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Turning your Aga on - Electric
Mk 3 - 1993 onwards

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.

When the electricity supply is turned on to the Aga, the top, green, power indicator will illuminate.

The oven temperature control knob should initially be turned to the No. 5 position, when charging will occur until the heat store reaches its pre-set minimum temperature and the cooker gradually increases in temperature.

The lower, red indicator will only illuminate with a steady light when ‘off peak’ cheap rate electricity is available, normally during the night. It does not necessarily mean that the cooker is actually charging. It will illuminate with a flashing light if a charge is being taken at a ‘Peak time’.

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 the electricity supply authority.

Or

2. In some cases there may be a small time switch installed adjacent to the Aga.
This should be set to match the timed periods of cheap rate electricity offered by the supply company.

Both the Roasting oven and the simmering/baking ovens are vented to outside atmosphere by means of a small electric fan. This is operated by the oven vent fan switch.

• 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 5 is probably sufficient to achieve optimum performance.