Installing an ceramic electric hob - any help please?

[madtravellingal]

We've just purchased a new oven and ceramic hob and are in the process of installing it.

The old all in one electric cooker was hooked up to a 30amp radial circuit via a connector unit.

The rather confusing instructions that cames with the hob say that it needs to by fused to 20amp. What's the best way of doing this without too much effort, but safely of course?

Just out of interest the oven instructions say that it needs a 13amp fuse.

Could we wire the hob into the connection unit and plug the oven into the same unit or would that mean the hob wasn't protected properly as we have a 30amp fuse at the consumer unit end?

Any ideas?

 

[Steve]

The hob - what model etc is it? I ask because 20 amp sounds like you're reading the euro instructions for 2 phase. Most hobs are 30 amp plus on single phase. What are the ratings of each burner? Add them up.

A cooker circuit can be easily adapted by "spurring" from the cooker connection unit (using the same cable as the rest of the cct) and fitting a single socket for the oven to plug into.

 

[madtravellingal]

It's a Candy PVC 401 N.

The manual say's 20amp (i thought that was a little low as it says 6500w on the rating plate).

The instructions are basically cr*p. Any pointers would be much appreciated.

 

[davy_owen_88]

The fuse at the consumer unit is there to protect the cable, not the oven/hob. So assuming the correct cable was installed there is no reason why you can't wire the hob to the cooker switch and plug the oven into any suitable socket.

 

[Steve]

6500w / 230v = a tad under 29 amps.

In my opinion, allowing a little for the fact that you wont be using every burner at once, and the burners cycle on thermostats anyway, the two appliances will be fine on a 30 amp MCB/fuse and 6mm² cable (which was probably already there)

 

[madtravellingal]

So the hob wouldn't be overloaded, even though I'm told that it's only 20amp in the installation instructions?

 

[madtravellingal]

Crafty,

My current CCU has a plug socket also. Can I hook the hob up to this and plug the oven into the socket?

Cheers and thanks for your help in advance

 

[davy_owen_88]

So assuming the correct cable was installed there is no reason why you can't wire the hob to the cooker switch and plug the oven into any suitable socket.

The socket on the cooker switch will be fine for the oven for the reasons crafty mentioned (diversity).

 

[Steve]

Crafty,

My current CCU has a plug socket also. Can I hook the hob up to this and plug the oven into the socket?

Cheers and thanks for your help in advance

Wouldn't it look a bit messy with the oven's flex plugged in above the worktop?

Fit a socket down below, next to the outlet.

 

[madtravellingal]

Thanks again guys.

The hob I purchased didn't come with any cable.

Do I just use 2.5mm cable or does it need to be heat resistant?

 

[RF Lighting]

It needs to be 6.0mm² cable.

Normal twin and earth will be OK.

 

[davy_owen_88]

Thanks again guys.

The hob I purchased didn't come with any cable.

Do I just use 2.5mm cable or does it need to be heat resistant?

No, you need to use 4mm² atleast when connecting to a 30/32A circuit. Your manual should have a note saying what type of cable to use...

 

[madtravellingal]

The manual said to use heat resistant 2.5mm heat resistant cable.

Installed it last night using this, turned everything on (all of the hobs and the oven) and nothings exploded.

Am I being a bit assumptive that it seems OK?

 

[davy_owen_88]

Am I being a bit assumptive that it seems OK?

Yes you are. As RF and myself told you, you need atleast 4mm² cable when connected to the 30A fuse.

The 2.5mm² cable recommended by the manufacturer was for use with a 20A circuit that they also recommended.

 

[madtravellingal]

Where can I purchase the 4mm or 6mm heat resistant cable from, if anywhere?