GE JBS05, JBS23, RB502, RB557, LEB116 Owner’s Manual

Electric

Owner’s Manual

Models:

JBS02

JBS05

JBS23

RB502

RB557

LEB116

LEB131

Ranges

Part No. 164D3333P133 Pub. No. 49-8898 12-98 CG

Safety Information

Anti-Tip Device . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Safety Precautions . . . . . . . 3, 4

Surface Cooking Units . . . . . . . 5

Radiant Surface Units . . . . . . .6

Oven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 7

Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Safety InstructionsOperating InstructionsCare and CleaningTroubleshooting TipsCustomer Service

Operating Instructions

Congratulations!
You Are Now Part of Our Family.

Welcome to the family. We’re proud of our quality products and we are committed
to providing dependable service. You’ll see it in this easy-to-use Owner’s Manual and
you’ll hear it in the friendly voices of our customer service department.

Best of all, you’ll experience these values each time you use your range. That’s
important, because your new range will be part of your family for many years.
And we hope you will be part of ours for a long time to come.

We thank you for buying our product. We appreciate your purchase, and hope
you will continue to rely on us whenever you need quality appliances for your home.

Using the Surface Units . . .8, 9

Using the Clock & Timer . . . .10

Using the Oven . . . . . . . . 11, 12

Oven Thermostat . . . . . . . . . . 13

Care and Cleaning

Broiler Pan & Grid . . . . . . . . . 14

Lift-Off Oven Door . . . . . . . . .15

Lift-Up Cooktop . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Surface Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Glass Cooktop . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Porcelain Oven Interior . . . . . 18

Anti-Tip Device . . . . . . . . . . .18

Troubleshooting Tips

Before You Call

For Service . . . . . . . . . . . . 19, 20

A Service Partnership.

IMPORTANT!

Fill out and return the Consumer Product Registration Card that is
packed with this product. If you cannot find it, please send in the
duplicate card printed in the back of this manual.

FOR YOUR RECORDS

Write the model and serial numbers here:

#
#

You can find them on a label on the front of the range behind the
storage drawer.

Staple sales slip or cancelled check here.

Proof of the original purchase date is needed to obtain service under
the warranty.

READ THIS MANUAL

Inside you will find many helpful hints on how to use and maintain
your range properly. Just a little preventive care on your part can save
you a great deal of time and money over the life of your range.

Customer Service

Product Registration . . . . . . . 21

Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Service Telephone

Numbers . . . . . . . . .Back Cover

2

IF YOU NEED SERVICE

You’ll find many answers to common problems in the

For Service

first, you may not need to call for service at all.

If you do need service, you can relax knowing help is only a phone
call away. A list of toll-free customer service numbers is included in
the back section of this manual. Or you can always call the GE Answer
Center® at 800.626.2000, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

section. If you review our chart of

Troubleshooting Tips

Before You Call

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.

WARNING!

For your safety, the information in this manual must be followed to minimize the risk of fire, electric
shock, or to prevent property damage, personal injury, or loss of life.

Safety Instructions Operating Instructions Care and Cleaning Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

WARNING

All ranges can tip and injury could result.

To prevent accidental tipping of the range, attach it to the wall and floor by installing the Anti-Tip
device supplied.

To check if the device is installed and engaged properly, remove the kick panel or storage drawer
and inspect the rear leveling leg. Make sure it fits securely into the slot.

If you pull the range out from the wall for any reason, make sure the device is properly
engaged when you push the range back against the wall. If it is not, there is a possible risk of
the range tipping over and causing injury if you or a child stand, sit or lean on an open door.

Please refer to the Anti-Tip device information in this manual. Failure to take this precaution
could result in tipping of the range and injury.

ANTI-TIP DEVICE

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

When using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should be followed, including the following:

■Use this appliance only for its intended

purpose as described in this Owner’s Manual.

■Be sure your appliance is properly installed

and grounded by a qualified installer in
accordance with the provided installation
instructions.

■ Have the installer show you the location of

the circuit breaker or fuse. Mark it for easy
reference.

