Most modern electric cooktops, though, are radiant burners in which the coils are placed beneath a ceramic surface for better distribution of heat.Įlectric stoves use electrical resistance to generate heat through the insulated coils, which make up the heating elements. The burner on an electric range can be conventional in which it uses the traditional coil. From here, electricity is distributed to various components, including the heating elements or heating coils and the thermostat. Notice the power cord has three thick wires? Electricity passes through these wires from the power source to a terminal block. Quite simply, you can use such an appliance for voltages between 120 V and 240 V.īecause of the huge power needed, electric burners are connected to a 240-volt circuit. One way to check if your appliance is, indeed, dual voltage is to check the specifications. That is why the electric range or stovetop you bought is dual voltage. At 120 volts, the standard supply voltage in Canada, the appliance cannot raise the temperature high enough to generate heat at levels suitable for cooking. Your electric cooktop, however, needs to generate much more heat to cook food, thus requiring more power.Įlectrical power, measured as watts, is equivalent to voltage multiplied by current. In principle, burners are similar to heaters in that they rely on electrical resistance to produce heat. How Do Electric Stove Burners Produce Heat? Read on to troubleshoot, find the cause, and hopefully fix the problem yourself. Hire a technician and, while at it, order food. And so, after much food preparation, discovering the cooktop not heating up is incredibly frustrating. For one, it dissipates heat evenly – and efficiently. An electric stove (or electric range) has a few advantages over a gas stove.