Whirlpool RC8400XA User manual

YK!
.
H ol’
UseAidCme
A Note To You 2
Important Safety
instructions 3
Parts And Features 5
Using Your Cooktop 6
Warranty 16
1-800-253-1301
Call us with questions or comments.
ELECTRIC COOKTOP
MODEL RC8400XA
343

A Note To You
Thank you for buying a Whirlpool appliance.
You have purchased a quality, worMclass home appliance. Years of engineering experience
have gone into its manufacturing. To ensure that you will enjoy many years of trouble-free
operation, we have developed this Use and Care Guide. It is full of valuable information on
how to operate and maintain your appliance properly and safely. Please read it carefully.
Also, please complete and mail the Ownership Registration Card provided with your appli-
ance. This will help us notify you about any new information on your appliance.
Your safety is important to us.
This guide contains safety symbols and statements. Please pay special attention to these
symbols and follow any instructions given. Here is a brief explanation of the use of each
symbol.
This symbol will help alert you to such
dangers as personal injury, burns, fire and
electrical shock.
This symbol will help you avoid actions
which could cause product damage
(scratches, dents, etc.) and damage to your
personal property.
Our Consumer Assistance Center number, l-800-253-1 301,
is toll-free, 24 hours a day.
If you ever have a question concerning your appliance’s operation, or if you need service, first
see “If You Need Assistance Or Service” on page 13. If you need further help, feel free to call
our Consumer Assistance Center. When calling, you will need to know your appliance’s
complete model number and serial number. You can find this information on the model and
serial number plate (see diagram on page 5). For your convenience, we have included a
handy place below for you to record these numbers, the purchase date from the sales slip
and your dealer’s name and telephone number. Keep this book and the sales slip together in
a safe place for future reference.
Model Number
Serial Number
Purchase Date
Dealer Name
Dealer Phone

Important safety Instructions
General
To reduce the risk of fire, electrical shock, injury to
persons, or damage when using the cooktop,
follow basic precautions, including the following:
l Read all instructions before
using the cooktop. be hot even though they are
dark in color. Areas near sur-
l Install or locate the cooktop onl
in accordance with the provide cl face units become hot enough
to cause burns. During and
Installation Instructions. The after use, do not touch, or let
cook-top must be installed by a clothing or other flammable
qualified installer. The cooktop materials contact surface units
must be roperly connected to
P or areas near-units until they electrica supply and grounded.
l CAUTION: Do not store things ~-I-I;?had sufficient time to
.
children mi ht want above the
cookto
k;rirtreB . C8jldren could be or Injured while climbing
.
l Do not leave children alone or 4s
unattended in area where the
cooktop is in use. The
l Do not wear loose or hanging
Y should
never be allowed to si or stand garments when using the
cooktop. The
on any part of the cooktop. the touch a x could ignite if
ot surface unit
They could be burned or In- anJ
jured. you could be burned.
l Do not operate the cooktop if it
l Use only dry potholders. Moist
is damaged or not working or damp potholders on hot
surfaces ma result in burns
properly. from steam. b 0 not let
QDo not use the cooktop for potholder touch hot surface
warming or heatin the room.
% units. Do not use a towel or
Persons could be urned or bulky cloth for a potholder.
injured, or a fire could start. It could catch on fire.
QUse the cooktop only for its
l Do not heat unopened contain-
intended use as described in ers. They could explode. The
this manual. hot contents could cause burns
f!a
and container particles could
cause injury.
1Ildll
l DO NOT TOUCH SURFACE
UNITS OR AREAS NEAR
UNITS. Surface units may
l Do not store flammable materi-
als on or near the cookto . The
fumes can create an exp osion
P
and/or fire hazard.
continued on next page
3

When using the cooktop This will help reduce the
l Make sure the drip bowls are in chance of burns, i niting of
place during cooking. Cooking flammable materia s, and spills
9
without drip bowls may subject due to bumping of the pan.
the wiring and components Grease
underneath them to damage.
l Do not line drip bowls with
l Grease is flammable. Do
aluminum foil or other liners. not allow grease to collect
Improper installation of these around cooktop. Wipe
liners may result in a risk of spillovers immediately.
electrical shock or fire.
l Select a pan with a flat bottom
that is about the same size as
the surface unit. If pan is
smaller than the surface unit,
l Check to be sure glass cooking
utensils are safe for use on the
cooktop. Only certain types of
glass, glass-ceramic, ceramic, dry chemical or foam-type
earthenware or other glazed extinguisher.
utensils are suitable for cook- Care and cleaning
tops without breaking due to the
sudden change in temperature.
l Do not soak removable heat-
l Never leave surface units unat- ing elements in water. The
tended at hi h heat settings. A element will be damaged and
9 shock or fire could result.
boilover cou d result and cause
smoking and greasy spillovers
l Do not repair or replace any
that may ignite. pat-t of the cooktop unless
specifically recommended in
this manual. All other servic-
ing should be referred to a
qualified technician.
l Disconnect the electrical
sup ly before servicing the
l Turn pan handles inward, but Rcoo top.
not over other surface units.
- SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS -
4

