Repair of gas stoves with electric ignition

The ignition system is not an obligatory part of the gas stove, but it is very convenient. Electric ignition is safer than other methods, and in addition, the owner does not have to constantly think about matches left at home or not. But any system sometimes crashes, and you must either contact the master, or repair it yourself. Repair of gas stoves with electric ignition - what is it? Let's discuss it.

to contents ↑

Why do we need electric ignition of a gas stove?

As the name implies, the system is needed to turn on the stove. This device is useful for those who often cook on a gas hob, in addition, do not like or are afraid to use matches. Ignition allows you to turn on the gas in the oven or on the burner in one easy motion.

Old stoves were made without built-in ignition. For their owners, the process looked like this:

1. They opened the valve on a cylinder or pipe.
2. Lit a match.
3. They brought her to the burner.
4. At the same time, the handle corresponding to the same burner was turned.

Important! Oddly enough, but even then not everyone knew how to use matches. Fires arose not only because someone forgot to turn off the stove, but simply because of an unquenched match that fell to the floor or to a potholder.

Gas or gas lighters were also uncomfortable. The piezo lighter turned out to be much safer. For the most part, owners of old gas stoves use it. Modern models often have an integrated system - electric ignition of a gas stove.

to contents ↑

Electric gas stove - options

In modern gas stoves, different electric ignition systems can stand. They are divided by type of management:

• mechanical;
• automatic.

This or that option depends on how the transformer is connected.

Mechanical ignition

It is a button on the front panel, next to the switch handles. You just need to press this button by turning the corresponding switch.

Thanks to this simple movement, the capacitor is charged, then discharged, the circuit closes, a spark passes, which ignites the burner. In this case, a single spark occurs.

Automatic ignition

There is no button on such a plate. It is enough to simply turn the switch, pressing it slightly. Unlike mechanical ignition, with automatic ignition there are many sparks that slip through at a frequency of 50 Hz.

to contents ↑

How to determine if the system is out of order?

And then one fine moment you turn the switch, you hear that gas starts to come out, but sparks - no. What to do? To begin with - check all burners. If you see the same picture everywhere, the electric ignition of a gas stove clearly needs to be repaired, or at least serviced.

There may be other signs:

• the spark has passed, but the burner does not ignite;
• continuous clicks are heard;
• the system constantly gives sparks even when the burner is off;
• the handle is released - and the ignition does not turn off;
• when the stove is turned on, automatic protection in the shield is triggered;
• no one knows where the water appears under the handles after harvesting.

If electric ignition of a gas stove does not work on all burners, a more thorough diagnosis is needed.It is possible that the plate or some parts of it will have to be disassembled.

Important! Before starting any manipulations with the ignition, the gas must be shut off.

to contents ↑

We carry out diagnostics

Before you disassemble something, you need to understand what exactly happened. To do this, it’s enough to perform some fairly simple steps.

Burner problems and more

You have already checked whether other burners are ignited from the ignition system. Now try the same thing, but with matches or a lighter. Start with a problem burner. You will see one of the following pictures:

1. The gas burns exactly around the circumference.
2. Gas burns only on one side.

In the first case, the burner, of course, is serviceable, and the cause of the malfunctions must be sought in the candle, transformer or conductive paths of the ignition system.

If the fire appeared only on one side - most likely, the ignition system is serviceable. In this case, two options are possible:

• The burner is deformed for some reason. Do not try to fix the burner yourself - this is a dangerous business. It’s best to call the master, and he will change it in a few minutes and the minimum payment.
• The divider is clogged. Clean the nozzle and reposition the divider. Of course, all this must be done by turning off the gas. In our separate article, we described in more detail how to clean a gas burner.

Commutations mixed up

The cause of malfunctions can also be incorrect operation of the electrode-switch connections. They are connected in parallel. The electrodes receive voltage from the same ignition module, but they are turned on using different switches.

It makes sense to try this option:

1. Turn and push the handle as you normally do, including the burner.
2. Without releasing the handle, turn the second one in the same way.

If the gas ignites, look for the cause in the switch or switch. This is where the repair of a gas stove with electric ignition is required.

Important! Be sure to use a cooker hood while cooking. Why is it needed, the principle of action, and many other questions we examined in our separate review “Hood for a gas stove”.

If sparks are streaming constantly

There may be several reasons for the electric ignition of a gas stove continuously sparking:

• mud;
• dampness;
• fat;
• oxidation of switch contacts;
• deformation of switch contacts.

To cope with water, grease and dirt is not difficult. It’s enough to just clean the switches and what's under them. Contact oxidation is also a solvable problem. But deformation is much more difficult to cope with, the switches will have to be changed.

Important! Inspection of all elements must be carried out by disconnecting the stove from the mains.

Important! When cleaning the gas stove, do not forget about the oven. You will find the most effective ways in a special topic.“Cleaning the gas stove oven”.

to contents ↑

We deal with the electronic unit

The dividers are clean, the switches got rid of the fat, but is there still no ignition? Have to deal with electronic circuits.

The electronic unit crashes quite often, especially with European-made stoves. The cause may be a voltage in the power supply network that does not meet the manufacturer's requirements - for example, 200 V instead of 220 V. If the system fails for this reason, it is almost impossible to repair a gas stove with electric ignition, it is necessary to completely replace the ignition unit.

