Electric oven element on when switched off…. Belling Format 644 electric cooker

[Torment]

With the cookers oven on/off knob in the off position and the oven not in use of been used, the oven on light was on.

I assumed a faulty switch and I turned the cooker off at the wall but when I turned off the kitchen light, I could see the cookers oven element glowing orange, although it looked to be cooling down.

With the cooker switched back on at the wall, the oven knob in the off position, the moment the cookers clock is pressed to set it, the oven’s on light illuminates and the electric element within the oven starts glow orange.

Within minutes, the oven will reach what’s feels like a normal cooking temperature, although the oven on/off knob is still in the off position.

Surely, this should never be able to occur ?

Imagine if this had occurred whilst I was out or asleep, would the oven just remain on forever (unless switched off at the wall) or do electric ovens have some kind of safety cut out or was there a risk it could have eventually burst into flames ?

[electrofix]

dont forget its an oven so its designed to get hot. therefore most components wont burn. there is also likely to be an overheat stat

does sound like a switch failure but you would need to investigate which

this is not a common fault most of the time ovens just stop heating

Dave

[Torment]

Dave, thanks for your prompt response, I’m aware it’s an oven and designed to get hot but a fault that can turn on an unattended oven is of concern.

Normally I’m out all day till early evening and on occasions, I would think nothing of maybe staying at a relatives house or elsewhere and without giving my oven a second thought.

Also, since I became aware of this issue, I’ve noticed the elements of the over glows bright orange when it’s on,!with the knob in the off position, this is the element with the circulation fan in the middle and it’s behind a panel at the back of the oven, which I can see the glowing elements through the vents.

In all the years I’ve owned and used electric cookers/ovens, I’ve never turned them off at the wall switch, on the off chance the oven will come oven on by its self.

[andyjawa]

Is the serial version this one: 058552110? if not what?
There was a previous version that would now be 40 years old under the term Belling format 644.
If it`s the modern version as above I would check the knob because they can split internally so, in other words, set on OFF could mean that the shaft of the switch is in fact still on an ON position hence the oven works = the knob turns but the shaft does not. This was common. If so you just need a new control knob.
If you have the 40 something old one I doubt there are any parts available……..BUT.
If you can find the serial code and it is not the one above or a split knob come back to us with the numbers – very often as a 44444?????

[Torment]

The fact that the element glows orange within minutes suggests the element is still operating and when I turn the Oven knob to the on position, the circulation fan comes on and it switches off when the knob is in the off position.

The Top Oven, will operate without the need to set the cookers clock and appears to be operating correctly and although the Top Oven isn’t fan assisted, a cooling fan eventually comes on and a continues to run for maybe 5 mins after the Top Oven has been turned off.

I don’t think the Main Ovens element should glow orange like it is, maybe it’s totally normal operation and I’ve just never noticed. I only noticed it on this occasion when I turned off the kitchen light.

I would assume the Top Oven on/off knob and Thermostat will be the same as the Main Oven, so maybe I could swap the Top Oven on/off Knob and thermostat (if its capillary tube is long enough) to help identify the fault

I would expect the Top and Main Oven on/off control unit and thermostat to be identical to each other ?

[Torment]

Yeah, the Cooker is old but not 40 years, it probably close to 20 years old but it’s in excellent condition, so I would prefer to attempt to repair it first, especially as the ceramic hob, grill and Top Oven all work.

I don’t think it’s the shaft rotating as the Main Oven has a circulation fan and currently, the fan remains off until the Oven on/off knob is rotated to the on position and will turn off when the knob is rotated to the off position.

Also, the flat of the shaft corresponds with the knob and it’s markings.

[Torment]

The serial No is 34100439

[electrofix]

chances are its a shorted stat. the stat is meant to be open circuit in the off position.

possibly this one but you need to check

https://shop.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/082604989-oven-thermostat

also check the stat has not popped out of the back of the switch as that would cause the same problem

Dave

[Torment]

Thanks, I’ll check that.
I kinda knew it was a faulty switch, thermostat or both,
I was more surprised that a fault which would turn the oven on was actually possible, although I’ve had this cooker for years and without issues, it’s a little worrying.

[electrofix]

had it happen in other cookers including more modern ones. had it in a hob the other week, one ring was full power all the time

Dave

[Torment]

Surprised… from my experience, I assume it’s rare, as I’ve used my current electric cooker/oven for close to 20 yrs and without issue till current and I’ve had electric cooker/ovens in the past and such an issue has never occurred.
My main concern is the risk of fire. should the oven come on by itself for extended periods whilst unattended.

[electrofix]

any machanical device can fail so it does happen but unless you keep flammable objects in the oven when its not in use the liklelyhood of fire is low. its also unlikely to happen when its not in use. You have more chance of a fire in a tumble drier as it contains lots of flammable material

Dave

[Torment]

Dave, thanks for your response.

I understand that mechanical and electrical items are all at risk of failure but this has surprised me.
I would have expected a physical mechanical operation of the thermostat, so when if fails, it does so whilst in operation and the circuit is disconnected from the mains once switched off, same too should a fault occur at the switch.
On this occasion, although I used the hob I’d not actually used the over since the previous evening.

Although I appreciate your reassurances, I’d hate the oven to have come by itself whilst I was sleeping or away for the weekend; it doesn’t bear thinking about it.

From now on, my cooker is switched off at the wall when not in use.

[electrofix]

switching things off is a good thing. in fact a lot of modern appliances are not off but in standby which means they consume power when not in use.

older appliances are less likely to have safety components and in your case its likely the hydraulic tube fractured. since increased pressure turns the stat off when it breaks it wont turn off. hence your problem. if Belling had thought about it they could have switched the element through the same switch as the fan effectivly stopping the problem you have. somewhere in the design stage they made a decision not to

Dave

[Torment]

Thanks again Dave, especially your understanding and explanations.

My elderly Dad, who has recently passed away; he had a habit of unplugging all electrical appliances at bedtime when I was a child, before wall outlets had switches and even before we owned a fridge; it’s surprising how he brought up a family of 3, before I came along, using a larder to chill food.

He continued to unplug appliances at night throughout his life, which caused many a dispute when I was a teenager, although he knew not to unplug the fridge and I was adamant; that nowadays, it just wasn’t necessary to unplug everything.
Although since this issue with my oven, I have a different perspective now.

[Author]

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