Kitchen Artist

Oven Repairs in Port Elizabeth. South Africa

 Defy Stove Model DSS445 selector switch

Kitchen-Artist is a person engaged in an activity related to creating art in the kitchen. They practice the arts by using various tools and substances in a combination to create "taste-art". 

Selector switch burned contacts

The Taste-magic is only a moment - then its Gone

The visual results created by the Everyday-Kitchen-Artists are most of the times beyond words and one can never  truly describe the magic sensation that happen with your taste-buds.

Defy stove selector switch view from the top

We love talking about ovens because this is the place the magic starts. Its an honored to be associating with some of Port Elizabeth's Best "Kitchen-Artists".

www.pinepienaar.info

Stove plate and element regulator switch Seibe

Stove Repairs in Port Elizabeth South Africa

Regulators control the temperature of a oven or stove plate by switching it on and off. This is done by means of a bi-metal strip that makes contact points open and close on set periods.

Seibe energy regulator

Siebel Energy Regulator is an Infinite switch that turns electric stove plates/ elements/ burner on and off. By turning the rotary knob to various setting it controls the temperature of the heating device (stove plates).

How an Infinite Regulator works

Inside the Regulator is a bimetallic strip that heats up when electricity passes through it. After a few seconds the bimetallic strip bends (warped) causing a spring-loaded control to open (cutting the power flow). Once the power is cut the bi-strip starts to cool down then returning to its original position (Shape). When the bimetallic strip is back in its original shape the whole process starts over again.

The abovementioned mechanical actions is done on very petite scale and it cannot handle the heavy current of a stove plate or heating-element. The simmerstat (fancy name for regulator) needs the help of contactor or a more robust spring loaded switch that mirrors the actions of the little guy mention in the first paragraph.

Now who says the little guys has no control?

By turning the knob to its highest setting it will take longer for the little guy (bimetallic strip) to reach "cut-off (bend) and the heating device gets hotter

Disadvantages

Mechanical switches/regulators generate a spark (arcing) everytime it make contact or switches on/off which can cause interference on a radio and electronic gadgets. However if this situation should ever occur it is easy-peasy rectified, with the help of suppressors.

Manufacturers use the seibe regulator because its reliable switches at a cheap price. Defy appliances use them in most of their cooking appliances.

Regulator points are closed

Unfortunately like most things these switches also only has a lifespan before the go on the blink. The two main symptoms that will tell you it's your regulator that is faulty;

1. The range or element stay on all the time and overheat.
2. The element unit does not turn-on at all.

As you can see from above picture the switch contact points appears to be closed and should let the electric current through to the elements to start heating up. But in this instance there is a slight build-up of carbon fiber (white spot) on right hand side of contacts, and its just enough  to prevents the two points from making contact. This carbon buildup happens because everytime the contact points open and close there's a little spark

Regulator switch in open position

I hope this has given your a better insight to the operation of your cooking equipment. Should you require more information feel free e-mail or leave a comment below.

www.pinepienaar.info

PS. For more information also see; Energy Regulators  http://highpointappliances.blogspot.co.za/2017/07/energy-regulators.html

Hard Nuts

Oven and Stove Repairs in Port Elizabeth. South Africa

Cracking Hard Nuts

Heat the nuts

in a oven

The shell will Become brittle

Making it easy

to 

Cracked`

Ovens and Stoves Cleaning

Oven and Stove Repairs in Port Elizabeth

Dirty Defy stove controls

Here at All Appliance Repairs we always suggest not keeping your oven too clean. Ovens need a fatty/oily layer to protect the grooves and seams from moisture causing rust.

Defy Ovendoor covered in grease

Recently we had the pleasure of working on a extreme Dirty Defy Stove that even had me blinking and because I love appliances - seeing an appliance go into despair just breaks my heart.