■ Do not attempt to repair or replace any

part of your range unless it is specifically
recommended in this manual. All other
servicing should be referred to a qualified
technician.

■ Before performing any service, disconnect

the range power supply at the household
distribution panel by removing the fuse or
switching off the circuit breaker.

■ Do not leave children alone—children

should not be left alone or unattended in
an area where an appliance is in use. They
should never be allowed to sit or stand on
any part of the appliance.

■ Do not store flammable materials in an

oven or near the cooktop.

■ Do not allow anyone to climb, stand or

hang on the door, storage drawer or
cooktop. They could damage the range
and even tip it over, causing severe
personal injury.

■

CAUTION:

should not be stored in cabinets above a
range or on the backsplash of a range—
children climbing on the range to reach
items could be seriously injured.

■ Never wear loose-fitting or hanging

garments while using the appliance. Be
careful when reaching for items stored
over the range. Flammable material could
be ignited if brought in contact with hot
surface units or heating elements and may
cause severe burns.

■ Use only dry pot holders—moist or damp

pot holders on hot surfaces may result in
burns from steam. Do not let pot holders
touch hot surface units or heating
elements. Do not use a towel or other
bulky cloth in place of potholders.

■ Teach children not to play with the

controls or any other part of the range.

Items of interest to children

3

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.

WARNING!

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

■ For your safety, never use your appliance

Safety InstructionsOperating InstructionsCare and CleaningTroubleshooting TipsCustomer Service

■ Do not let cooking grease or other

■ Never leave jars or cans of fat dripping

■ Keep the hood and grease filters clean

■ Do not use water on grease fires. Never

■ Flaming grease outside a pan can be put

■ Flame in the oven can be smothered

for warming or heating the room.

flammable materials accumulate in
or near the range.

in or near your range.

to maintain good venting and to avoid
grease fires.

pick up a flaming pan. Turn the controls
off. Smother a flaming pan on a surface
unit by covering the pan completely with a
well-fitting lid, cookie sheet or flat tray. Use
a multi-purpose dry chemical or foam-type
fire extinguisher.

out by covering it with baking soda or, if
available, by using a multi-purpose dry
chemical or foam-type fire extinguisher.

completely by closing the oven door and
turning the oven off or by using a multi­purpose dry chemical or foam-type fire
extinguisher.

■ Do not touch the surface units, the heating

elements or the interior surface of the
oven. These surfaces may be hot enough to
burn even though they are dark in color.
During and after use, do not touch, or let
clothing or other flammable materials
contact, the surface units, areas nearby the
surface units or any interior area of the
oven; allow sufficient time for cooling first.

■ Potentially hot surfaces include the

cooktop, areas facing the cooktop, oven
vent opening, surfaces near the opening,
crevices around the oven door and metal
trim parts above the door.

REMEMBER:

■

may be hot when the door is opened.

■ Do not store or use combustible materials,

gasoline or other flammable vapors and
liquids in the vicinity of this or any other
appliance.

■ Always keep dish towels, dish cloths, pot

holders and other linens a safe distance
from your range.

■ Always keep wooden and plastic utensils

and canned food a safe distance from
your range.

■ Always keep combustible wall coverings,

curtains or drapes a safe distance from
your range.

The inside surface of the oven

COOK MEAT AND POULTRY THOROUGHLY…

Cook meat and poultry thoroughly—meat to at least an INTERNAL temperature of 160°F. and poultry
to at least an INTERNAL temperature of 180°F. Cooking to these temperatures usually protects against
foodborne illness.

4

SURFACE COOKING UNITS

Use proper pan size—select cookware having flat bottoms large enough to cover the surface unit
heating element. The use of undersized cookware will expose a portion of the surface unit to direct
contact and may result in ignition of clothing. Proper relationship of cookware to surface unit will
also improve efficiency.

Safety Instructions Operating Instructions Care and Cleaning Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

■Never leave the surface units unattended at

high heat settings. Boilovers cause smoking
and greasy spillovers that may catch on fire.

■Do not use aluminum foil to line the drip

pans or anywhere in the oven except as
described in this manual. Misuse could
result in a shock, fire hazard or damage
to the range.

