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We recently bought one of the new Whirlpool ACM804/BK Induction Hobs for private home use.
All the correct wiring was put in from the consumer unit with 6 mm twin and earth cable and a 32 amp MCB.
The new hob was fitted on the 6th November 2014 and went SC by the 23rd November. The Whirlpool sub contract engineer came along on the 28th November and stated that as the product was brand new they had no spares for it. The decision was taken to issue a replacement which arrived with us yesterday 1st December 2104. The new unit was connected-up correctly and worked perfectly well for one day. First thing today the breaker popped and the hob now refuses to work.
Whirlpool have been advised and say that they will send an engineer to take a look this coming Friday the 5th of December 2014, meaning that we will have been left without a working hob for 13 days. This is providing they can issue a further replacement immediately, in which case it may well be longer.
There are several issues arising out of these experiences, the first being whether there is some kind of inherent faults with this particular model of Whirlpool hob, and the second, whether the design of the hob required some type of enhanced installation?
Either way I am of the mind to replace the unit with a Bosch, Neff or something that has a better reliability record.
I wondered if anyone else on the Forum, or maybe one of your customers had similar experiences?Re: ACM804/BK Whirlpool Induction Hob
since these hobs are designed to replace all and any other hob i cannot see your installation has anything to do with it
Dave
Re: ACM804/BA Whirlpool Induction Hob
You are right, I suppose it was a bit of a daft question really, but only born out of desperation to try and get to the bottom of this.
What determines whether an Induction Hob can replace a standard electric hob is what the power rating of the old hob was. For example some hobs can operate from a standard 13 amp plug socket.
In the case of this hob and many of the new Induction Hobs about today their max consumption level is in the region of 7.2kw, meaning that they require at least a dedicated 32 amp MCB and 6mm twin and earth supply. In this particular case this hob was used in part to replace a dual fuel range cooker, where the hob was gas and a standard 13 amp socket was adequate to power the ovens.
I am now convinced that this particular make and new model of hob must have a design fault on it as is most unlikely that two new hobs would give up the ghost in such quick succession.
I have just found out today that they both failed when there were two pans on the go, one set at 3 and the other set at 9.
The failure occurred when the pan set on 9 was lifted from the hob. These hobs are supposed to have auto sensing, so that when a cooking ring is still energised and a pan lifted-off, that particular coil should automatically shut itself down. In these cases it didn’t shut down, but just popped the pcb. Ergo design fault, perhaps?Re: ACM804/BK Whirlpool Induction Hob
sound like it. i have a £30 one from lidl it turn off if i lift the pan and to be fair thay have to assume people will lift the pan off
Dave
the only long shot in this is are all you supply joints tight as i am not sure what an arcing joint would do to the mosfets in the boards
Dave
Re: ACM804/BK Whirlpool Induction Hob
Design fault. Nope. Component failure, happens often, not all electronics are built to specifications placed by the manufacturer, some will fit substandard components in the hope it won’t get noticed, they do it to increase profitability of that order. Then certain peeps get tasked to monitor & test before they turn up at the supplier and start issuing threats.
Re: ACM804/BK Whirlpool Induction Hob
All the supply joints are spot-on.
I could have sworn that it was a budding design fault, but am ready to believe that certain manufacturers will try to cut their manufacturing costs by using second-rate components.
In my case it simply won’t work because I have been in this business for too long to stand for manufacturers propaganda.
It’s a pity that this has hit the fan as I’ve always believed that Whirlpool were one of the better manufacturers – looks like I’m wrong.
Anyway, I’ve almost made my mind up to swap it for a Bosch, unless any of you ‘insiders’ know of a better brand of induction hob. There must be one currently made out there that is of reasonable quality and longevity.Re: ACM804/BK Whirlpool Induction Hob
Manufacturers don’t generally make the internals. It’s a common mistake people make, take Hotpoint, yes the cabinets where formed in the UK but 90{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} of the internals came from Italy. Trust me even Miele have been in China sourcing. The art of successful manufacturing is keeping costs down. Even the most reliable, environmentally friendly products are usually owned by a larger less reliable, less environmentally friendly brand with good PR or bought in from one. As for the Bosch, their induction hobs are built in Spain and have had a few issues. The internals tend to come from the same electronic manufacturers, brand names mean nothing these days. It’s pure luck, best guide is price, but again that sometimes just means bigger profit as opposed to better quality.
Re: ACM804/BK Whirlpool Induction Hob
Yes I am aware that Bosch have some products including some of their induction hobs made in Spain, but then again Volkswagen do the same thing with some of their vehicles.
I do remember the nightmare when Bosch first produced some of their washing machines out there. The local Bosch engineer used to come in to our service department with his head hung-low, poor sod.
Anyway, this isn’t getting me anywhere. What I need to know is if anyone out there can actually recommend a brand and model number of reliable induction hob? Failing which I will just have to make Whirlpool’s life a misery by continually insisting that they repair or replace this one.Re: ACM804/BK Whirlpool Induction Hob
Bosch took over Safel-Balay in 1988, they integrated the designs Balay had and ran with them. Now Spain has many factories and Factory Montanyana supplies northern Europe including UK with hobs. I’d personally have one, whether or not it would give me several yrs without issue, knobody knows, anymore than any other brand. Technicos de Interservicio always had there heads down, all of us in Spain did, the politics, the enchufe, the day to day hassle was, still is immense.
Re: ACM804/BK Whirlpool Induction Hob
As I said, I’m thinking of opting for a Bosch or possibly an AEG as an alternative to the Whirlpool, because being left without an operational hob for 13 days out of 30 is unrealistic, and two faulty units in less than a month is madness.
As an afterthought I checked the Whirlpool induction hob retail reviews on Which, only to find that quite a few people have been suffering with blown electronics on their units. This does not bode well for these hobs, more so because of the apparent disinterest exhibited by Whirlpool themselves.
I’ve been in the Trade for over thirty years and I am struggling with this one, so how in heavens name Joe Public goes on when experiencing the same problems I just do not know.
I think the message here must be ‘quickly get your act together Whirlpool’.
Bad products and bad publicity can ruin a company in no time at all.Re: ACM804/BK Whirlpool Induction Hob
Whirlpool are massive and like most brands aim to work at around 3-4{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} failure rate. Usually peaks at 12{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d}. The usual response in the boardroom is who cares were selling shit loads.
Re: ACM804/BK Whirlpool Induction Hob
Is there such a thing as a reliable induction hob? Come on, you’re in the trade and should know how flaky and vulnerable modern electronics are. The watch word in the trade (of the wise) is AVOID (or suffer like the punters do) 😉
Re: ACM804/BK Whirlpool Induction Hob
Cos the halogen and element ones with regulators never failed.
Re: ACM804/BA Whirlpool Induction Hob
Here’s a quick update for those of you who are interested.
The SECOND replacement hob, that is the third one of these that we’ve had in as many weeks has just put it’s legs in the air and died.
So it does look like there is there a significant problem on this model.
The way to induce the fault is to put a pan filled with water on one heating plate at say setting 4 or 5. Then fill a kettle or another pan with water and put that on one of the other heating plates on setting 9.
Let both heat up until one or the other boils, then remove the one that’s boiling from the hob without switching-off that heating ring. The auto-sensing is supposed to detect the lack of a pan and power-down the coil, but in all three cases that I’ve experienced, when you remove either pan or kettle the PCB goes SC.
Quite an interesting one really.
Anyway, in the hope of avoiding this problem in future I’ve changed to an AEG.
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