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Turning your Aga on - Electric
Mk 1 - 1985 to 1990

An Electric Aga usually has two electrical isolating switches located adjacent to the cooker, but perhaps hidden in a cupboard. One will probably be larger than the other, but both must be on, before the Aga will work properly.

The larger, external isolating switch will provide power to the Aga, energising its controls and allowing a minimum temperature to be achieved after several hours.

The smaller, external isolating switch controls a ‘signal’ circuit, which is energised only during periods when cheap rate electricity is available, normally during the night with perhaps a short boost during the day. During the ‘cheap rate’ period, the Aga is allowed to reach its full working temperature.

Turn the Heater Core Temperature control knob to the No 7 position and the Oven Temperature control knob to 235. The green, Peak indicator light should be illuminated and will remain on, until the minimum stored heat temperature is reached. It will then periodically light up as heat is taken from the store. The green, ECON 7 indicator light, only illuminates when ‘cheap- rate’ or ‘off- peak’ electricity is available.

The ‘Cheap Rate’ period may be determined by either :- 

1. A Signal received by the Aga from the electricity meter, where there will either be a time clock or ‘teleswitch’
No adjustments can be made to this system, other than by the Electricity supply authority.

Or

2. A small timeclock fitted external to the Aga.
This should be set to match the timed periods of cheap rate electricity offered by your supply company.

Note: The clock on the control panel does not control the timing periods for which the Aga takes a heating charge

• The Aga operates by releasing controlled amounts of stored heat from its brick store, using hot air distributed by an electric circulating fan.
• This ensures that the different cooking areas of the Aga are always at their correct temperatures and ready to go.
• The functions of the oven temperature thermostat, should not be confused with the Heat Indicator (Thermometer). The latter indicates the amount of heat stored in the castings, not actual oven temperature. When cooking is carried out, then the ‘heat store’ is robbed and the indicator will drop, taking several hours to stabilise back to the centre line.
• Adjustments to the thermostat position should only be made in small stages. 24 hours should be allowed for the effects to take place. Observe the indicator first thing in the morning, before any cooking is carried out, to judge if the correct thermostat setting has been found. Don’t keep changing the setting, let it do its job automatically. If you are going to carry out a heavy amount of cooking, the thermostat may be turned up temporarily, to increase the amount of stored heat. A setting of 235 is probably sufficient to achieve optimum performance.
• A limited amount of adjustment is also available, to the temperature that the heater core reaches, during the cheap rate charging period.. We advise an approximate setting of 7.
  If the core setting is too low, resulting in insufficient charge being taken in during the cheap rate period, then boost charges during peak rate periods will occur, usually later in the day or during the early evening.
• The red ‘fault’ light indicates an internal malfunction. The Aga need not be immediately turned off, but the matter should be reported to your Aga service engineer.
• Both the roasting and simmering/baking ovens are vented to outside atmosphere by means of a small electric fan. Opening and closing the top oven door will activate the fan, which will then keep running for a further 2 hours, unless the ‘fan off’ button is pressed. Some later models may have a manual control feature with separate On & Off functions.
• The control panel also incorporates a ‘Minute Minder’ feature as well as a ‘Time of Day’ clock display.
  Note: This clock does not control the timing periods for which the Aga takes a heating charge.