Advice on installing my own electric cooker?

Sandwich

I've just bought an electric cooker, this one to be precise:

http://www.smeguk.com/product/suk62cmx8/#

I plan to install this myself and would really appreciate some advice, as I've not done it before.

1) What will I need before I start, and

2) What is the process for installing.

I'm hoping the cooker will come with the correct wire, but if not I'll need some advice on what to buy (the cooker has a total load rating of 12.8kW, btw). I've got a control unit already installed on my kitchen wall, and a terminal outlet already installed near the floor where the cooker goes, so I'm assuming (famous last words) that this will be as simple as turning off all of the electrics at the consumer unit, unscrewing the terminal outlet plate, wiring the cable to the terminal outlet (and the other end to the cooker, if it's not already done), and then putting the terminal outlet plate back on?

phoenix_w

Electric cookers typically come with the terminals required for connection, but not a wire. What is your fuse or MCB rated for the cooker at the consumer unit? With a load of nearly 13kW you'll need a large (40A+) breaker and you'll need to ensure the cabling from the CU and the cable connecting the terminal to the cooker can take this load. If in doubt, call a spark!

Quiet_Spark

You'll need a short length of 10mm² twin and earth cable, some earth sleeving, a couple of screwdrivers, a pair of sidecutters, and around 15 minutes of your time.

Your assumption on the procedure for connecting is correct but the fact you had to ask means I would seriously recommend you get an electrician in (especially as I don't think for one minute you will have a suitable sized MCB in your consumer unit and nor do I believe the supply from the consumer unit will be using a suitable sized cable to the cooker point).


PS
If you are going to do it yourself then make sure all electrical connections are tight, one loose wire can easily see a fire start with that kind of load.

pinkteapot

You've bought a £1k cooker. Spend a fraction of that on a sparkie.

Paully232000

If it was me, and I had to come on to a forum to ask how to do something that could potentially go very badly wrong I would get a professional in.
Peace of mind is sometimes worth more than saving a few £s.

Sandwich

pinkteapot wrote: »

You've bought a £1k cooker. Spend a fraction of that on a sparkie.

I should have mentioned, I haven't bought it for £1000. I've bought a refurbished model for a lot less (although it does still have some warranty).

Sandwich

I've just taken some pictures, which will hopefully help. Here's the consumer unit:



And the inside of the CU cover panel:



So I can take it from this that I'm all set, as the breaker is 80A on the cooker/lights?

System

If you have to ask those questions then you shouldn't be doing it. get a pro in to do it for you.

Sandwich

!!!!!! wrote: »

If you have to ask those questions then you shouldn't be doing it. get a pro in to do it for you.

I'm not going to do anything stupid like steam in there with a screwdriver and some gaffer tape, but I would like to determine whether or not this is a DIY-able job or not.

If it is just a matter of wiring it to the terminal outlet, then there's really no reason not to do it. But if there's a potential issue with the CU wiring then obviously I'm going to get a pro in.

The cooker's not getting delivered until next week anyway, so I might as well look into it.

Mankysteve

Get a sparky in but if you really insist on trying to DIY it better to be told how to do it safely.
http://www.diynot.com/forums/electrics/cooker-circuit-diversity-etc.288452/

Sandwich

Mankysteve wrote: »

Get a sparky in but if you really insist on trying to DIY it better to be told how to do it safely.
http://www.diynot.com/forums/electrics/cooker-circuit-diversity-etc.288452/

Thanks. They seem to know what they're talking about in that thread and they all seem to think 6mm cabling (over a short run, mind you -- 6m) is fine