Last night, I started my home's Jenn-air gas stove/oven as normal, got the usual clicking and sparking but upon ignition, I heard a rather loud pop, saw sparks coming from behind the stove (I think, it all happened very fast), smelled something like burning plastic, and it cut the house electricity (or that bank) off and then it came back on, resetting one or two surge protectors in different rooms.
I peered behind the stove but couldn't see any blackened spots and the power cord comes out down low not high where I think I saw the flash of sparks. or it could be the sparks came from the top burner on/off knob. i put my nose to it and did smell that burning plastic smell.
The breaker did not pop such that I had to go reset it. rather, when the event happened, everything on the circuit flickered and went on/off, lights, laptop, etc.
I guess this is a job for the appliance repairman, right? And that I shouldn't retest the oven on my own?
the oven is over 10 years old. given the issue, it might be best and most cost effective to get a new one. then again, perhaps it's a simple fix.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
Elsewhere, I read the following: Suppose your circuit breaker trips the moment you turn on your stove. If that’s the case, then that’s a tell-tale sign that the problem is somewhere in the stove itself. However, if you’re using the stove normally and the breaker trips a little later, then that’s a sign that your breaker is the one with the problem instead. Quite often, the problem here is that the breaker is too weak or undersized to keep up with the energy demands of the stove.
In my case, the breaker did its momentary breaking right when I turned the stove on, suggesting that the problem is with the stove and not the breaker. what say you?
edit: below are pics of the breaker box and of the stove outlet.