Need help with surface unit parts for 58 GE Liberator

[spacepig]

Hopefully this weekend we'll be installing the '58 Liberator in the kitchen. I've downloaded the owner's manual, service manual, and the parts manual, and have started to try and consolidate a parts list for this specific stove.

In looking at the surface units, the owner's manual mentions the watts at being 2600 (which is the automatic calrod), 1250, 2050, and 1600. However, the parts manual mentions more than one with the same wattage, but with different volts each which means different part numbers. Does anyone know where to find the specific volts for each surface unit so I'll know what correct part number to look for in the event that I need to replace them?

 

[spacepig]

anyone?

 

[panthera]

Until someone chimes in with exact data

Here's some general info which may solve your problem.

First a quick solution to your general question:

If your stove is plugged into 208 or 220 or 240 volts, any calrod which is rated for 240 volts and is the right dimensions and connections can be used in your stove.

If your stove is plugged in at 110/115/117/120/125 volts, any calrod which is rated for one of those voltages and has the right dimensions and connections will work in your stove.

 

Everything else is just covering the details of how these work:

*

The wattage ratings are so all over the place because the relationship between voltage and watts is not straightforward.

A calrod rated at 2600 at 240 volts will produce 75% less heat at 208V - only 1950 Watts. But it will work just fine.

 

At the time this stove was built, voltage ratings were all over the place in the US. You might well have had 208 or 220 or 240 volts, all in the same town but at different addresses on the same street.

Ditto 110/115/117/120/125 volts.

 

I'd not be too worried. Replacements for all of these elements or ones which will work just as well and be easy to install are all available - simple ones at The Home Depot or Menards, right on the rack. The same can not be said for the switches - you really, really need to take care of them. They were masterworks of precision, high-quality switching under heavy loads and, sadly, the ebay prices for them reflect their value.

 

I do hope this helps. Ask more questions, if you like. I know a lot about the technology and repair in general and there are several people here who actually have Liberators who can give you any detailed info you might want.

 

 *Dear hyper-technical folks, this member isn't asking for the exact formulae and detailed vector analysis, so let's not get into one of our super-duper technical discussions for other times, OK? We all know AC is not DC and blah-blah-blah. If she wants to go into that level of exactness, we can provide it. I think she just wants to cherish and love a magnificent stove.

[this post was last edited: 4/1/2017-12:26]

 

[spacepig]

Thank you so much for the reply. That was actually very helpful. Was supposed to get the stove installed today, but it looks like tomorrow will be the big day. Fingers crossed that I won't need to buy any new surface units, but at least I have an idea of what will work just in case.

Thanks again, I'll keep everyone posted on how she does!

 

[panthera]

She'll be great!

These stoves were too expensive to be anything but really good. You'll love it. One thing you might want to watch out for because these things come loose during a move - check that the wiring from the plug (called a 'pigtail') to the stove is done right. If you're plugging into a four-prong outlet, be sure they actually disconnected the ground and neutral from each other at the stove and hooked them up correctly.

Pictures, please!

[this post was last edited: 4/1/2017-21:57]

 

[spacepig]

Panthera,

I'm in the process of cleaning our old (new) stove so it won't be stored all nasty looking, and as soon as that's done, we'll try the install. IIRC, the outlet is a 3 prong as the house was rewired in 2005 so hopefully it will be fine.

Ended up going to pick up an old GE mobile maid dishwasher yesterday which is why we didn't get to it as planned.

 

[panthera]

Great!

You're having quite the weekend! I'd still check, though, that the stove is wired up properly - the last thing you want is to blow a fuse or one of the many 110v components in the stove.

 

Why yes, yes that would be the voice of 'been there, blew that up' speaking here.....

 

Laundress is an expert on MobileMaids, if you have any questions, by the by - 

 

[spacepig]

Excellent advice! Yes, we took quite the detour yesterday. Someone posted a link to the mobile maid in the shopper portion of this group and away we went. Turns out that she had seen the ad for the Liberator stove I bought on craiglsist, so that was pretty cool.

Thanks for mentioning Laundress for Mobile Maid questions. I did download a couple of things from the site, so plan to go through those to learn a bit about what I bought. At the very least, it's cute and adorable!

 

[panthera]

They also clean quite well.

GE really was trying back in the days before Jack Welch destroyed them - and succeeding, too.

Are the racks pink or turquoise? Gosh, I'm jealous.

 

[spacepig]

Unfortunately, just plain white interior.

 

[panthera]

Swoon!

Gosh, I'm speechless. Magnificent!

 

[spacepig]

Got the Liberator installed, but am having issues, so will make a separate post