I would love to get my sensitemp to work.

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Carrie:

Glad you like the Sensi-Temp guide! The cookware drawings in the book are of a Wear-Ever line of cookware called Hallite, which turns up a lot in thrift stores and on eBay. I keep meaning to nab a couple of pieces and see if it's any better on the Sensi-Temp than my aluminum-clad Farberware.

Not that anyone's going to pry me away from my Farberware, you understand....
 
Hi

Hi Carrie,

I'm Sarah. I love seeing your range and have enjoyed this discussion about the Sensi-Temp burner. I have a Hotpoint with Hotpoint's version of the Sensi-Temp and hope to take on fixing it sometime in the not so distant future. I love your analog clocks. Mine has the mechanical digital clock, but it was a major upgrade from the 30" Kenmore with the rusted through oven liner, so I bought it especially since the large oven is self cleaning.

Glad you found AW. I agree with Sandy, once you successfully repair an old appliance, it is hard to resist taking on another.

Sarah
 
Speaking of Hotpoint...

Hi Sarah,

Good luck with fixing your Hotpoint! It's funny that you mention you have the Hotpoint version. When I was working on my stove, I noticed that the part box had both brands listed on it, and I had wondered if they existed on Hotpoint ranges too.

Carrie.

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Just got mine working....

I love, love, love it! I have a gorgeous 1969 model. I had to run new electric service for it, as I had hookups for a propane oven. So I just got all that done, and after reading here, realized my sensi temp sensor is also not working. Everything else does. I have the original griddle and it is in almost perfect condition. I don't have the probe, sad face, but this range is immaculate, inside and out. Even the back is clean, without built up grease, etc. I feel VERY lucky to have come across it.

Some things I need are the drip pans, sensor and probe. If anyone has these, I would be eternally grateful! If no sensor is available, I would love to know how I can make that burner function without one. Someone tried replacing the pans, but the coils don't fit on top of them, since they aren't notched. I haven't been able to find the correct item replacement for them. I am so glad I found this forum and thread!

Any help is greatly appreciated!

julie-2014101700541105989_1.jpg
 
Julie:

Welcome to AW.org.

John combo52 is the GE expert around here, so I'll let him advise you on the repairs. Your range is well worth saving. It's from around 1972, as can be seen from the rotary controls and the convenience outlets on the control panel.

Nice range!
 
Danemodsandy

Yes, it is awesome! It is a 1969 model, I looked it up. It also has the electrical outlets. I will try to patiently wait on John. Thanks for your response!
 
I also have a 40" GE range with a sensitemp burner that is not working. GE no longer seems to sell the parts but I understand one of the members here may have parts available? I would be interested in pricing. The range is a 1978 model (jcp68ow1wh)

It does not seem to matter what position the power saver switch is in, there is a slight amount of heat from the burner if you turn on the switch, but never gets hot. I hear a low hum when the burner is on, but no vibration.
 
sensi temp repair

I also have the situation where the sense temp burner starts to get warm for a few seconds, then shuts off. I also hear a slight buzzing or humming noise coming from the responder unit (that's the temp setting control on the dash of the stove). Mine is the older ten ohm sensor model. The sensor is located in the middle of the burner. I actually don't think anything is wrong with that, but there is also a relay inside the responder unit which I believe could be causing the problem. Newer units were, I believe, upgraded to a 17 ohm sensor along with other changes. A replacement responder unit might still be available. Mine is not, it's from a 1961 stove, but there is surely somebody here who can help you with your stove. The only information I could ever find was from a G.E technical talk manual, which said something to the effect that when they checked the parts that were removed, the sensor turned out to be fine, and that it was the responder that needed to be replaced. Other members here have stated that they believe it's usually the sensor that's the cause of the problem. There is a check out sequence to troubleshooting these units, but I don't have it available to post right now. Hopefully, somebody with more electrical experience than me will give you some information and assist you. Good luck. Les
 
Sensi Temp

Was a great feature.....WHEN it worked, unfortunately I have never seen one that did work, as many old stoves as I have had down thru the years, only the ones that were on gas ranges worked, and they were great.
 
