The eControl Conversion
For Aga Cookers.
The eControl Conversion was first released in 2021 with a number of different iterations since.
The eControl Series x2 was updated from the older series X, with some added technology and features inside.
How Did It Work?
The eControl oven elements were placed above and below the cast iron ovens, and individual elements inside each new hotplate unit.
Some benefits of converting to eControl included:
- Faster heat up times vs traditional models (approx 30mins vs 7hrs).
- Hotplate use does not affect the oven temperatures in the same way as traditional aga cookers.
- No fossil fuel combustion, or flue requirements.
- No servicing required.
- Easy to use ECO mode automatically drops the temperature for more efficient running costs.
- Digital display screen for each cast iron oven temperature.
- Much more temperature flexibility vs the newer generation of aga cookers.
- External on/off remote screens included as standard.
ECO Modes
The eControl x2 System has an ECO mode for automatic reduced temperatures, for even cheaper running costs and convenience.
If you'd like to run your cooker 24/7, you could either set your preferred temperatures manually, or easily switch your ovens (and hotplates) to ECO Mode. This gives you pre-set temperatures of
Right Hand Hotplate: 200c (165c on older Series X models)
Left Hand Hotplate: 200c
Top Right Oven (Roasting): 180c
All of the other cast iron ovens will be automatically switched off and your cooker will emit a very gentle amount of heat when using this 'standby' mode. A lot of users turn ECO mode on and cook away quite happily at 180c without the need for adjustment!
Your hotplates can be left on ECO mode 24/7 with the lids closed, to give you instant access to hotplate cooking, and some gentle ambient heat during the cooler months.
Independent Oven Control
Each oven has the ability to be turned on or off, as well as up or down in temperature.
The design of the elements makes sure each oven has a huge temperature range. The eControl conversion has smaller oven elements, which means less heat conducts through to the bottom right oven - to increase this, you'd need to engage the additional bottom oven element. This is one of the main reasons the eControl costs a few pounds less to run when compared to the ElectricKit conversion.
Remote Control
The eControl x2 Conversion has four options of remotely controlling the system.
- A small square 'controller' which is physically connected to the aga cooker with a 3m long cable. This controller can be used to turn each oven or hotplate on/off with the tap of a finger. Your wired controller also acts as an antenna for your WiFi control. This could be mounted to the wall via a pattress box, or seated on the worktop using a black acrylic stand. This wired controller in integrated into the system as standard.
- An small circular 'remote control'. This is the same as the controller above, but uses bluetooth technology so that it's not connected to the cooker physically. This is integrated into the system as standard (once paired to your wall controller manually).
- Your mobile phone, via the eControl app. Tap to turn your ovens on/off, or set daily schedules for your cooker to automatically turn on, ready to cook.
- A full touchscreen external control panel. Connected to the cooker via a 3m cable. Allows adjustment of temperatures, turn ovens/hotplates on, off or engage ECO mode. This can be wall mounted or fixed to an optional stand. The "X-Touch" panel is an optional extra.
Hotplate Upgrades
As standard, you'll have two large cast iron hotplates under your domed lids.
The right hand hotplate may be upgraded to the "InstaHeat" (ceramic) hob or the left-hand hotplate to an "InductaHeat" (induction) hob.
If you have a 4 Oven model (Post-1995), your warming plate may be upgraded to a Twin Zone Instaheat hob unit.
The InstaHeat is a halogen hob and the InductaHeat is an induction hob (both are optional extras).
They have over 2kw of power and are perfect for quickly cooking dishes on the hotplates, as well as being efficient to run.
