Whirlpool SF3000SE W Service Manual page 79

GAS SAFETY VALVE
TERMINALS
Description
The purpose of the gas safety valve is to control
gas to the bake/broil burner.
The gas safety valve has a gas inlet and a gas
outlet. It uses an electrically-operated device
to control the gas flow. The device is made of
an electric heater coil wrapped around a bi-
metal strip. One end of the bimetal is riveted
to the plate of the valve, and the other end has
a rubber seal attached to it that covers a gas
outlet. At room temperature, the spring force
of the bimetal presses the rubber seal against
the gas outlet. When current flows through the
heater, heat is applied to the bimetal strip. The
amount of heat necessary to warp the bimetal
enough to open the valve, requires a minimum
of 3.2 amps of current flow in the circuit. The
reason the valve is designed not to open be-
low 3.2 amps, is to insure that the temperature
of the oven igniter is above 1800˚ F before the
valve opens.
WARNING
Electrical Shock Hazard
Disconnect from electrical supply before ser-
vicing unit.
Failure to do so could result in death or
electrical shock.
BAKE
Cooking Products Service Manual
Original July, 1996
© 1996 Whirlpool Corporation
GAS SAFETY VALVE
(STANDING PILOT MODELS)
Test Procedure
1. The bake/broil burner will not come on.
a) Place the oven in the BAKE mode, set
the oven thermostat to 350 degrees,
and observe the bake igniter. If the
igniter glows, go to step c. If the igniter
does not glow, go to step b.
b) Disconnect power, remove the wires
from the gas safety valve, and con-
nect an ohmmeter across the termi-
nals of the gas safety valve. If the
meter reads approximately 1 Ω, the
problem is in another component of
the bake circuit. If the meter reads
infinity, replace the gas safety valve.
c) Connect an ampmeter to the bake cir-
cuit. If the meter reads less than 3.2
amps, replace the bake igniter. If the
meter reads over 3.2 amps, replace
the gas safety valve.
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