I'm seeing the latest gas ranges out from Whirlpool, GE, and Frigidaire have switched to using an electric element for the broiler. 120 volts of course, as is standard for gas ranges in the US. I saw a service bulletin from GE warning that these ranges need pretty much the whole 15 amp circuit, so, unlike old gas ranges, risk tripping the breaker when sharing with another appliance. Still, that limits you to something like 1500 watts for the broiler, which is pretty anemic.
Granted, the standard tube-type gas broilers (non-infrared/Ultraray) that came on these ranges before, were pretty poor performers themselves - certainly worse than a 240V broiler on an electric range. So the question is, for those do more broiling than I - are these 120V broilers a downgrade, upgrade, or lateral move when it comes to cooking performance compared to the old gas broilers?
Granted, the standard tube-type gas broilers (non-infrared/Ultraray) that came on these ranges before, were pretty poor performers themselves - certainly worse than a 240V broiler on an electric range. So the question is, for those do more broiling than I - are these 120V broilers a downgrade, upgrade, or lateral move when it comes to cooking performance compared to the old gas broilers?
