Induction Cooktop help please

[atyclb]

History; have a 2 burner induction unit. there is a flexible glove like material covering micro switches that control the unit. one of these protective covers cracked and apparently cooking debris and liquids got into the switch. the company replaced the switch under warranty but surprisingly did nothing for the protective material over the switch. they replied they no longer have that part.

i tried some home made ideas to replace the functionality of the missing protective skin but did not work well.

same switch failed again but no longer under warranty.

I disassembled cooktop and confirmed the broken micro switch. i will see if amorn shop can solder a new switch on the pcb. you can see in below photo one micro switch is missing the pushrod

with the unit open i notice other things.

# there are 2 centered spring loaded pistons at each burner. they have some sort of white caked material on them. i imagine these pistons offer some sort of support for the ceran cooktop above, sense a hot cooktop, and may even sene the weight og a pan?

Does anyone know what the white material is?

# one of the exhaust fans is apparently a jury rigged makeshift job. looks like they cut a fan to fit in the space.

have not yet contacted the company. unable to find a service manual so far.

[thomasteve]

Could be temperature sensors unlikely to be a load cell or another type of transducer.

Edited January 20, 2014 by thomasteve

[Khun Jean]

The wihite stuff is heat conducting paste. It is used to transfer the heat of the plate to the temperature sensor.

If you put the plate back make sure this paste makes good contact.

You can shape it into a little cone first so when you press down the plates it will flatten and make good contact.

[atyclb]

The wihite stuff is heat conducting paste. It is used to transfer the heat of the plate to the temperature sensor.

If you put the plate back make sure this paste makes good contact.

You can shape it into a little cone first so when you press down the plates it will flatten and make good contact.

I had a suspicion. Thanks for confirmation. there is a heat sensor under the white stuff.

will computer cpu thermal paste work?

if not what is the name or a brand of specific thermal paste for this application?

thanks

[thomasteve]

The wihite stuff is heat conducting paste. It is used to transfer the heat of the plate to the temperature sensor.

If you put the plate back make sure this paste makes good contact.

You can shape it into a little cone first so when you press down the plates it will flatten and make good contact.

I had a suspicion. Thanks for confirmation. there is a heat sensor under the white stuff.

will computer cpu thermal paste work?

if not what is the name or a brand of specific thermal paste for this application?

thanks

That should work fine - it's some sort of silicone grease.

[atyclb]

Update;

I installed the guts and controls from the Big C induction cooker to replace the side with the problem. Works fine BUT

this is strange (for me) but someone with an electrical / electronics background may know

If I turn on the new burner it causes the old burner to randomly turn on and off, but NOT vice a versa.

[IMHO]

Update;

I installed the guts and controls from the Big C induction cooker to replace the side with the problem. Works fine BUT

this is strange (for me) but someone with an electrical / electronics background may know

If I turn on the new burner it causes the old burner to randomly turn on and off, but NOT vice a versa.

Sounds like low supply voltage - do you have a meter you can use to test?

What size wiring is supplying the outlet(s) these run off, and what is the wattage of each cooktop?

Edited September 4, 2014 by IMHO