Servicing a Hotpoin Halogen Cooker -any pitfalls?

[Old Sparky]

I have been asked if I can service or repair a Hotpoint Halogen Cooker model EW81, in which the front RH boiling element is intermittent.  In the past I've replaced boiling rings and oven elements in my own conventional electric cookers without any problems, but have never owned or worked on a Halogen one.  My years in employment have been spent repairing car radios & stereos  for an employer, and, for over 20 years now repairing other audio equipment.  What advice can other forum members give me in regard to Halogen Cooker repairs, or would it be better if I left that to a Domestic Appliance specialist?

[Old Sparky]

Since posting the above, I have found that Hotpoint can supply the 'Solar Glow Ceramic Element' for this model (price £28.98, including delivery according to their website). From the illustration it doesn't appear to be any more difficult to fit than a conventional boiling ring, although the cooker's top panel would obviously have to be dismnatled to fit it. Whilst it goes without saying that I would carry out a safe and reliable repair when changing this element (or any other part for that matter) I'm not sure what the legal positon is considering I'm not a domestic appliance engineer.

[boater sam]

A lot of these hobs have a thermal cut-out across the element to protect the glass. They are an Invar rod in a glass tube, the expansion of the glass opens the switch at the end if the pan doesn't take the heat away quickly enough.
An intermittent fault could be, the cut-out, pan too small for the size of the element, pan not flat on the bottom, regulator switch (simmerstat)not staying full on, but seldom the element!
I would inspect the pans used first, they must be a similar size to the heated area, must be flat on the bottom, no recess. Pans that have been used on gas before will not be flat, check with a straight edge.

Sam.

[Old Sparky]

Hadn't thought of those points, Sam. However, the other three elements come on and heat up so that a red g;ow is visible without any pans on the hob, whereas the front RH one is intermittent under, if you will,' no load' conditions.

[boater sam]

The element consists of 2 parts, the halogen tubes which produce the red glow, and a conventional wire  heating element below. The cut-out is across the element pot, you can see it as a black line.
If both parts are going off, the simmerstat or cut-out is suspect.

[ppppenguin]

I thought the whole point of halogen hobs is that the heating element IS the halogen lamps. This gives quick response, unlike conventional electric hobs. When I was at Thorn-EMI in the mid 1980s and halogen hobs were very new we had a demonstrator system which switched the lamps on and off ona fairly short cycle. You could watch a pan of waterbe boiled, then stopping almost instantly as the lamps were turned off.

Halogen hobs are almost as good as gas

[boater sam]

Not so, they were an adman's con in my view.

[ppppenguin]

Halogen hobs are still alot better than electric radiant ones which in turn are a lot better than solid plate ones.

Induction hobs are meant to be very good but you have to have the right kind of pans.

Gas is best but if you don't have mains gas and don't want to use LPG then take your pick of electric technologies. Halogen and induction hobs have nice flat wipe clean surfaces and so are better than gas in in this respect.

[Crackle]

I have a Hotpoint EW81 and have replaced every thing in it except the clock and the halogen element.
The most common item I have replaced are the energy controllers and the grill and oven elements.
Knowing my cooker intimately, I would suspect the energy controller, not the halogen element.

Mike