Sensi-Temp

I am glad to have found this forum.

We have a GE sensi-temp range in excellent condition and everything works except the sensi-temp burner. We used it to bottle grape juice this last week-end.

Our unit appears to have been manufactured in January 1970 - or January 1954 based on model and serial numbers and using the GE Date Decoder. I am guessing earlier than 1970 because pictures above for a 1969 model show dial controls. Our unit has pushbutton controls for all of the burners but with a dial temperature control for the sensi-temp burner. (I graduated from high school in 1969 and I am pretty sure I remember having the unit for some years before that.)

Could this unit really have been made in 1954?

Model # J485A1WH
Serial # AL00079

Unfortunately I am not able to provide a picture at this time because the unit is in another location.

Visually it appears that the sensor unit is damaged. Are replacement sensors still available through John? Nothing appears to be available on eBay now.

This thread seems to have gone "cold" with the most recent entry before mine almost exactly one year ago.

I would appreciate any help that could be provided to fix the sensi-temp burner on this awesome range.
 
Seni-Temp

I have a vintage GE stove, circa 1963, and I also am looking for a sensor.

Model #J 346 14711.

Anyone have one or could you point me to one?

Thanks in advance.
 
First automatic GE burner was the hydraulic controlled "Automatic Calrod". Around 1960, I believe, it was changed to an electric control and renamed "Sensi-temp". The first Sensi-temp used a different sensor than later Sensi-temp. I don't know what year that change was made. The part number for the second style is WB21X5207 and has yellow leads. Im sure someone here knows year of change and part number for the earlier sensor.

Best bet is to look on ebay. I got one there earlier this year. They are usually quite expensive but keep watching and eventually one will be listed at a "reasonable" price. You can follow a search and ebay will email you an alert when one is listed.

Look at this old thread for a picture of one version of electric sensor. Its referred to as being the earlier one. Looks like it had white leads.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?50651

[this post was last edited: 11/22/2016-17:04]
 
looking for GE sensi temp part # WB21X5207

my sensi temp needs to be replaced GE part # WB21X5207. any ideas? i checked ebay and online w/ no luck. thank you!
 
sensor or responder unit?

is that the sensi temp sensor unit (in the middle of the burner), or the responder unit (which is in the console)? Maybe posting a pic of the stove would give an idea of the year? I can remember reading somewhere at this site, some communication between the techs in the field who were repairing them, then sending in the parts for testing, and the company finding out that the sensor unit in the middle of the burner was rarely the problem. It was usually the responder unit, in the console. I did see a responder unit on eBay recently, for 89$. Don't know what year it is for though. On eBay search you can type in 'vintage General Electric' and see what comes up. Good luck to you. Les
 
looking for GE sensi temp part # WB21X5207

my husband read this thread and he tried to test it and he concluded that it was the sensi temp. here is a picture, we believe the stove is around the year 1965? the GE model # is GAL19289. i did try an ebay and internet search w/ no luck so far.

nikita-2017030117160702556_1.jpg
 
Non Heating Sensatemp Burners

70-80% of the time the sensor is bad, Part # WB21X5207 is the sensor that was used on all GE STBs after around 1962-the mid 80s when GE discontinued this wonderful feature.

 

The other 20-30% of the time you either have a bad transformer or responder. In rare cases you may have a broken wire where the wires connect to the element and even more rarely you could have a bad element. The elements seldom failed on STBs because the sensor system protected the element from the overheating abuse that many users of electric ranges put the surface elements through by running them red hot with warped or too small a pan on larger elements.

 

John L.
 
non-heating sensitemp burner

John (combo52),

my husband isolated sensitemp sensor, checked continuity and there was none.

do you know where we can get one of these or do you have one for sale? i have checked ebay and online with no luck.

thank you and take care.
 