■Be sure the drip pans and the vent duct

are not covered and are in place. Their
absence during cooking could damage
range parts and wiring.

■Only certain types of glass, glass ⁄ceramic,

earthenware or other glazed containers
are suitable for cooktop service; others
may break because of the sudden change
in temperature.

■To minimize the possibility of burns,

ignition of flammable materials and
spillage, the handle of a container
should be turned toward the center
of the range without extending over
nearby surface units.

■Always turn the surface units off before

removing cookware.

■To avoid the possibility of a burn or electric

shock, always be certain that the controls

OFF

for all surface units are at the
and all coils are cool before attempting to
lift or remove a unit.

■Clean the cooktop with caution. If a wet

sponge is used to wipe spills on a hot
cooktop, be careful to avoid steam burns.

■Keep an eye on foods being fried at high

or medium high heat settings.

■Foods for frying should be as dry as

possible. Frost on frozen foods or moisture
on fresh foods can cause hot fat to bubble
up and over the sides of the pan.

■Use little fat for effective shallow or deep

fat frying. Filling the pan too full of fat can
cause spillovers when food is added.

■If a combination of oils or fats will be

used in frying, stir together before
heating, or as fats melt slowly.

■Always heat fat slowly, and watch as it heats.

■Use a deep fat thermometer whenever

possible to prevent overheating fat beyond
the smoking point.

position

■Do not immerse or soak the removable

surface units. Do not put them in a
dishwasher. Do not self-clean the surface
units in the oven.

■When flaming foods under the hood, turn

the fan on.

■Carefully watch for spillovers or

overheating of foods when frying at high
or medium high temperatures.

■Never try to move a pan of hot fat,

especially a deep fat fryer. Wait until
the fat is cool.

■Do not allow water, other liquids or grease

to remain on the cooktop or the control
panel.

5

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.

Safety InstructionsOperating InstructionsCare and CleaningTroubleshooting TipsCustomer Service

WARNING!

RADIANT SURFACE UNITS

Use care when touching the cooktop. The glass surface of the cooktop will retain heat after the
controls have been turned off.

■Avoid scratching the glass cooktop. The

cooktop can be scratched with items such
as sharp instruments, rings or other
jewelry and rivets on clothing.

■Do not operate the radiant surface units if

the glass is broken. Spillovers or cleaning
solution may penetrate a broken cooktop
and create a risk of electrical shock.
Contact a qualified technician
immediately should your glass cooktop
become broken.

■Never use the glass cooktop surface as a

cutting board.

■Do not place or store items that can melt

or catch fire on the glass cooktop, even
when it is not being used.

■Be careful when placing spoons or other

stirring utensils on glass cooktop surface
when it is in use. They may become hot
and could cause burns.

■Do not stand on the glass cooktop. The

weight may cause the top to break.

■Avoid heating an empty pan. Doing so

may damage the cooktop and the pan.

■Clean the cooktop with caution. If a wet

sponge or cloth is used to wipe spills on a
hot surface unit, be careful to avoid steam
burns. Some cleaners can produce
noxious fumes if applied to a hot surface.

NOTE:

wiping any surface unit areas until they
have cooled and the indicator light has
gone off. Sugar spills are the exception to
this. Please see
section.

■When the cooktop is cool, use only the

■To avoid possible damage to the cooking

■After cleaning, use a dry cloth or paper

■Read and follow all instructions and

We recommend that you avoid

Cleaning the glass cooktop

recommended cleaning cream to clean
the cooktop.

surface, do not apply cleaning cream to
the glass surface when it is hot.

towel to remove all cleaning cream residue.

warnings on the cleaning cream labels.

OVEN

■ Stand away from the range when opening

the oven door. Hot air or steam which
escapes can cause burns to hands, face
and/or eyes.

■ Do not heat unopened food containers.

Pressure could build up and the container
could burst, causing an injury.

■ Place the oven shelf in the desired position

while the oven is cool. If shelves must be
handled when hot, do not let pot holder
contact the heating elements.

6

■ Pulling out the shelf to the stop-lock is a

convenience in lifting heavy foods. It is also
a precaution against burns from touching
hot surfaces of the door or
oven walls.