Dirty Spiral Plate 

Too much fat buildup will have the opposite effect, instead of protecting - it allows the steam/spills to go underneath the buildup preventing moisture from evaporating causing the oven and plate-under cups (reflector cups) to rust even faster

Rusted Spiral Plate reflector cup

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying you should keep a dirty oven or stove in your home, I'm just suggesting that you take precautionary measures and leave a thin layer of fat/oil. It’s actually funny seeing some people’s faces turn to horror when I tell them their oven is too clean, some women even shiver in horror by the mere thought of a dirty Oven in their home.

Over the years I've had the honour to be rubbing shoulder with some of Port Elizabeth greatest Chefs, One thing I know from them is that the secret to a magnificent meal is in the equipment and the preparation. If your cooking equipment is dirty or if it works inconsistently, you will taste it in the end.

Tip: Never tell the cook his oven too clean!

Defy stove Hob can be lifted to clean

"I'm late, I'm late, I'm late." said the White Rabbit.

Modernday oven and stove cleaners are extremely aggressive, its made to give you instant cleaning-results.  (it's especially made for people with no-time-to-waste on cleaning their ovens because they must Earn-more to pay for regular oven replacements.) The Combination of aggressive oven cleaners, moist air and heat will get into the joints will get into joints/grooves making it rust.

The following Cleaning methods has stoot the test of time;

Bicarbonate of soda cleaning method          

•  Mixed Bicarbonate of soda with Hot water so that it forms a paste. Then smear this paste onto the grease inside the oven and leave for a couple of hours. The past will soften the dirt and also absorb odours. Your might still need a little bit of elbow-grease but in the long run it is worth it. Some people say instead of water one should use white vinegar. Give it a try and let us know about this one.
• Alternatively made a cleaning past with Lemon juice and bicarbonate soda is great to remove odours and minor grease in your microwave oven
• Cooking oil or silicone spray will break up grease if dabbled over the dirty spot. This is especially recommended for glass and stainless steel ovens or hobs.  appliances will shine after cleaning with this method.

The above cleaning methods with leave your appliances fresh and clean without the harsh chemical smell to breathe-in.

Enjoy the cleaning but above all enjoy the baking

Pine Pienaar 083 52 52 5 22

Ps. Did you know baking soda is a type of salt - sodium carbonate plus sodium carbon dioxide

Dirty Defy Stove

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth

Dirty Defy Stove Four Twenty Two

The Defy model; four twenty two stove must be one of the best models Defy manufactures has ever produced for general household use. Its so simple to use and it gives the same end cooking results as the more advanced Defy models.

To insure you always achieve a tasty result with your stove there is one universal rule you must follow and that is regular cleaning.  

Its O.K to clean your stove once in a while

With most defy Stoves you are able to lift up the plates and clean under neath the plates. Some of them has two screws on the side which you should unscrew - if you need some pointer here just leave a comment below or if Facebook works better for you click hear.

Stove Ovens

Stove Ovens - Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth

WHIRLPOOL

Each stove oven differ from Model to model but at the end of the day they more or less work on the same principals. They also have the same components in them to do cooking. All Ovens has the following working parts; an energy source (element or magnetron), energy regulator (thermostats), Selector controls and an oven chamber.  

The different electrical ovens;

1.  The Radiant oven (traditional oven)

2.  The convection oven

3.  Microwave oven

Radiant oven

The traditional oven is called a radiant oven and it has two elements, one for bake and one for grilling. A thermostat then controls the oven temperature by switching the elements on and off.

The more expensive model has three elements and a separate selector switch for the various oven control setting. The third element is there just to heat the oven to a preheat setting and once the oven has reach the preheat setting it does not come on again during the cooking process.

Convection Oven

Apart from the normal elements the convection oven also has a heating element at the back of the chamber with a fan that blows the hot air into the cavity and then sucks it back again. This constant air movement elements cold and hot spots in the oven camber, making it possible to cook on all the shelves and achieve the same results on all the shelves.

Food gets cook 25% faster in a convection oven saving you money on electricity usage, 

Microwave Oven

The ultra modern oven has a magnetron build into it making it possible to do microwave cooking will baking something inside it. This oven is very similar to the traditional convectional microwave oven except that this oven is bigger and it has a bake element.

In the next post I will cover more about the elements and thermostats

Happy cooking

083 52 52 52 2