Strange electrical issue with cooker

[Patriot1320]

Hi,

I went to put the cooker on and found a strange issue. The switch to turn the cooker on has an orange light (when on)... however when I put any ring on or grill or oven the orange light goes out... I cant figure this one out... could the switch be faulty?

 

[Marvo]

If the cooker works fine it's probably not the actual switch. The neon indicator lamps used in switches aren't the most reliable things but it could also indicate an electrical fault possibly with the neutral on the circuit. To know for sure the circuit would require testing.

Some switches you can just replace the neon to see if that is the problem, some you can't so easily. Either way it's not a job you should get involved in unless you're competent to do so.

 

[Patriot1320]

thanks, forgot to mention, when i turn on the cooker nothing works.. just weird how the light goes out when I turn a ring on on...

 

[Silly Sausage]

Is this light on the cooker or the switch on the wall?

 

[MarkieSparkie]

All types of indicator lamp:
At cooker switch ON the indicator lamp shows the power is connected to cooker, but the indicator lamp(s) may be connected such that the lamp(s) switch ON and OFF in sympathy with a ring, grill or oven thermostat(s). In this case the ON lamp indicates that the ring, grill or oven is at the set temperature. This system usually has a lamp for each ring, plus one each for the grill and oven, or where the grill and oven cannot both be ON at the same time a shared lamp.

Neon type indicator lamp:
When the indicator lamp is a neon type that has aged over time it's striking voltage becomes raised, sufficient potential is available to ionise the neon gas at no-load, however, when the circuit is loaded by switching ON the grill, oven or ring the lamp ionisation potential is not reached and the indicator does not glow or may just flash intermittently in some cases.

 

[Patriot1320]

on the switch on the wall

 

[Marvo]

thanks, forgot to mention, when i turn on the cooker nothing works..

There's a small possibility it could be a problem with one pole of the switch but this points more towards a floating neutral. When you switch on an element the voltage on the neutral increases to the point where the volt drop across the neon is insufficient to light it. Time to phone your favorite electrician to come test the circuit.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Agree with Marvo there.

Replace the wall switch first.
If your cooker controls are on the way out, think large money. It's verging on buying a new oven (been there)

 

[HandySparks]

Sounds to me like a lost line or neutral with just enough capacitive coupling to run a neon. When a ring is turned on, then it effectively shorts out the neon.

Have you checked that the circuit breaker is on or supply fuse is intact? If neither of these, and you're not an electrician, then get one in.

 

[telectrix]

loose or poor connection either at CU or in back of cooker switch is my first guess. could also be a faulty switch. it's a case of that poor connection failing as soon as a load is applied. could be on either L or N.