On many models of gas stoves, designers install automatic ignition, which is turned on with the gas supply or from a separate button. This function is very convenient: you do not need to come into contact with an open flame in order to light the burner. If you suddenly discover that the automatic ignition on a gas stove does not work, do not rush to call the service: it is quite possible to repair this malfunction yourself.
Symptoms of a problem
Gas stove specialists, based on the collected statistics, have compiled an approximate register of common failures.
- When you press the burner control knob or a special separate button, electric ignition does not occur.
- The automation of the product in a gas stove works constantly, clicks are heard, but there is no spark - the gas does not ignite.
- After releasing the button or knob, the system does not turn off.
- The device constantly continues to fire, even when the button is not pressed.
- The circuit breaker in the apartment panel knocks out when starting up.
- The piezo ignition or electric ignition circuit of the stove is closed.
How it works
Electric ignition can only be used on gas stoves. Its main function is to ignite the blue fuel as it exits the burner divider installed on the gas stove. It comes in automatic and mechanical types. In the first option, special piezoelements ignite the gas-air mixture when turning a switch on the control panel, and in the second case, the user must press a special button. A spark ignites the gas and you can start cooking. The automatic gas ignition device is the most capricious and unreliable device in the entire arsenal that is equipped with a modern gas stove.
Very important! Never try to turn on the system if the burners are removed - a breakdown of the housing is guaranteed.
Taken together, the entire operation of this system looks like this:
- the user presses the button, thereby applying voltage to the capacitor, which begins to charge;
- the level on the thyristor gradually increases, when it reaches the set threshold, the capacitor is discharged;
- At the output of the entire system, a voltage arises, which activates a special device - a spark gap;
- a spark ignites the gas.
The whole system works much faster than we talk about it. The spark is supplied to the burner that is currently turned on (in older models it was supplied to all devices, but the one where gas access was ignited). The start buttons are located under the controls. Electric ignition is powered from a 220-volt alternating current network and is vulnerable to voltage surges, which occur quite often. After a power surge, it may constantly click, which indicates that it is broken.
The system will only work if a separate cable plug is connected to the home electrical network, which many users forget about and call the service with complaints.
Advantages of premium technology
All products are made from high-quality materials with an increased margin of safety. The company's production facilities and head office are located in northern Italy. Elite equipment from the SMEG brand is distinguished by an exclusive design made in different styles: from minimalism to retro. Many models from the “50s style” series have become international style icons and the manufacturer’s calling card.
The Italian company offers a large number of built-in and free-standing solutions for the kitchen and home. Premium appliances are produced in several designer collections. Impeccable design, user-friendly interface, durability and low energy consumption make SMEG products popular in many countries, including Russia. All large and small household appliances and plumbing fixtures are covered by an official manufacturer's warranty. Delivery of goods is carried out in Moscow, St. Petersburg and all regions of the Russian Federation.
Causes of failure
Why doesn't the electric ignition of a gas stove work? There are several reasons for this device to malfunction.
- There is no spark at the electrodes.
- There is moisture or grease on the inside of the system or the surface of the spark plug.
- A crack has appeared or the ceramic candle insulation has burst.
- The transformer burned out - the spark generation unit.
- The contacts of the power button have oxidized or carbon deposits have formed on them as a result of a short circuit (short circuit).
Some malfunctions may appear after wet cleaning of the hob, when moisture gets into the inside of the stove. To eliminate them, it is enough to do preventive measures: cleaning contacts, drying spark plugs - almost the same measures are taken by car enthusiasts.
If only one burner does not light, the reason may be damage to the high-voltage wire to the ignition electrode, the ignition device itself, or a malfunction of the channel of the entire unit.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
You can learn how to independently repair the piezo ignition of one gas burner from the following video:
How to restore the operation of electric ignition on two gas burners is explained in detail in this video:
A breakdown of the piezo ignition of a gas stove today is not a disaster, because with all the necessary knowledge, now anyone can repair the device on their own. The main condition is to carry out diagnostics of all elements of the electric ignition system to correctly identify the breakdown.
If you have already had to independently repair the electric ignition of a gas stove, then please share your experience with our readers and tell us what nuances you should pay attention to during the repair process. In a special block after the article, you can leave a comment telling your story of successfully restoring the operation of the piezo ignition of a gas stove.
