Gaggenau Problem

Topic: Gaggenau Problem (Read 1168 times) previous topic - next topic

Gaggenau Problem

December 30, 2012, 02:36:00 am

We had an accident spilling water and the igniter keeps sparking. Any idea on how to get it to stop?

It doesn't appear to be a danger but we still trip a breaker to stop the sparking. THAt breaker also turns off all power to 120v outlets.

best, paul

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #1 – December 30, 2012, 12:08:28 pm

Definitely kill the breaker and let it dry out completely. It sounds like there's some water causing something in the igniter circuit to short.

Michelle

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #2 – December 30, 2012, 12:42:17 pm

Well, sure, a short.

But dry out appears to be much easier said than done ...

best, paul

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #3 – December 30, 2012, 12:48:00 pm

Paul,
Any chance you can blow it out with air pressure. i carry an air hose to air tires and also a small blow nozzle.
Just a suggestion. Hope it helps.

Happy New Year,
Jerry
1999 U270WTFI 34

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #4 – December 30, 2012, 01:15:00 pm

Paul, Michelle has it right... Water is the cause, most likely around the igniter switch. Try drying it out with warm air from a hair dryer if you don't have a heat gun or an air hose like Jerry suggested.

Quote from: Michelle – December 30, 2012, 12:08:28 pm

Definitely kill the breaker and let it dry out completely. It sounds like there's some water causing something in the igniter circuit to short.

Michelle

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #5 – December 30, 2012, 01:47:12 pm

I don't think the moisture could be blown out. But I may give it a try. I thot of a hair dryer last night but could not convince myself I knew where I could apply it. You sure cannot reach that area from below - and it's very difficult to see even with a mirror.

I first noticed the short shortly (pardon the pun ;o) after cleaning up the flood. The area underneath the two switches was warm. It's no longer warm. I think water seeped in under the Gaggenau flange in the switch area - which is a separate piece from the top itself.

Keep in mind the "short" is only doing what the switches do ordinarily, namely create a spark. It's only a problem if there's a propane leak around the level of the Gaggenau top, and sparks, and we're not around to keep an eye on it. Of course, we turn the power off at night and when we're not in the coach.

The frequency of the sparking has decreased a lot over the morning. Perhaps the warmth in the now small area of the short has done what I was hoping would happen. While cooking my Coach's Oats a bit ago I also had both burners on to create warmth in the area and that may have helped.

I'm not sure it ever would have dried out if I kept the power off.

The plus is we are now experts in removing and inserting the drawers ...

best, paul

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #6 – December 30, 2012, 02:20:25 pm

Quote from: Paul Smith – December 30, 2012, 01:47:12 pm

Keep in mind the "short" is only doing what the switches do ordinarily, namely create a spark. It's only a problem if there's a propane leak around the level of the Gaggenau top, and sparks, and we're not around to keep an eye on it. Of course, we turn the power off at night and when we're not in the coach.

The frequency of the sparking has decreased a lot over the morning.

Paul,

If I'm interpreting your post correctly, you're saying you've left the stove powered on and the igniter circuit is active and continuing to operate on its own.

If it were my cooktop, there would be no power to it until it had dried out completely and stopped sparking on its own. I don't know if the Gaggenau has a standard plug somewhere or if it's hardwired, but if the former I'd unplug it if I needed to flip the breaker back on for power to other areas of the coach.

JMHO

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #7 – December 30, 2012, 04:36:46 pm

Yes, I sure wish it had a plug to unplug. I looked but could not find it.

But anyway, it appears to have stopped sparking on its own.

That being not enough for me, I purchased a $9 250 watt halogen work light to heat the area under the Gagg. I didn't think a hair dryer would do the job.

The area is warm, but not hot, to my hand. A few hours should do it.

best, paul

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #8 – December 30, 2012, 06:14:11 pm

Paul, Just a thought if you can get to the part and either remove it or just soak it with a spray of 'contact cleaner' (via Radio Shack etc.) or any spray that might dilute any water in a tiny space/helping it to evaporate faster. The water might have also caused a tiny 'rust' particle to help short things out.. If so, soaking it with a mild acid overnight, like white vinegar or something stronger... and Then... blasting it with a solvent that will quickly evaporate, might do the trick. Good luck. Of coarse when business reopens, I'd call the mfgr.

happy new year to all.
ron

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #9 – December 30, 2012, 06:24:44 pm

Getting to the part 'might' be a major head ache.

Using a mirror I can see a screw that 'might' be holding the Gagg down.