But there are other reasons:

• aging parts;
• combustion of individual elements;
• mud.

What elements are included in the system?

If electric ignition on a gas stove does not work, you will have to carefully consider not only the details of this system, but also the parts of the stove itself in contact with it. And the first thing to do is inspect the candle.

Candle

The candle is a small white pin, which is located under the divider. If there is a problem with this element, there is a spark, but fire does not appear on the burner.In this case, it is enough to clean the areas of the candles and burners that are in contact with each other. For this:

1. Remove the divider.
2. Wipe the candle and the contact parts of the burner with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
3. Reinstall the divider.

After cleaning, check the operation - the spark should go clearly into the burner opening, i.e. vertically.

Important! It is impossible to check the results of work when the burner is removed.

to contents ↑

High voltage module

It is located under the working surface of the stove. The scheme is not very complicated, and for someone who understands at least a little bit about radio components, to deal with it in order to repair a gas stove with electric ignition will not be difficult.

The module consists of elements such as:

• conductive paths;
• transformer;
• capacitor;
• diode;
• transistor (key);
• resistors.

In some expensive modern models there is also a thyristor or triac, which allows you to control the spark using a chip. A process that looks like turning a switch while simultaneously pressing it actually looks like this:

1. Voltage is supplied from the transformer to the capacitor mounted in its own housing.
2. It is from this that the capacitor is charging.
3. The voltage from the capacitor is supplied to the triac.
4. A spark forms, which is fed into the hole of the burner.

Conductive paths

Start diagnostics with conductive paths. The track should look like a continuous silver strip on which varnish is applied. Varnish is needed in order to protect the conductor from moisture, dust and other troubles. If the track is continuous, and the varnish is peeled - restore its layer. Any varnish, even for nails, is suitable for this.

If you see a layer of soot, you will need:

• skin (nulevka);
• alcohol.

Strip the place where the carbon deposits formed with a sandpaper. Degrease it with alcohol and then varnish. If the tracks themselves are torn, they can be restored by soldering jumpers. This will be the whole repair of a gas stove with electric ignition.

Resistors

Resistors must be checked to see how much they correspond to the indicated value (you can find out by marking - numbers or colored stripes). It is easy to determine a burnt part - it most often becomes completely black.

Important! In some cases, you can put more powerful elements, but do not abuse it.

There are two ways to verify operability:

• ringing with an ohmmeter;
• putting in place the "native" another resistor.

Important! Since for testing it is necessary to solder the part at least on one side, it is better to have new resistors with the same marking on hand. Most often, 3.9 kΩ resistors with dissipation power from 0.5 to 1 W are used in gas stoves.

Capacitors

Capacitors inspect visually. If they fail, this is usually noticeable. Such parts tend to swell, and under adverse conditions, even burst. As for the transformer, it is checked by a conventional tester for an open.

The capacitor is selected according to two parameters:

• capacity;
• voltage.

Transformer

The most vulnerable part of any device. The transformer of a gas stove electric ignition system, like any other, has two windings:

• primary;
• secondary.

The primary is two semi-windings with different magnetomotive forces at the ends. What does it mean? The thyristor control electrode alternately positive and negative charges. With a positive pulse, the thyristor opens, the current increases to the nominal value.

The output voltage is formed on the secondary winding. It leaves about 10 kW. The process is repeated at a speed of 1 spark per second. The secondary winding consists of two windings with parallel excitation, which is fed to the candle.

To check the transformer, tester or multimeter must be set to the minimum resistance position.

Important! The burned-out element is best just replaced.If you want the winding, of course, you can rewind, but this requires accuracy - the number of turns must be strictly defined.

Thyristor

This part is checked for conductivity. It is put in a position for measuring resistance and checked in several places:

• voltage between the control electrode and the anode;
• voltage between the anode and the control electrode;
• voltage between the anode and cathode;
• voltage between cathode and anode.

The absence of voltage in at least one section indicates that it is time to change the part.

to contents ↑

What else could break?

Problems and the need to repair gas stoves with electric ignition may be other. Here are a couple more reasons.

Button

If you have a stove with mechanical ignition, pay attention to the button. This detail is very important, because it is she who launches the circuit. A standard voltage of 220 V passes through her contacts. But her contacts are made of brass. If you are unlucky and there was a short circuit in the house - brass is almost guaranteed to melt. Contacts just need to be cleaned. At the same time, it does not interfere with the multimeter to ring the switch.

Combustion control circuit

This is usually a thermocouple. If you have already determined that the ignition system is absolutely serviceable, but there is still no flame, check this sensor, since it is he who is responsible for the gas supply. If the circuit burns out, the gas supply is shut off.

This module has 4 or 6 outputs. The problem is determined visually or with the help of a tester. The thermocouple must be replaced.

Important! If the repair is very expensive or you decide to replace the gas stove, in order to correctly approach this issue, use our rated gas stoves.

to contents ↑

Stock footage

From this article, you have learned everything you need to repair a gas stove with electric ignition, or at least figure out the causes of a malfunction in the combustion system. We hope you have managed to rectify the situation and you can easily cook your favorite dishes again.