Removing/replacing a lower oven element.

[terry]

Just had a phone call about someone trying to replace a lower electric oven element in a (Kenmore or similar North American) cooking stove/range.

Apparently the individual is trying to do it only from front of the oven by taking out two screws holding the plate to back of the oven and 'pulling' the defective element out.

They seeming to think that the element plugs in!

I don't think so.

Told them that normally elements like that do not 'plug in' like the surface burners/hobs of an electric stove. Also in my experience even if the the connections, as they are occasionally, the 'Push 0n' type, doubt there will be sufficient spare wire to do that and make good new connections working inside the oven?

Also now worried that the individual has not switched off the double pole breaker for the stove at the main panel (Consumer Unit)!!!!!!!!

IMO/experience stove should be unplugged, moved away from wall, back removed, new unit installed and good connections made; cos there is something like 3+ kilowatts going through those wires attached to element! One reason btw I prefer stand alone units for accessibilty, rather than built-ins.

Any advice comments/correctons?

Apparently it IS the element that is viuslly faulty; cos sometimes if someone with lttle knowledge of electricity is 'at' something they may jump to conclusions!

[TH]

First turn off the circuit breaker! You do not need to pull the stove out. The element is replaced from the inside of the oven. just remove the screws holding the element in the wall, pull out the element and there are 2 more screws connecting the element to the electrical wire. Just disconnect it and replace it with the new one and screw it back into the oven wall. Pretty simple actually. You should be able to get pictures and step by step instructions off the web.

[Bob]

First, pull out the plug or disconnect the double pole circuit. Many ovens only disconnect one side of the 240 volt line with the oven switch/thermostat, which subjects you to 120 volts to ground (the metal frame od the stove).

It *may* be possible to replace the element without accessing the back of the stove. Slowly pull the element out to see is there is any slack on the lead wires. They're held on with spade lugs or screw terminals. Worst case is that you'll have to open the back panel, but you may get lucky and get the job done in five minutes instead of an hour.

[Don Young]

Others have discussed disconnecting the wires but some oven elements do indeed "plug-in". Most elements are replacable from inside the oven.

Don Young