Power lead on electric cooker

[Wendus]

Hello from an elderly, female Newbie!

I had to go out today and buy a second-hand electric cooker, because my old one gave up the ghost over Christmas. However, the new one has had it's power lead (the lead that goes to the plug) removed, so I need to connect another one.

I'm quite confident to work with electrical wiring, and always switch off at the mains before starting. However, when I took the safety plate off the back of the new cooker, I realised that I wasn't too sure how to wire-in the power lead, so I'm hoping someone here can help me.

The photo shows what I found when I removed the plate, and I imagine the wiring will be fairly simple, but I just need to know what goes where (the letters weren't there, I've added those to the photo!).

Many thanks.

Wendy
________________________
Lynda, moderator

You may get a better reply in U.K. electrics, so I have moved it

 

[andy]

A: looks like neutral
b: looks like phase
c: looks like an earth
d: cable clamp

make sure you use appropriatly rated cable

 

[JohnD]

Might D be the cable clamp? Not clear from this angle. there ought to be one somewhere otherwise the terminals will be tugged when you pull out the cooker for cleaning. the cable sheathing has to be gripped in the clamp, don't cut it back to hold just the individual wires in the clamp. And don't poke the cable through a raw-edged metal hole like the one I see on the left, as it will chafe and cut through the insulation.


BTW, you said "plug" - is this quite a small cooker? Apart from the baby belling kind of small cooker, most take more power than will go through a 13 Amp plug. Do you not have one of those big cooker switches and a cable outlet on the wall?

If you are using flex, buy the biggest thickest one your shop sells, as the cooker may be running at high load for long periods, e.g. when cooking a big dinner. The cooker will have a rating plate on the back telling you its load which the cable must be able to carry.

 

[andy]

Might D be the cable clamp?

didnt think of that...

 

[Softus]

'D' is without doubt the cable clamp.

'A' / 'B' / 'C' are neutral / live / earth, respectively.

FYI, electricians frequently use the term "phase" - this stems from the existence of three distinct phases in some (mostly non-domestic) supplies, and is equivalent to the term "live" in a single-phase supply.

As per JohnD's advice you MUST check the manufacturer's instructions. If you have no documentation then please post make and model of cooker here to see if anyone has them or can obtain them.

 

[JohnD]

p.s. Maybe you just pretended to be an elderly lady because you knew we'd be extra-helpful? Might try that myself