The stove does not light immediately
Owners of gas equipment often face the problem of slow operation of the equipment. Gas flows in, there is a fire, but it immediately disappears. The burner may not light up immediately or go out after switching on. The reason for the long ignition of the stove may be an element such as a thermocouple.
On a note! A thermocouple is a component located near the burner. It is composed of an alloy of metals, usually aluminum and chromium. Its heating causes an electric current, which keeps the magnetic valve turned on.
Thus, the gas has an open passage through the burner, and it flows unhindered. But if the thermocouple is dirty, this may be the reason why the device did not work on the first try.
To clean the thermocouple, use regular sandpaper. It can be purchased at a building supply center or a department of a supermarket that sells household items. After cleaning the element, the equipment immediately begins to work better, the gas burns well and flows without problems. If this does not happen, perhaps the thermocouple needs to be replaced or the piezoelectric element on it needs to be replaced.
SMEG range of hobs
If you decide to replace your old kitchen stove, pay attention to Italian products. The catalog of our online store presents gas hobs with a different number of burners (from 1 to 6). Don't want to install gas equipment at home? Browse our range of electric and induction hobs and multi-function ovens. Reliable and durable equipment will be an excellent help in creating restaurant-quality culinary masterpieces. Intuitive controls and a large number of useful options will ensure comfortable and safe operation of the devices.
SMEG cooking centers deserve special mention. These devices with a striking design are produced within the Classica, Victoria and Portofino lines. The cooking center is a modernized kitchen stove with wide functionality. Models are equipped with an enlarged work table with burners of different sizes and power, as well as several ovens in which you can simultaneously bake or defrost food and maintain the temperature of ready-made dishes. Branded accessories for comfortable cooking are included in the package.
Electric ignition does not work on one burner
Most gas stoves are designed in such a way that a person does not have contact with open fire. The practicality of automatic ignition is explained by the fact that it is easy to use: all you need to do is turn on the button that is specifically designed for this. But the following problem may arise - the electric ignition does not turn on on one burner. What to do then?
If the ignition does not turn on when the button is pressed, or clicks are heard but there is no spark, it means that the device is not working properly. If all the burners are working properly and only one does not turn on, the problem may be in the high-voltage wire. It is supplied to the ignition device, and disturbances in it lead to interruptions. The cause may also be a breakdown of the ignition device or damage to the entire auto-ignition unit.
The most common cause of interruptions in the operation of one burner is contamination of the nozzle nozzle. When cooking food, food residues could get there, which interfere with the flow of gas. To fix the problem, you need to clean or replace the nozzle.
The problem of one non-working gas stove burner may be a breakdown of the gas control system. In this case, the flame flares up and goes out immediately after the button is released. The repair consists of replacing the thermocouple, electromagnetic button or the entire gas control mechanism. Its complexity depends on the degree of damage.
The gas valve on the stove may not turn properly. This is also one of the reasons for poor gas supply and poor combustion. The faucet handle becomes clogged with carbon deposits, particles of debris and dust. It should be lubricated, cleaned and turn well.
Security measures
When carrying out work to disassemble the upper part of the stove or hob, it is necessary to turn off the electricity, then turn off the gas supply. When checking the operability of the stove in disassembled form after repairs, the connection of electricity and gas is carried out in a short-term mode. Full connection of the slab to the required communications is carried out after completion of all assembly work.
Having the skills to work with a screwdriver and an electrical tester, anyone can independently identify and repair damage to a hob with electric ignition. The performance of household appliances is the key to a good mood, especially after performing repairs with your own hands.
Subscribe to our Social networks
Electric ignition is damaged on two burners
From time to time, a situation arises when two burners do not turn on using electric ignition. In this case, lighting a fire with a match gives a positive result. In this case, the breakdown is caused by the candle responsible for ignition. Repairing the device will include the following steps: the spark plug must be inspected, cleaned, and the power cord put in order. Perhaps that is where the problem lies. If the element has cracked, it must be removed and replaced with a new one.
A faulty button can also cause problems with the electric ignition of the stove. The button may become clogged with debris or dust and suffer mechanical damage. To correct interference in the operation of the equipment, the button is replaced or, if possible, cleaned of dust and oxidation.
When to contact a specialist
To repair electric ignition, you do not need to have much experience and knowledge; even inexperienced users can handle it.
