I have an electric stove model# JBS55DM2WW. A small burner and large burner burnt out. I replaced the larger burner to see if it was salvageable in the first place. It worked but the infinite switch was bad and kept the stove on. So I took the smaller burner's inifinite switch and replaced the large burner's infinite switch. I didn't realize the amps are different. Is this ok to use like this?
I suspect since the amps being drawn by the switch is lower that the larger burner should be able to handle it and it will be ok. Is this alright for long term?
The small burner infinite switch is rated for 5.4-7.0 amps
The larger burner infinite switch is rated for 7.2-9.0 amps
Both switches are 240 volts.
I'm not an electrical guy. I'm getting confused by what is out there about putting a lower amp outlet for a wall socket. For instance a 15a won't run a 20amp appliance. But to me my situation is different since the switch can only provide up to 7.0 amps the burner only gets 7.0 amps and might run cooler but still be ok. Or am I wrong and the larger burner is trying to draw way more amps than the switch can provide and is therefore a hazard?
Thanks in advance!!!
Best Answer
I spent some time researching these infinite switches because they are failing on our 25-year-old GE range but by a different mode than you have. Ours are losing the lower end. They don't heat at all on low but do work above a certain setting.
The infinite switches are different part numbers for the two different burners and it is not clear to me that it is "safe" to use an infinite switch for a small burner on a large one. The wires and the sensing element in the small infinite switch might not be sized to carry the larger current drawn by the large burner and might overheat or fail somehow.
The current through the switch is determined by the size of the burner. The infinite switch regulates the heat of the burner by square wave time modulation of the current on a time scale of maybe a second. So when the current is on it would be at a higher value (9 A?) on the large burner than on the smaller one. It is questionable in my mind that it is wise to use the infinite switch for the smaller burner on the larger one.
I suggest you get the specified one for the larger burner and get a new heating element for the smaller burner.