Hotpoint Short Circuit or Ground Fault in Heating Circuit

Oven or cooktop trips the household circuit breaker when turned on.

Advertisements

Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

Advertisements

Possible Causes

Shorted element to chassis, pinched wiring, failed terminal block, moisture in electrical components

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Leave the breaker OFF until the fault is identified. Do not repeatedly reset a tripping breaker.

Steps to check:

  • Visual inspection: With power OFF, inspect elements, wiring, and terminal block for obvious damage or arcing.
  • Element test: Disconnect suspect elements and test for continuity to chassis ground. Any continuity indicates a short; replace the element.
  • Terminal block: Inspect the power cord terminal block for burned lugs or loose screws. Replace damaged parts.
  • Moisture: If tripping occurs after a spill or cleaning, allow the unit to dry thoroughly before retesting.

Warning: If you are not trained to work with high voltage, have a qualified technician perform these tests.

Advertisements

Repair Difficulty

Professional Required 5/5

Required Part

Bake Element
Check Price on Amazon

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Advertisements