But I cannot see what is holding the switch panel down. And I'm not the guy who will start prying it up.

I'm still heating the area/volume where the two drawers go under the Gagg.

I'm doing this because the sparking stopped on its own before, only to start again.

best, paul

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #10 – December 30, 2012, 07:40:28 pm

We have a natural gas stove at home. When we have a spillage it causes all four burners to continue sparking. Our solution is to wipe up the spill then reignite the burners. The flame guickly evaporates any remaining moisture and the clicking of the ignition stops.

Just my two cents worth.

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #11 – December 30, 2012, 08:09:45 pm

Quote from: Rick & Colleen – December 30, 2012, 07:40:28 pm

We have a natural gas stove at home. When we have a spillage it causes all four burners to continue sparking. Our solution is to wipe up the spill then reignite the burners. The flame guickly evaporates any remaining moisture and the clicking of the ignition stops.

Just my two cents worth.

+1
The ignitor for my Gag doesn't work. The replacement ignitor module is expensive. I would NOT want it to burn out by continually trying to ignite the burners.

I light my burners with a lighter. I would try that and see if the heat from the burning burners wouldn't heat up the assembly enough to dry it out.

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #12 – December 30, 2012, 08:20:05 pm

Right. I tried lighting both burners. But in my Gagg the moisture causing the problem was closest to the small burner - and about 5 inches away - too far for the any small burner heat that radiated horizontally to evaporate the moisture.

best, paul

Quote

Quote

We have a natural gas stove at home. When we have a spillage it causes all four burners to continue sparking. Our solution is to wipe up the spill then reignite the burners. The flame guickly evaporates any remaining moisture and the clicking of the ignition stops.

Just my two cents worth.

+1

The ignitor for my Gag doesn't work. The replacement ignitor module is expensive. I would NOT want it to burn out by continually trying to ignite the burners.

I light my burners with a lighter. I would try that and see if the heat from the burning burners wouldn't heat up the assembly enough to dry it out.

1995 U320C SE 40'

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #13 – January 01, 2013, 02:14:14 pm

My 1996 U320 has a Gaggenau two burner also.
The igniter is powered from a 120VAC duplex receptacle which is mounted on the inside of the outside wall, under the stovetop. It is accessible by removing the drawers under the stovetop.

The drawers are on roller slides which have a small plastic release handles ( press up on one side and down on the other side). Half of the slide mechanism is attached to the draw and half attached to the cupboard.

I often remove drawers to run new wires or get access to plumbing, or to even reorganize/clean the drawers. Drawers are easy to remove after you get the first one out.

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #14 – January 01, 2013, 08:08:07 pm

Well we are experts at removing drawers now. But I'm surprised we missed the duplex. Now I'm even happier I heated the area instead of the switches

best, paul

Quote

My 1996 U320 has a Gaggenau two burner also.
The igniter is powered from a 120VAC duplex receptacle which is mounted on the inside of the outside wall, under the stovetop. It is accessible by removing the drawers under the stovetop.

The drawers are on roller slides which have a small plastic release handles ( press up on one side and down on the other side). Half of the slide mechanism is attached to the draw and half attached to the cupboard.

I often remove drawers to run new wires or get access to plumbing, or to even reorganize/clean the drawers. Drawers are easy to remove after you get the first one out.

Wyatt

96 U320 40 WTFE
98 Suzuki X90 towd
Victoria, BC, Canada

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #15 – January 01, 2013, 11:40:44 pm

Our duplex is on the wall to the refrigerator, Wyatt.

Why "press up on one side and down on the other side" ?

We pressed up on both sides.

best, paul

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #16 – January 02, 2013, 12:29:24 am

Paul,
Because both rails are EXACTLY the same, so one of them will be " upside down" when put on a drawer.

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #17 – January 02, 2013, 10:52:22 am

Well, pressing UP on both sides works, too. That's the only way we've done it.

best, paul

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #18 – January 02, 2013, 11:46:10 am

That's good to know. Maybe different brands work differently.
Beautiful day here in San Diego!

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #19 – January 02, 2013, 08:16:02 pm

Interesting, mine are definitely one up and one down.

Maybe there are left and right rails but Foretravel was out of one side when my rig was built.

I will take a closer look at them.

Re: Gaggenau Problem

Reply #20 – January 02, 2013, 11:26:56 pm

All the slides on my drawers are up one side and down down on the other, was that way on all the slides I used when I made cabinets also.

Roland

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