Quick question about electric cooker?

Careful_with_that_Axe

I've just bought a 2nd hand electric cooker from ebay. Do electric cookers come with a plug or just a wire to be hardwired into the cooker socket?
If it has to be wired, can I just stick a plug on the end of it as I'm not much good at electrics and am a bit worried about tackling wiring it into a socket.

I do have a handyman coming in on Monday to do some jobs, but as I've been without a cooker for 4 months, I really want to be able to use it straight away.

Many thanks.

torbrex

They usually have to be hardwired in and it is that way for safety reasons as most houses have a seperate ring main fuse for cookers but it is no more difficult than wiring a plug

bungle4by4

it needs to be hardwired. if your not confident then please leave it till monday. you can cause a fire if you dont tighten the screws up tightly.

Careful_with_that_Axe

Thank you. I may leave it til Monday then. I've waited this long so will just have to wait a little longer.
I'm OK with plumbing as its bloomin obvious if you've done sommat wrong, but I'm scared of electricity

ormus

if youre fixing a light ceiling rose and you get blown off the stepladder, its bloomin obvious youve done summat wrong.

Careful_with_that_Axe

Since virtually that happened when I tried to fit a dimmer switch years ago, I'm a bit wary!

fluffpot

It will depend on the power rating of the cooker. If 3kW or less then a plug will be OK. but if more it will need it's own separate circuit, Can you post back with the kW rating (it should be on the back of the oven, just inside the door or on any paperwork. Or post the link to ebay and we'll look
Fluff

ormus

generally speaking, if its got a hob then it needs to be hard wired.
an oven on its own can normally/sometimes be wired via 13 amp plug.

Careful_with_that_Axe

fluffpot, that's a really kind offer. The cooker isn't being delivered til tomorrow, but I'll have a boggle at it then. Maybe I can run it from a plug until getting it properly fixed on Monday. That would be ideal as I'm craving an apple pie!

Myser

If you desperately want to use the oven, there are a few things you need to be aware of if do do temporarily fit a plug:

1. As others have mentioned, the power should not exceed 3KW.
2. Only the oven or a single hob should be used. Not a combination of both.
3. Make sure the connections in the plug are tight and secure.

If you want to confirm the power consumption of just running the oven, you could plug the cooker into an energy meter:


http://www.maplin.co.uk/plug-in-electricity-cost-and-usage-calculator-223573


All of the above assumes that you are competant with wiring a plug and don't leave the cooker plugged in unattended.

ormus

most 4 plate hobs will exceed 3kw.