■ When using cooking or roasting bags in the

oven, follow the manufacturer’s directions.

■ Keep the oven vent unobstructed.

■ Keep the oven free from grease buildup.

■ Do not use the oven to dry newspapers.

If overheated, they can catch on fire.

Safety Instructions Operating Instructions Care and Cleaning Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

■ Do not use the oven for a storage area.

Items stored in an oven can ignite.

■ Do not leave paper products, cooking

utensils or food in the oven when not in use.

■ After broiling, always take the broiler pan

out of the range and clean it. Leftover
grease in the broiler pan can catch on fire
the next time you use the pan.

PREPARATION

Installing

Your range, like many other household
items, is heavy and can settle into soft floor
coverings such as cushioned vinyl or
carpeting. When moving the range on this
type of flooring, use care, and it is
recommended that these simple and
inexpensive instructions be followed.

The range should be installed on a 1/4″thick
sheet of plywood (or similar material) as
follows: When the floor covering ends at the
front of the range, the area that the range will
rest on should be built up with plywood to
the same level or higher than the floor
covering. This will allow the range to be
moved for cleaning or servicing.

■ Do not use aluminum foil to line oven

bottoms, except as suggested in this
manual. Improper installation of
aluminum foil may result in a risk of
electric shock or fire.

■Clean only parts listed in this Owner’s

Manual.

Leveling

Leveling screws are located on each corner of
the base of the range. Remove the bottom
drawer and you can level the range on an
uneven floor with the use of a nutdriver.

To remove the drawer, pull the drawer out all
the way, tilt up the front and take it out. To
replace the drawer, insert glides at back of
the drawer beyond stop on the range glides.
Lift drawer if necessary to insert easily. Let the
front of drawer down, then push in to close.

One of the rear leveling screws will engage
the Anti-Tip device. Allow for some side
to side adjustment. Allow a minimum
clearance of 1/8″between the range and
the leveling screw that is to be installed
into the Anti-Tip device.

Read and follow this Safety Information carefully.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

7

Using the surface units.

Throughout this manual, features and appearance may vary from your model.

How to Set

Push the knob in and turn in either
direction to the setting you want.

Safety InstructionsOperating InstructionsCare and CleaningTroubleshooting TipsCustomer Service

Be sure you turn the control knob
to OFF when you finish cooking.

1″

Not over 1 inch.

At both
into position. You may hear slight
sounds during cooking, indicating the
control is keeping the power level you set.

A surface unit ONindicator light will glow
when

Surface Cookware Tips

Use medium- or heavy-weight cookware.
Aluminum cookware conducts heat faster
than other metals. Cast-iron and coated
cast-iron cookware are slow to absorb
heat, but generally cook evenly at low to
medium heat settings. Steel pans may
cook unevenly if not combined with
other metals.

Wok Cooking

We recommend that you use only a flat-bottomed
wok. They are available at your local retail store.

Do not use woks that have support rings.
Use of these types of woks, with or
without the ring in place, can be
dangerous.

OFF

and HIthe control

any

surface unit is on.

(electric coil models only)

clicks

clicking

(electric coil models only)

For best cooking results, pans should be
flat on the bottom. Match the size of the
saucepan to the size of the surface unit.
The pan should not extend over the edge
of the surface unit more than 1 inch.

Placing the ring over the surface unit will
cause a build-up of heat that will damage
the porcelain cooktop. Do not try to use
such woks without the ring. You could be
seriously burned if the wok tipped over.

Use only flat-bottomed woks.

8

Temperature Limiter

Every radiant surface unit has a
temperature limiter.

The temperature limiter protects the
glass cooktop from getting too hot.

(glass cooktops only)

Deep Fat Frying

Do not overfill cookware with fat that may
spill over when adding food. Frosty foods
bubble vigorously. Watch food frying at
high temperatures. Keep range and hood
clean from grease.

The temperature limiter may cycle the
units off for a time if:

■

The pan boils dry.

■

The pan bottom is not flat.

■

The pan is off center.

■

There is no pan on the unit.