Gas ranges with electric broilers

[hvtech42]

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. 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?

 

[circlew]

It would make more sense if they were equipped with a 20 amp cord and plug, which would allow up to 1920 watts @ 120 volts. The NEC has required kitchen receptacle circuits (except for refrigerators) to be 20 amps for many years.

 

[hvtech42]

It would make more sense if they were equipped with a 20 amp cord and plug, which would allow up to 1920 watts @ 120 volts. The NEC has required kitchen receptacle circuits (except for refrigerators) to be 20 amps for many years.

They're probably worried about older houses from before that code.

 

[combo52]

Basic gas ranges without self cleaning ovens.

The electric broilers are being installed in some of these cheap ranges because it’s much cheaper than putting a separate gas broiler in the top of the oven.

Most users don’t use a broiler at all. A lot of people don’t even know what a broiler is for range manufacture started leaving out the broiler pan and grid 20 years ago on many ranges

I imagine these small electric broilers May broil OK but they broil over a much smaller area, it’s kind of a shame even though I like electric ranges better. The gas broiler on a gas range was one of the few advantages. A gas range had over electric because the gas flame would consume the smoke from broiling

The manufacturers do not want to build a gas range that requires a 20 amp 120 V outlet because that’s a different type of plug and these cheaper ranges are widely used as replacements for older gas ranges.

I’ve always thought of a shame that true dual fuel ranges did not catch on in a bigger way in the US. They’re cheaper to build, and there are a better range overall, the only thing better was an all electric range, of course.

John L

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Clearly would be a downgrade from what's stated, if it's breaking tradition from the apparatus it has long-worked and long-had and....

I burned a lot of bacon using that broiler up there, caused a lot of fires that extinguished themselves or doused with baking soda, I overtime had to clean and clean til all residue was gone from...

I like to broil with my gas oven, and like probably like the same things that could happen with an electric, should merely be done responsibly...

And in my case, live and learn, and replace that knob over that very part of the oven that a small portion melted from, or live with the idea that the damage is fairly minimal and it can at least turn and it's for the seldom-used middle burner on my cooktop anyway...

So far, my daughter has never broiled anything, she's mostly a baking girl and cooks on the front two burners, a regular on the left and often the power-burner using freak like I mostly am even occasionally for things that don't need that much heat but regulate it well enough on the right!

So I look at this as cheapening needlessly--a Downgrade...! And of course if a gas range, needing 120V only for a few small things such as a clock, timer, self-cleaning or just a thing like an electronic ignition, then putting 220V for broiling just seems unnecessary...

Gas ovens with broiling should just be gas, or just go electric for both... I had no idea that anything like this was even practiced, or any ranges out there were being built like this... Just until now, unaware...


-- Dave