An electric stove burner heats up and cools down due to the way it operates and maintains a consistent temperature during its operation. Here's a brief explanation of the process:
Initial heating: When you turn on an electric stove burner, electricity flows through a heating element (usually made of a metal coil) located underneath the surface of the burner. As the electricity passes through the coil, it encounters resistance, and this resistance causes the coil to heat up rapidly. This is similar to how an electric heater works.
Temperature regulation: As the coil heats up, a thermostat or temperature sensor within the stove monitors the temperature of the burner. The thermostat's job is to ensure that the burner maintains a relatively constant temperature, close to the temperature setting you have chosen.
Cycling on and off: Once the desired temperature is reached, the thermostat signals the stove to stop supplying electricity to the coil. As a result, the heating element cools down, and the burner's temperature starts to drop. However, since the stove is still on, the thermostat will again detect the temperature drop and signal the stove to reapply power to the coil, repeating the process.
Continuous cycle: This on-off cycling continues throughout the time the stove is turned on and set to a specific temperature. The frequency of the cycle depends on factors such as the type of stove and the set temperature. The stove maintains a balance between turning on the heating element to increase the temperature and turning it off to prevent overheating.
This cyclic process helps to regulate the temperature and prevent the burner from getting too hot or not hot enough. It also saves energy compared to constantly supplying electricity to the burner.
So, if you observe the burner going through heating and cooling cycles, it's a normal part of the stove's temperature regulation process.