However, sometimes it is necessary to conduct a thorough check and diagnostics of the device. You certainly won’t be able to do this with a flashlight and a simple screwdriver. For this reason, it will be necessary to call a specialist. Of course, the services of a specialist can be expensive, but sometimes a breakdown of the electric ignition can occur as a result of a serious reason that can pose a threat to humans.
Sometimes repairs should be left to professionals
In any case, before you start repairing the electric ignition device, you should carefully study the device diagram. This will help fix the problem much faster, without damaging the device. It is important to check the combustion first; sometimes it may be a problem with the burner or other components.
Complete absence of spark on all burners
The most difficult repair is if there is no spark on all burners. The reasons for the breakdown may be as follows:
- there has been a transition to gas of a different, lower pressure - in this case the nozzles are changed to others designed for this pressure;
- there was a break in the electrical wiring - it is possible to restore it by repairing the electric ignition wires;
- The stove block that generates the fire has broken down - the problem can only be eliminated by completely replacing the ignition block.
Ignition produces a spark, but the burner does not ignite
If a spark occurs when turned on, but no fire occurs, the cause is the thermocouple. It must be replaced if repair is not possible. Updating the solenoid valve also gives a positive result. After this, the stove works stably.
Advice! Check the condition of the ignition unit - if it is in order, but a spark does not occur, the problem lies in the unit or power supply wire.
If there is a spark, the flame burns, but goes out quickly, press the button to supply gas for a long time. Perhaps the sensors responsible for supplying the flame do not have time to warm up.
Options for electric ignition circuits
There are schemes for a single-spark (mechanical) block and a multi-spark (automatic) ignition of the stove.
Ignition circuit
Description of the single-spark ignition electrical circuit:
- A voltage of 220 V is supplied to diode d1.
- The user, when pressing the electric ignition button, supplies current to capacitor c1 and it begins the process of charging.
- When the button is reset, c1 is connected to transformer t1 through the contact group, and the process of discharging the capacitor through winding t1 begins.
- On the high side of winding t1-2, the voltage reaches up to 10 kV, which causes sparking.
Electrical circuit of single-spark ignition
The circuit of the automatic ignition unit of the stove is based on the electronic control of the “charge-discharge” process occurring on the storage capacitor:
- The positive half-wave voltage in the household network, through D2 and D3, charges capacitor C1.
- During the passage of the negative half-wave through D1, the cathode S1 is connected to the negative half-wave.
- With the help of resistance R3, a current flows to the control of the thyristor electrode, which opens the thyristor.
- C1 discharges its charge to the transformer, which produces a working spark.
- 10 kV is created on the second winding.
- When the user holds down the burner handle, the repetition of the process corresponds to 50 Hz, approximately 1 spark/sec.
We make repairs
When you have carried out an inspection, found out the cause and diagnosed the problems, you can begin to repair the gas stove yourself. It is carried out similarly for all models. The famous Italian brand Ariston or the Belarusian stove Hephaestus, which is in great demand among Russians, there is no difference, the ignition systems are almost identical except for purely individual nuances.
Before starting work, refresh your knowledge by reading the product's operating instructions. Knowledge of the operating principle and structure of a gas stove is necessary for its successful repair.
- We ignite the faulty burner using a third-party source of open flame, matches or a special lighter - the flame should be even and distributed over the entire circumference of the divider. A yellow flame means the concentration of gas and air is incorrect: the nozzle needs to be cleaned or replaced. It is possible that the holes in the divider are clogged or moisture has entered there. It is necessary to do preventive maintenance, blow out all the holes, remove the burner body and inspect it.
- All electrodes and switches are connected in parallel. Each electrode is powered from a single ignition unit, but they are turned on from different buttons. To make sure that only this button does not work, and the control unit is normal, you need to turn on the next burner. If the gas ignites, repair the button, and everything else in the system works properly.
- If the ignition device is constantly cracking, then it is necessary to check the contacts - they could be stuck due to grease or carbon deposits may have formed as a result of oxidation. Before repairing, do not forget to disconnect the stove from the mains, then carefully dismantle it, clean the contacts or dry them with a hair dryer. Following safety instructions will protect you from injury.
Most of the breakdowns that led to the failure can be fixed independently - they are not dangerous for the user, but it must be remembered that gas stoves are potentially dangerous products, so even preventative work must be carried out carefully.
Sometimes a breakdown of the ignition button leads to the fact that repair will not help - a complete replacement is necessary. In this case, it is better to go to special stores and purchase a similar option.