Parts And Features
This section contains captioned illustrations of your ccxktop. Use them to become familiar
with the location and appearance of all parts and features.
Model and serial Control
number plate panel
(under cooktop on
the right wall) W Plug-In !surface unit with
on&piece chrome (white
model) or one-piece black
porcelain (other models)
drip bowl
Control panel
Left rear control knob
Rear surface unlt
indicator light
Right rear control
knob
Surface
unit marker
Left front control
knob
Front surface unlt
indicator light
Right front control
knob
(Consumer
Assistance Center
telephone number is
printed under this
control knob)
5

Using Your Cooktop
r fnit s ................!?~ Energy saving tips Pagi..............................
To obtain the best cooking results possible, you must operate your cooktop properly. This
section gives you important information for efficient and safe use of your cooktop.
Using the surface units
Push in control knobs before turning
them to a setting. You can set them any-
where between HI and OFF.
Surface unit markers
The solid dot in the surface unit marker
shows which surface unit is turned on by
that knob.
Surface unit indicator light(s)
The Surface Unit Indicator Light(s) on the
control panel will glow when a surface unit
is on.
Burn and Fire Hazard
Be sure all control knobs are turned to
OFF and all indicator lights are OFF
when you are not cooking.
Someone could be burned or a fire
could start if a surface unit is acciden-
tally left ON.

Until you get used to the settings, use the
following as a guide. For best results, start
cooking at the high setting; then turn the
control knob down to continue cooking.
RECOMMENDED USE
l To start foods cooking.
@To bring liquids to a boil.
.To hold a rapid boil.
l To fry chicken or pan-
cakes.
l For gravy, pudding and
icing.
*To cook large amounts of
vegetables.
@To keep food cooking
after starting it on a higher
settina.
Medium-low
LO I
.To keep food warm until
ready to serve.
Cookware tips
l Select a pan that is about the same size
as the surface unit.
l NOTE: For best results and greater
energy efficiency, use only flat-bottomed
utensils that make good contact with the
surface units. Utensils with rounded,
warped, ribbed (such as some porcelain
enamel-ware) or dented bottoms could
cause severe overheating, which damages
the utensil and/or surface unit.
Woks, canners and teakettles with flat
bottoms suitable for use on your cooktop
are now available in most stores that sell
housewares.
l The pan should have straight sides and a
tight-fitting lid.
l Choose medium to heavy gauge (thick-
ness) pans that are fairly lightweight.
l The pan material (metal or glass) affects
how fast heat transfers from the surface
unit through the pan material and how
evenly heat spreads over the pan bottom.
Choose pans that provide the best cooking
results.
l Handles should be made of sturdy, heat-
resistant material and be securely attached
to the pan.
Product Damage Hazard
l If a surface unit stays red for a long
time, the bottom of the pan is not flat
enough or is too small for the surface
unit. Prolonged usage of incorrect
utensils can result in damage to the
surface unit, cooktop, wiring and
surrounding areas. To prevent dam-
age, use correct utensils, start cooking
on HI and turn control down to con-
tinue cooking.
l Do not leave an empty utensil, or one
which has boiled dry, on a hot surface
unit. The utensil can overheat and may
damage the utensil or surface unit.
7

Home canning information
The large diameter of most water-bath or
pressure canners combined with high heat
settings for long periis of time can shorten
the life of regular surface units and cause
damage to the cooktop.
If you plan to use the cooktop for canning,
we recommend the installation of a Canning
Kit. Order the kii (Part No. 242905) from
your Whirlpool dealer or authorized
WhirlpoolSM service company.
To protect your range:
l Use flat-bottomed canners/pans for best
results.
l Use the largest surface unit for best
results. Also, use a canner/pan which can
be centered over the surface unit and
which does not extend more than one inch
outside surface unit area. Large diameter
canners/pans, if not properly centered, trap
heat and can cause damage to the
cooktop.
l Do not place canner on two surface units
at the same time. Too much heat will build
up and will damage the cooktop.
l Start with hot water. This reduces the
time the control is set on high. Reduce
heat setting to lowest position needed to
keep water boiling.
l Keep drip bowls clean.
l To prolong the life of the elements:
- Prepare small batches at a time.
- Do not use elements for canning
all day.
Energy saving tips
Although the energy used for cooking is
l Start food on higher heat settings, then
usually a very small percentage of the total set surface unit control on low or off to
energy used in the home, cooking energy finish cooking. Use retained heat for
can be used efficiently. Here are some tips
to help you save energy when using your cooking when possible.
cooking product.
l Turn on the surface unit only after placing
filled pan on the unit.
l Use pans with flat bottoms, straight sides
and tight-fitting lids.
l Match the pan to the surface unit size.
l Cook with a minimum of liquid or fat to
help shorten cooking time.
l Preheat pans only when recommended
and for the shortest time possible.
l Plan your meals for the most efficient use
of the cooktop.
l Keep drip bowls clean.

