSpares site but out of stock
This is Belling spares reference: 082600180

crasy dash

Try exsparetise in Tullamore not sure if there open today.

All you need do is ring them up give them your model number and they will check their system.

Hope it helps you

gerdalt

Tried call EXSPARETISE but they close at 1pm on Saturday.
Will try again on Monday to get quick delivery.
In the meantime I have found the item on eBay - see link below for anyone interested!!

Thanks to all who contributed to resolving this problem.

Ger


http://www.ebay.ie/itm/BELLING-LOWER-OVEN-COOKER-HEATING-ELEMENT-082600180-/151717199050