Frigidaire FPEC3077R - User Manual

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Overview

Function Description
Important Technical Specifications
Usage Features
Maintenance Features

This document is a Use & Care Manual for a Frigidaire ceramic glass cooktop, providing comprehensive information on its function, usage, and maintenance.

Function Description:

The Frigidaire cooktop is a radiant electric cooktop designed for surface cooking. It features radiant surface elements located beneath a ceramic glass surface, which heat cookware placed on top. The cooktop is available in 30-inch and 36-inch models, each with a different configuration of heating elements. Heat is transferred from the elements through the glass to the cookware. The cooktop also includes a "Keep Warm Zone" designed to maintain hot cooked foods at serving temperature.

Important Technical Specifications:

Element Types: The cooktop is equipped with radiant surface elements of varying wattage ratings, allowing for quicker heating and larger volume cooking as wattage increases.
30-inch Cooktop Configuration:
- One 9-inch element (right center position).
- One 6-inch element (center rear position).
- One Keep Warm Zone (center front position).
- Two 7-inch elements (left front and rear positions).
- One mid-position element (between left front and rear elements) that connects with the front element to form a Bridge element.
36-inch Cooktop Configuration:
- One dual 9 or 12-inch element (center right position).
- One 6-inch element (center rear position).
- One Keep Warm Zone (center front position).
- Two 7-inch radiant elements (left front and rear positions).
- One mid-position radiant element (between left front and rear elements) that connects with the front element to form a Bridge element.
Heat Transfer: Heat is transferred up through the ceramic glass surface to the cookware.
Element Cycling: Radiant elements have a limiter that allows them to cycle ON and OFF, even at the HI setting, to prevent damage to the ceramic smooth top. This cycling is normal.
Cookware Compatibility: Only flat-bottom cookware should be used. The diameter of the pan should match the diameter of the element outline on the cooktop for optimal performance and safety.

Usage Features:

Control Knobs: Each surface unit is controlled by a dedicated knob. To operate, push in and turn the knob to the desired setting. Settings range from LOW (LO) for keeping warm, melting, and simmering, to HIGH (HI) for starting most foods, bringing water to a boil, and pan broiling. Intermediate settings like MEDIUM LOW (2-3), MEDIUM (4-6), and MEDIUM HIGH (7-8) are provided for various cooking tasks such as slow boiling, thickening sauces, frying, and deep-fat frying.
Dual Surface Radiant Element (36-inch models): This element allows users to select between an inner coil (for smaller cookware) or both inner and outer coils (for larger cookware) by turning the control knob to the appropriate symbol.
Bridge Surface Radiant Element: Located at the left rear and center, this element is designed for cooking with rectangular or oval-shaped cookware (like griddles). It maintains an even temperature across both portions. It can also function as a single element without the bridge. The bridge element can be used in combination with the left front single element, allowing one to cook while the other keeps food warm.
Keep Warm Zone: This zone is specifically for keeping hot cooked foods at serving temperature. It should always be used with hot food and is not recommended for heating cold food. Food should be covered with a lid or aluminum foil. Unlike surface elements, the Keep Warm Zone does not glow red when hot.
Indicator Lights:
- "Element On" indicator lights glow when one or more elements are turned on, serving as a quick check to ensure all elements are turned off when cooking is finished.
- "Hot Surface" indicator lights glow when an element is turned on and remain on after the control knob is turned to OFF until the heating surface area has cooled sufficiently. This is a crucial safety feature, as the glass surface may still be hot enough to cause burns even when the controls are off.
Power Failure: The cooktop should not be operated during a power failure. If power fails, all cooktop controls should be turned off. If not turned off, an error message will be displayed when power resumes, and the cooktop will not operate.

Maintenance Features:

General Cleaning: All controls should be turned OFF and the cooktop must be COOL before cleaning. Spillovers and heavy soiling should be removed as soon as possible.
Painted and Plastic Body Parts: Clean with hot soapy water and a cloth. For difficult soils, apply liquid detergent directly, let sit for 30-60 minutes, then rinse and dry. Abrasive cleaners should not be used.
Stainless Steel, Decorative Trim, Control Knobs, Control Panel: Wipe clean after each use. Remove control knobs by pulling them straight off the shaft. Clean with hot soapy water and a cloth. Avoid cleaners with high concentrations of chlorides or chlorines, harsh scrubbing cleaners, and excessive water around controls. Only use kitchen cleaners specifically made for stainless steel. Rinse cleaners thoroughly to prevent bluish stains.
Ceramic Glass Cooktop Cleaning & Maintenance:
- Pre-use: Apply a ceramic cooktop cleaning cream (available in hardware/grocery stores) to the ceramic surface, clean, and buff with a non-abrasive cloth or pad. This creates a protective finish to help prevent scratches and abrasions and makes future cleaning easier.
- Light to Moderate Soil: Apply a few drops of cooktop cleaning cream to the surface, clean with a clean paper towel, ensuring no residue.
- Heavy, Burned-on Soil: First, clean as for light soil. If soils remain, use a metal razor blade scraper (held at a 30-degree angle) to carefully scrape soils from the surface. Remove loosened soils with cooktop cleaning cream and buff clean.
- Plastic or High Sugar Content Spills: These must be removed immediately while the surface elements are still hot to prevent permanent damage (pitting). Use a razor blade scraper or metal spatula with a mitt to scrape the soil from the hot surface. After cooling, use the method for heavy soils.
- Avoid: Abrasive cleaners, scouring pads (metal/nylon), harsh cleaners (chlorine bleach, ammonia, oven cleaners), dirty sponges/cloths/paper towels, and aluminum foil. These can scratch, etch, discolor, or damage the cooktop.
- Metal Marks: Sliding aluminum or copper clad bottom pans can cause metal marks. These should be removed immediately after the cooktop cools using cleaning cream to prevent permanent marking.
- Rough Bottom Cookware: Cookware with rough bottoms can scratch the surface. Do not slide metal or glass objects across the cooktop.
- General Care: Do not use the cooktop as a cutting board or work surface. Do not cook foods directly on the surface without a pan. Avoid dropping heavy or hard objects on the glass cooktop to prevent cracking.
Troubleshooting: A "Before You Call" section provides solutions to common problems like the cooktop not operating, elements not heating correctly, uneven food heating, and various types of marks or discoloration on the ceramic glass surface. This section helps users identify and resolve issues that are not due to defective workmanship or materials, potentially saving time and expense on service calls.