First off, let me start by saying I don’t really know how old the oven is. The house was built in '99, and chances are it’s the original, but I don’t know. Anyway, while I was at work today my wife called me telling me the range blew up. It’s all electric, so that’s not entirely possible, but she happened to be using the broiler that we practically never use. It turns out that the broiler element basically did explode and sparks were flying within my oven for a good 30-45 seconds. The broiler element has a huge gap where the rupture occurred…probably 2-3 inches. When I reset the breaker upon getting home, the clock came on just fine, and I figured using the bake option would be alright because I do enjoy to eat dinner every night, like most people. The problem is that a preheat setting to 350 resulted in the oven heating to 105 (the oven shows 100 by default until it surpasses 100, then counts up), and then stopping. Opening the oven door revealed that the element was not even on, really. Practically no heat coming off of it. I didn’t check to see if the top burners on the range portion work because I didn’t think they are connected to the ERC anyway. One option is obviously a bad ERC. The rupture on the broiler element happened on the side which also houses the oven thermostat, at least what I think is the thermostat. I’m wondering if it’s possible that the thermostat got messed up in the process as well? If that’s the case, then I’d only have to replace a broiler element and the thermostat, because my only other option really is to replace the entire oven because the ERC has apparently been discontinued and I can’t get a new one anyway. Any help would be great; appliances aren’t anything I’ve ever really had any experience working on before. Thanks!
Here are your parts
http://www.appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/modelsearch.aspx?model=ART6511LL
Unit descriptions are screwed up , they show gas but when you look at the parts they are electric.
The temperature sensor is Item 11 in Section 2.
Odds are high that the control board is toast, electronics does not like voltage spikes and that is what you get with an arc & spark.
Here is a site with info on how to check the sensor.
http://www.applianceaid.com/elecrange.html
Check out 7, 8, 20 and 21
There are companies out there that do repair appliance timers and control boards, just do a Google.
I think that if the control board is toast, it’s better just to get a new range anyway. I used to sell appliances, so I know a little bit about how repair costs go when you get into electronic control boards.
I’ll check the sensor when I can a little later, thanks.
Checking around, I also saw that if the element is only getting "warm" and not "hot," I could be having power supply problems. If this is true, do I just check for 240v at the plug and conclude that if I have 240v there, then the power supply is not the problem?
On a side note, what is inside the broiler element that gave a nice, fine powder all over the inside of my oven? What really concerns me is is it safe or at least not-harmful to deal with?
Checking around, I also saw that if the element is only getting "warm" and not "hot," I could be having power supply problems. If this is true, do I just check for 240v at the plug and conclude that if I have 240v there, then the power supply is not the problem?
Most ovens are hard wired. but you have to first check is the correct voltage getting to the unit and then is there anything in the unit that could be causing a voltage drop.
For instance stove elements fun on 240 volts so if for any reason they short to ground they can get just warm.
On a side note, what is inside the broiler element that gave a nice, fine powder all over the inside of my oven? What really concerns me is is it safe or at least not-harmful to deal with?
As far as I know the powder is not toxic. It is just a mineral type insulation.
Though I would not start eating the stuff.