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You're actually referring to the "broiler" elements. Most electric ovens have these at the top of the main oven space. (Some gas ovens are set up the same way, but many put the broiler elements in a bottom drawer.)
As their name implies, broiler elements are active only when you're broiling. They will not go on for baking.
Broiling is the process of cooking food by exposing it directly to a high heat source at close range. To broil a steak, for example, you would place the pan holding the steak on an oven rack raised to the top or next to top position in the oven (consult the manual) and set the oven to broil. The top elements will then turn on and cook the meat by direct radiation.
Most people, however, use ovens for baking far more often than for broiling. Baking is the process of cooking food (cakes, casseroles, roasts etc) by indirect heat. In other words you raise the oven to a certain temperature, put the food on a rack more in the middle of the oven, and let the surrounding heat cook it over time. When you bake the top broiler elements usually don't come on at all.
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Hello,
You need to pull the oven out and see if you are getting 240 volts to the bake element (take the back panel off, press bake and start and put your meter lids on each prone of the bake element).
If you do get 240 volts to the bake element then the element is defective. If you don't get 240 volts then you may be looking at a faulty relay board.
You will need a new igniter module. The igniter module is told to spark by the control panel. There is also a flame detection for electronic start and that could be bad too.
Very likely - yes. Turn the breaker off first (there is usually always power to one of the terminals of the element). Remove the element and check for continuity. No continuity - replace.
I have a 2yo Kitchenaid oven, and my advice is first, don't use convection for cakes or pizza. Use the thermal oven. For pizza preheat to 500 degrees, then put the pizza on the lowest rack, and bake for 7-8 minutes.This way the bottom browns, and the top doesn't get broiled from the top element coming on during the bake cycle.
As for cakes, again place them on the low rack so that they get bottom heat. I keep my eye on the oven and when the broil element comes on I stick a piece of foil over the cake until it goes off. Otherwise it will set the top and the cake won't rise as much. Even doing that cakes don't rise as much as they did in my old oven, and they brown too much on top.
The convection oven does a good job of cookies, and the broil mode is okay.
I wish I hadn't bought this oven, but I didn't know about the upper (broil) element coming on during the bake cycle until I'd had it for awhile, and it was too late to return it.
If anyone's shopping for an oven, ask questions, and don't get one that maintains the oven temperature by activating the broil element when baking.
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