Hi Sirena, thanks for asking but unfortunately we have exhausted our supply of these sensors at this time. They were used for a long time so if you keep checking on line you may find a good new or used one. Two weeks ago I was working on one of our customers ranges that had a bad sensor and I converted to a regular infinite switch.

 

John
 
thank you john - combo 52. i am so sad...this stove has been in the family for 50 yrs! is it expensive to convert to a regular burner?
 
Combo 52,

What are you referring to when you said you converted a unit to a regular infinite switch? My sensor is out on my stove. The last time I replaced it GE still had the part available. They show up on eBay but are pricey.

Janit
 
You can install a regular infinite switch in place of the responder control and the burner will work like a newer range.

 

GE had a kit to do this on any ST burner range they ever made, I dough that the kit is still available but any good tech can install a regular inf Sw kit in about 30 minutes so you will still have full use of the burner.
 
Looking to sell my GE P7 40" range

Hello - I am remodeling my kitchen and am looking to sell my vintage GE P7 40" range. The model/serial number tag is only partly legible. All I can see is J CP 68. Looking at the first post above, my range looks identical. Can I assume that it is also from 1976? The kitchen was last remodeled in 1952, but based on what I find online, it doesn't look like an early 1950's model. Also, any idea on how to reach people who would be interested in it? The main oven works well, including the self-clean feature. All burners work, but the Sensi-temp burner is wobbly. There are two heating elements in the smaller oven, the top one works but the bottom one does not. Thank you for any info you can provide!

lawood-2017100113335805104_1.jpg

lawood-2017100113335805104_2.jpg

lawood-2017100113335805104_3.jpg
 
That's a beautiful stove.

The thermostatically controlled burners prior to induction were all (at least in my experience and that of everyone I know, whether in the US or Europe) next door to useless. At best.

I'd not worry about it. The bottom heating element is not going to be too hard to find.

I'm too far away, but, gosh - it sure is pretty.
 
GE Sensi-Temp Burner

Was one of the best features of these great ranges, the only time we found customers that did not like this feature was when people had no mechanical sense and never read how to use it.

 

You could not only cook almost anything with just one initial setting of the dial including baking a cake or even baking things like potatoes in a regular sauce pan with out a lid or water in the pan.

 

Your element that is not sitting level is easy to fix, it looks like the drip pan is sitting on the trim ring [ it is supposed to sit in the opening of the white cook-top and then the chrome ring sits above ] Also if the burner does not drop all the way to a level position the pivot stop needs a drop of oil.

 

John L.
 
John,

I don't question that the sensi-temp under ideal conditions worked well. At least when the entire system was running.

Just - the restrictions were considerable as to material, size, etc.

I'm old enough to have used many variations on the system, here and in Europe and, well - let's be fair here - given that it's not the least bit unusual for a regular burner/control to run without adjustment or repair for over 50 years, how long does one get from a temperature controlled unit before there's this, that or the other major problem? Two years? Five? It sure as heck isn't long, not compared to how the indirect controls last.
 
GE Sensi-Temp Burners

Do not have to be used under ideal conditions, I use glass and cast-iron cook ware on mine, and they are actually more durable than non heat controlled elements, in fact I have NEVER seen a bad element on a GE ST element, because it is hard to abuse a heat controlled element the elements are not stressed and never burn out and warp.

 

The hydraulic controlled elements that were used on European and many US electric and GAS ranges alike almost never failed in the life of a range, I have no idea of where this 3-5 year life crap comes from Keven but they haven't even built many of the controlled elements we are talking about since the 70s and into the 80s and I never saw any that only lasted 3-5 years, I don't know where you come up with this crap.

 

John L.
 
Sensi temp trouble

I recently replaced the sensor but the burner will not work. I disconnected the sensor and connected the leads and it works on high temp without sensor... all the buttons work..did I get a bad sensor?
 
I believe there was a mention of using an ohm meter across the sensor and that it should read about 17.5 ohms. With that info, I am sure John(combo52), our resident expert, could help.
 

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