If your electric hot plate only has one speed – flat out – then you have a problem with the simmerstat control.
The simmerstat is the part that regulates the cooking temperature when you turn the knob on the front of the stove. Each hotplate has its own simmerstat. A common fault occurs when the internal contacts malfunction and weld themselves together, making the hotplate run on high all the time. So even if you turn the knob down to a low setting, the hotplate will still run at the highest temperature.
This makes cooking difficult and leads to burnt food and general aggravation.
Luckily it’s usually an easy repair and spare parts are available for all but the oldest stoves or the occasional exotic imported oven.
If you find that the hotplate will not turn off no matter where you turn the simmerstat, then you will need to turn it off at the switchboard to shut it down. Your stove will have a 32 amp circuit breaker or a 30 amp fuse and be on it’s own separate circuit. Hopefully all items on your switchboard are clearly identified.
Turning off the stove circuit breaker will only cut power to the stove. All other electrical circuits will still work fine. In newer homes you may have a dedicated stove isolation switch in the kitchen, somewhere close to the stove, and this can be used instead of having to go outside to the switchboard.
If you have a wall or under bench oven with separate hotplates the isolation switch will only turn off the hotplates, so you can still use your oven.
As usual, if you are having a problem please give us a call and we’ll answer any questions and advise you on the best course of action to get things working properly again.