Oven/Hob Wiring Question

Horizon81

I'm new to all this so please bear with me.

I've got a built in Fan Assisted Electric Oven and a Gas hob (which needs electric to produce the spark to ignite the gas) - both are on a dedicated cooker circuit (so both are controlled by the big red switch on the wall)

Now, the oven has broken so I intend to replace it rather than repair as it's quite old. I've removed the oven and was expecting to see the thick grey lead from the point on the wall going directly into the oven. However, whoever fitted it has wired the thick grey lead directly into the back of a twin electric socket box. The oven and the hob have both had a 3 pin plug wired to the end of their power leads and are plugged into this box.

It looks a bit dodgy to me as I thought the oven should have been wired directly to the wall, however, that begs the question where should the hob be wired to? It does seem to make sense that both are run off this circuit and controlled by the same spur, however can anyone confirm if this all sounds correct, or if the oven should be wired to this point only and the hob elsewhere?

The oven is 2.4kw. Fear not, I don't intend to work on this myself, I just want to be clued up before I go about buying a new oven and consulting a qualified electrician. Cheers.

Silk

First off I'm not qualified ...however as far as I'm aware the fitting of a plug is a definate no no.

The cable from the big red switch box should go direct to the oven with no breaks.

As it's going to be replaced it no longer matters if you are getting a prof fitting done.

Are you "sure" that you have got 6mm cable as a supply for the oven rather than 2.5mm cable as in std ring main ?

phill99

Sorry Silk, you are incorrect. A single built under oven is rated at no more than 3kw (the same as your electric kettle) and therefore can plug straight into a socket. this is common practice (mine included) and is not illegal, or wrong. Likewise the ignition for the hob is rated in the same way and again can have a 13amp plug and be plugged in to a normal 13a socket.

If you had a double oven that is rated at much more than 3 kw, then you would need a dedicated circuit.

Silk

phill99 wrote: »

Sorry Silk, you are incorrect. A single built under oven is rated at no more than 3kw (the same as your electric kettle) and therefore can plug straight into a socket. this is common practice (mine included) and is not illegal, or wrong. Likewise the ignition for the hob is rated in the same way and again can have a 13amp plug and be plugged in to a normal 13a socket.

If you had a double oven that is rated at much more than 3 kw, then you would need a dedicated circuit.

Cheers Phil I see what you mean

Our's are all double ovens so didn't notice the wattage or think about the difference

I see now it's only 2.4kw so like you say no problems :beer:

Horizon81

It's on a cooker circuit so it's not like it's just plugged into a mains socket. My query is, is it ok to connect a junction box/double socket to the circuit, then have the oven and the hob connected to it with plugs (with a 13A rating). Isn't the cooker circuit more like 32A?

Silk

Horizon81 wrote: »

It's on a cooker circuit so it's not like it's just plugged into a mains socket. My query is, is it ok to connect a junction box/double socket to the circuit, then have the oven and the hob connected to it with plugs (with a 13A rating). Isn't the cooker circuit more like 32A?

Yes as Phil has just pointed out if it's less than 3kw it's not a problem ...but if you were replacing it with something that uses over that you would not be able to.

As Phil points out 2.4kw is just like an electric kettle or a fan heater etc etc

CKdesigner

phill99 wrote: »

Sorry Silk, you are incorrect. A single built under oven is rated at no more than 3kw (the same as your electric kettle) and therefore can plug straight into a socket. this is common practice (mine included) and is not illegal, or wrong. Likewise the ignition for the hob is rated in the same way and again can have a 13amp plug and be plugged in to a normal 13a socket.

If you had a double oven that is rated at much more than 3 kw, then you would need a dedicated circuit.

Sorry Phil you are wrong - most single ovens these days are rated at 3.6kW or more. Every single oven from Miele and Siemens and all but one from Neff is 3.6kW. So the OP will have to be careful and make sure they find one under 3kW, as the 'norm' now is rated higher.

CK