Why Does My Cooker Keep Blowing?

[norman]

Two weeks ago my electric oven blew (pop) when cooking Sunday lunch. Thinking it had just tripped at the board, I flipped that switch - even louder pop. Yesterday, after long wait for repairman, he replaced the element and the rotary switch (I think) where one of the metal prongs had fused. But he didn't test it because the isolator switch needed replacing and this was outside the Domestic & General contract. So after he left I replaced it - very carefully and correctly - and turned the oven on, which popped again.

So any ideas what is causing this? I'm not really getting a diagnostic service from the contract, and I'm concerned that when they come again on Friday 13th, they will replace parts again but avoid testing it and I'll still be without a cooker.

I will of course replace the isolator switch before they come, so it can be tested, but if it blows again they may say it's not the cooker. So any help greatly appreciated!

Norman   

 

[ProDave]

Sad to say you had an incompetent repairer.

Are you saying that whatever shorted inside the cooker also blew to cooker isolator switch on the wall and that is what you have just replaced?

did the repair man do any tests with a test meter or did he just look and replace what looked burned?

 

[Sharpend]

I would suggest that you disconnect the cooker from the wall outlet and try switching isolator switch, if it doesn't pop plug a lamp into isolator switch (if it has a socket on it)to test supply is ok this may help to narrow down fixed cabling to cooker itself.

 

[norman]

Thanks for these replies.

Re #1:

a)Are you saying that whatever shorted inside the cooker also blew to cooker isolator switch on the wall and that is what you have just replaced?

b) did the repair man do any tests with a test meter or did he just look and replace what looked burned?

a) that's what the man said - and because that's not covered by the service contract, I had to replace it. He assumed that once I had done that, it would work - but after replacing it and turning on the oven, it blew again.

I gather I need to get him to do some tests. I'm replacing the isolator switch today so that the cooker can be turned on to see if it works. But if it blows again, I'm concernee he may blame my electrics from the board to the isolator switch - which have never given any trouble in the past.

Any other advice, please?

b) No, he didn't do any tests - just replaced the element and the alternator switch (? - not sure what this was called).

#2 - unfortunately it doesn't have a socket to test. But before I turned on the cooker, the bulb in it was on.

 

[Richard-the-Ninth]

Change the isolator and call them back.

Leave the cooker disconnected, he can test it then.

 

[Blue Duck]

Just curious, what do cooker installers test? IR / zs? just cant imagine them testing anything?

stuff the cable in the back and run away is the impression I get.