Caring For Your Cooktop
I
In This Section
Page Page
Removing surface units and Cleaning chart ..................................12
I
drip bowls ...........................................9 I
Your cooktop is designed for ease of care.
You can do most cleaning with items found
around your home. Cleaning your cook-top
whenever spills or soiling occurs will help to
keep it looking and operating like new.
Burn and Electrical Shock Hazard
Make sure all controls are off and the
cooktop is cool before cleaning or
servicing.
I
Failure to do so could result in burns or
electrical shock. I
Removing surface units and drip bowls
Removing
1. Make sure all control knobs are turned
off and cool before removing surface
units and drip bowls.
2. Lift the edge of the unit, opposite the
receptacle, just enough to clear the
element hold-down clip and the drip bowl.
3. Pull the surface unit straight away from
the receptacle.
9

4. Lift out the drip bowl. See “Cleaning
chart” on page 12 for cleaning instruc-
tions.
Replacing
1. Make sure all control knobs are turned
off and cool before replacing surface units
and drip bowls.
2. Line up openings in the drip bowl with
the surface unit receptacle and the
element hold-down clip.
3. Hold the surface unit as level as possible
with the terminal just started into the
receptacle. Push the surface unit terminal
into the receptacle.
10

4. When the terminal is pushed into the
receptacle as far as it will go, push
down the edge of the surface unit
opposite the receptacle. The element
hold-down clip will keep the surface unit
from moving around.
NOTE: Drip bowls help catch spills. When
they are kept clean, they look new longer.
If a chrome drip bowl gets discolored,
some of the utensils may not be flat enough,
or some may be too large for the surface
unit. In either case, some of the heat that’s
meant to go into or around a utensil goes
down and heats the drip bowl. This extra
heat can discolor it.
11

Cleaning chart
Use the following table to help you clean all parts of your cooktop.
PART WHAT TO USE HOW TO CLEAN
Control knobs
Sponge and warm, soapy
l Turn knobs to OFF and pull straight
water away from control panel.
l Wash, rinse and dry thoroughly. Do
not soak.
l Replace knobs. Make sure all knobs
point to OFF.
DO NOT USE steel wool or abrasive
cleaners. They may damage the finish
of the knobs.
Control panel
Sponge and warm, soapy
l Wash, rinse and dry thoroughly.
water DO NOT USE steel wool or abrasive
OR cleaners. They may damage the finish.
Paper towel and spray
glass cleaner
Cooktop surface
Sponge and warm, soapy
l Wash, rinse and dry thoroughly.
water USE nonabrasive, plastic scrubbing pad
on heavily soiled areas.
Surface units
l Do not use abrasive or harsh
cleansers.
NOTE: Do not allow foods containing
acids (such as vinegar, tomato or lemon
juice) to remain on surface. Acids may
remove the glossy finish. Also wipe up
milk or egg spills when cooktop is cool.
No cleaning is required. Spatters or
spills will burn off. Do not immerse in
water.
Chrome
drip bowls
(white model)
Nonabrasive, plastic
l Wash, rinse and dry thoroughly.
scrubbing pad and warm,
l Clean frequently.
soapy water
l Do not use abrasive or harsh
cleansers.
Black porcelain
drip bowls
Nonabrasive, plastic
l Wipe off excess spills.
scrubbing pad and warm,
soapy water
l Wash, rinse and dry thoroughly.
OR OR
An oven’s Self-Cleaning
l Place upside down on oven racks in
cycle oven during the Self-Cleaning cycle.
12

