Terminal Block

Terminal Block

Cris from WA

Electric range quit working with a loud pop.

Screw driver, wire cutter/stripper/crimper, socket set.

An electrician came out and checked our circuit breaker which was working properly. Line to stove was also good. He removed the panel on the stove that covers where the electrical cord attaches and found a burned short on the plastic terminal block. The plastic had melted the end of the wire against the metal backing and grounded it. He said it's likely when the stove was installed (15 years ago!) the guy didn't tighten one of the nuts enough, so over the years, heat built up, causing corrosion, building up more heat and finally, poof! He was not authorized to do the repair on an appliance, but explained that the repair would be simple once we got the new terminal block. I ordered it from Parts Dr and it was very simple except that I had to go to the hardware store to get the proper nut and wire ring terminal to repair the burned wire. I should have noted the wire size (printed on the wire) before going to the store, but instead I had to guess (correctly). I also had to get a fine threaded nut rather than a coarse threaded nut. I had not understood the difference until then. I made sure I really tightened those nuts with a socket wrench! The whole thing was a great education and very satisfying. Of course it would have been better without the $200 bill from the electrician, but education is not always cheap either, and it would have been a lot worse had I called an appliance repair guy.