Induction Cooker Not Heating ?

Induction Cooker Not Heating ? Are you finding that the plates/rings on your induction hob are having problems cooking the food you’re trying to prepare? Discover the different possible reasons for this issue in our troubleshooting guide.

Why Doesn’t Induction Cooker Get Hot ?

The wrong types of pans are being used

It’s possible that you’ve been using the wrong kind of saucepans and frying pans on your induction hob, namely the kind made from aluminium. Always use cast iron or steel pans on these types of hobs. In fact the pans you use need to have a relatively high ferrous content. This basically enables the induction hob to correctly detect the cooking implement, which in turn enables the pan to heat up.

Important: certain hobs are more sensitive than others. So it may be necessary to try different types of pans, even if they all have the induction symbol.

The induction plate/ring does not have enough power

Different induction hobs are powered in different ways, and this depends on the number of circuit boards involved. One hob, for example, might have plates/rings that all operate independently (at full capacity) due to the fact that they each have their own circuit board.

On other hobs, however, the plates/rings may operate in pairs (there is only one circuit board per two plates/rings). Where this is the case, if you put one of the two plates/rings on full power, the other will not be able to operate at full capacity and will generate less heat. There are also hobs whose plates/rings all operate from the one circuit board, which means that only one plate/ring can work at full power at any given time.

The hob is incorrectly configured

It is important to be aware that some induction hobs can be configured to operate at a range of wattages ranging, for example, from 2,500 watts (at 16 amps) to 7,200 watts. If your new appliance generates too much heat, this could be due to the hob having been configured at too low a power setting . To find out what level your appliance has been configured at and/or change it, you will need to refer to the user manual.

Your mains circuit is not suitable

In order to work optimally, induction hobs need to be supplied with the correct voltage, which is normally 230 Volts . If the voltage is less than 210 volts, some hobs may not work properly, i.e. they will only generate a very small amount of heat. This kind of issue often arises in winter, as demand on the network is very high at that time of year due to household heating requirements, and this causes the voltage to fall.

To check your mains voltage, use a multimeter in voltmeter mode and test any of the sockets in your kitchen (preferably at a mealtime). Put some pans on the hob and switch the plates/rings on. If the voltage drops to around 210 volts (or less), this will explain why your induction hob is not generating enough heat. In you do have this particular issue, we recommend you contact you electricity supplier.

The terminal block is not properly tightened

It’s possible that the hob terminal block or the connections at the wall socket are not properly tightened, which will cause your appliance to operate at less than full capacity. Ensure all the visible screws at both ends of the connection are properly tightened, then test your hob again. If your appliance is new and only two out of its four plates/rings will operate, we recommend checking its wiring diagram: the appliance may have been incorrectly connected up.

The circuit board is defective

Great demands are placed on the circuit board during cooking. Over time, it can eventually end up unable to cope any longer. When a circuit board fails, an error code will appear on the hob’s display, or the plate/ring will operate only at low power, which will not be enough to heat your pan. If you are not confident about diagnosing problems with this component, please get in touch with our technical service or contact a manufacturer-approved engineer.

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