Kitchen Large Electric Appliances - GE Electric Range Oven Element

We have a GE Range, model JBP21G V1AD, whose element fried on Saturday.

My DH was getting ready to bake, and all of the sudden the element started sparking and burning. Turned everything off, but it wouldn't stop until the circuit breaker was flipped. What causes this? And more importantly is it just a matter of replacing the element - or are we looking at replacing the entire stove?

The bake element has a piece of resistance wire that runs through the center of it. It is surrounded by a form of insulation that keeps this wire from touching the outside part which is ground. What happens is that this insulation will break down in a spot and allow the wire to short to case ground thus causing the sparks. The reason it can continue to spark even with the oven turned off is because one side of the element has no switches in line with it.
So one side of it is always live regardless of the oven settings. This is why you “always” need to make sure that the breaker is turned off when replacing a bake or broil element. Most of the time just replacing the element itself will take care of it. Although I have had cases where the element shorting out in that manner would damage a switch or some other control connected to it.


Here are a couple of places that carry it. The appearance of the replacement may vary a bit from the original.
http://www.partselect.com/xq/aspx/Inventory.249466/qx/PartDetail.htm?SourceCode=1

http://www.appliancepartsworldwide.com/Store_Part.aspx?Id=73291

Very helpful information - especially about why it continued to spark after turning the oven off. I have the part on order and it should be here by the end of the week.

Ok, got the element! Now on the right side of where it is to be installed there are 2 wires (black and yellow) and on the left 1 wire (black).

Do I:
1) Put the wires on top of the element's fasteners?
2) Put them on the bottom of the fasteners?
3) In the case of the 2 wire side, sandwhich the element fasteners?

If the terminal wires are held by screws
there is probably one side of the terminal that is bubbled out. Do not place the wire on that side. use the flat side only. In the case of two wires on the same terminal you can stack both on top each other then run the screw through and tighten it down. Just make sure that the two wires you are putting together actually belong on the same terminal. Otherwise it will pop your fuse or breaker and may even damage a control along with it. If you have any doubts check the wire diagram. You can find it by pulling out the pots and pans drawer. It may be underneath the range or taped to the back of the drawer itself. Or it could be on the back of the range or in the control console itself. I seems to me that the yellow wire is supposed to be on one and the two black ones belong together. But its been awhile and I am pulling stricktly from memory. Just make sure they are correct before turning it on.

It is working!! I am thrilled.