If You Need Assistance
Or Sewice
This section is designed to help you save the cost of a service call. Part 1 of this section
outlines possible problems, their causes, and actions you can take to solve each problem.
Parts 2 and 3 tell you what to do if you still need assistance or service. When calling our
Consumer Assistance Center for help or calling for service, please provide a detailed descrip-
tion of the problem, your appliance’s’complete-model and serial numbers and the purchase
date. (See page 2.) This information will help us respond properly to your request.
1. Before calling for assistance ...
Performance problems often result from little things you can find and fix without tools of any
kind. Please check the chart below for problems you can fix. It could save you the cost of a
service call.
PROBLEM
Nothing will
operate
POSSIBLE CAUSE SOLUTION
The unit is not wired into a live Wire the unit into a live circuit with
circuit with proper voftage. proper voltage. (See Installation
Instructions.)
A household fuse has blown Replace household fuse or reset
or a circuit breaker has circuit breaker.
tripped.
The surface
A household fuse has blown Replace household fuse or reset
units will not
or a circuit breaker has circuit breaker.
operate
tripped.
You have not plugged in Plug surface units in all the way.
surface units all the way. (See “Replacing” on page 10.)
You are not setting the control Push control knobs in before turning
knobs correctly. to a setting.
Control knob(s) You
are not pushing in before
will not turn
Push control knob(s) in before turning
turning. to a setting.
Cooking results The
cooktop is not level. Level cooktop. (See Installation
are not what
Instructions.)
you expected
The recipe has never been Use only tested recipes from a
tested or is not from a reliable reliable source.
source.
The pan used is not the type Refer to a reliable cookbook for
or size recommended in the recommended pan type and size.
recipe.
Cooking utensil does not fit Pan should be the same size or
the surface unit being used. slightly larger than surface unit being
used.
13

2. If you need assistance ...
Call Whirlpool Consumer Assistance
Center telephone number. Dial free from
anywhere in the U.S.:
1-800-253-l 301
and talk with one of our trained consultants.
The consultant can instruct you in how to
obtain satisfactory operation from your
appliance or, if service is necessary, recom-
mend a qualified service company in your
area.
If you prefer, write to:
Mr. William Clark
Consumer Assistance Representative
Whirlpool Corporation
2000 M-63
Benton Harbor, Ml 49022
Please include a daytime phone number in
your correspondence.
3. If you need service ...
Whirlpool has a nation-
wide network of author-
ized WhirlpoolSM service
E companies. Whirlpool
service technicians are
trained to fulfill the product warranty and
provide after-warranty service, anywhere in
the United States. To locate the authorized
Whirlpool service company in your area, call
our Consumer Assistance Center telephone
number (see Step 2) or look in your tele-
phone directory Yellow Pages under:
‘APPUANCE-HOUSEHOLD- . WASHING MACHINES &
MAJOR, SERVICE IL REPAIR DRYERS, SERVICE A REPAIR
- See: Whirlpool Applmces or - See: Whirlpool Appliances or
Authorized WhIrlpool Service Authorized Whirlpool Service
(Example: XYZ Service Co.) (Example: XYZ Service Co.)
4. If you need FSP replace-
ment parts ...
FSP is a registered trademark of Whirlpool
Corporation for quality parts. Look for this
symbol of quality whenever you need a
replacement part for your Whirlpool appli-
ance. FSP replacement parts will fit right
and work right, because they are made to
the same exacting specifications used to
build every new Whirlpool appliance.
To locate FSP replacement parts in your
area, refer to Step 3 above or call the
Whirlpool Consumer Assistance Center
number in Step 2.
5. If you are not satisfied with
how the problem was
solved ...
l Contact the Major Appliance Consumer
Action Panel (MACAP). MACAP is a group
of independent consumer experts that
voices consumer views at the highest
levels of the major appliance industry.
l Contact MACAP only when the dealer,
authorized servicer and Whirlpool have
failed to resolve your problem.
Major Appliance Consumer Action
Panel
20 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
l MACAP will in turn inform us of your
action.
14

15

WHIRLPOOL”
Electric Cooktop Warranty
LENGTH OF WARRANTY WHIRLPOOL WILL PAY FOR
FULL ONE-YEAR
FSP@replacement parts and repair labor to correct
WARRANTY
defects in materials or workmanship. Service must be
From Date of Purchase provided by an authorized WhirlpoolSM service company.
LIMITED WARRANTY FOR
FSP replacement parts for control knobs.
LIFE OF THE PRODUCT
Second Year Through Life of
Product From Date of Purchase
WHIRLPOOL WILL NOT PAY FOR
A. Service calls to:
1. Correct the installation of the cooktop.
2. Instruct you how to use the cooktop.
3. Replace house fuses or correct house wiring.
B. Repairs when the cooktop is used in other than normal, single-family household use.
C. Pickup and delivery. This product is designed to be repaired in the home.
D. Damage to the cooktop caused by accident, misuse, fire, flood, acts of God or use of
products not approved by Whirlpool.
E. Any labor costs during limited warranty.
F. Repairs to parts or systems caused by unauthorized modifications made to the appliance
R-W
WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSE-
QUENTIAL DAMAGES. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or
consequential damages, so this limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty
gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to
state.
Outside the United States, a different warranty may apply. For details, please contact your
authorized Whirlpool distributor or military exchange.
If you need service, first see the “Assistance or Service” section of this book. After checking
“Assistance or Service,” additional help can be found by calling our Consumer Assistance
Center telephone number, l-800-253-1301, from anywhere in the U.S.
PART NO. 3185701
0 1993 whldpwl corporation @ Registered TrademaW Service Mark of Whirlpool Corporation. Printed in U.S.A.