Electricity Circuit Help

ad1927

I have a query.

We currently have a 32A circuit dedicated to the cooker.  However, in our kitchen refit, we need to install our Induction Hob - and this is 7.2 KW.  The electrician has suggested using the cooker circuit for this, and to then plug the cooker into a normal socket.

This makes me a bit nervous.  The cooker, electric, is a single oven and never goes about 2.3KWh on the smart meter.  Electrician says it is no different to using a kettle.  We only have 6 circuits.

However, on investigation, I find that my boiler has its own 10 Amp circuit.  The boiler is a gas combi-boiler, and uses very little electricity. 

Now, I know what the benefits are for it having its own circuit - we have a boiler working if other circuits stop working.  However, I am thinking, from a safety perspective so plan to ask the electrician this question.

"Can we change the 10A circuit to a 32A - plug the boiler into the main Downstairs sockets circuit, and give the cooker its own dedicated circuit?".

Is this a really ridiculous question?  Is the electrician correct that the oven can simply be plugged into the main socket circuit?  Does the boiler really need its own dedicated circuit?

CliveOfIndia

If the cooker is less than 3KW then it'll be fine plugged into a standard 13-amp socket.

ad1927 said:

"Can we change the 10A circuit to a 32A - plug the boiler into the main Downstairs sockets circuit, and give the cooker its own dedicated circuit?".

I mean, I guess you could - but it's a lot of expense and upheaval for no benefit.  You can't just "change" a 10A circuit to a 32A circuit - it would need the existing wiring to be replaced with wiring capable of carrying the increased current.

The main reason you have a dedicated cooker circuit in the first place is purely because it needs to deal with a lot more current than a standard 13A circuit - assuming you're talking about a full-sized double oven, that kind of thing, which will be rated at a lot more than 3KW.  Induction hobs very often do draw more than 13A (if yours is rated at 7.2 KW then it will definitely draw more than 13A if you're using more than a couple of rings at once).

I think you're worrying over nothing - it makes perfect sense to use the old cooker circuit for the hob, and plug/wire your cooker into a standard 13A circuit.

DullGreyGuy

We transferred the original cooker circuit to our induction hob, ours is also 7.5kw so needs the 32amp protection. 

Our little oven and warming draw are perfectly happy running off a standard 13amp plug and indeed were supplied with a moulded plug for such use anyway. The larger oven needs more power and as we were moving the ovens to the other side of the room and had a spare slot in the consumer unit just added an extra circuit for it. 

Dont see the point in replacing the cabling for the boiler to support a 32amp MCB and having the boiler run from the rings main when you can just plug it in. If you really want a separate supply, maybe if your thinking of a bigger oven in the future, then may as well bite the bullet and get a new circuit added

Albermarle

Some electric fan ovens ( standard size) come with a 13 A three pin plug already fitted. We have one and has never caused an issue.

ThisIsWeird

ad1927 said:

I have a query.

We currently have a 32A circuit dedicated to the cooker.  However, in our kitchen refit, we need to install our Induction Hob - and this is 7.2 KW.  The electrician has suggested using the cooker circuit for this, and to then plug the cooker into a normal socket.

This makes me a bit nervous.  The cooker, electric, is a single oven and never goes about 2.3KWh on the smart meter.  Electrician says it is no different to using a kettle.  We only have 6 circuits.

However, on investigation, I find that my boiler has its own 10 Amp circuit.  The boiler is a gas combi-boiler, and uses very little electricity. 

Now, I know what the benefits are for it having its own circuit - we have a boiler working if other circuits stop working.  However, I am thinking, from a safety perspective so plan to ask the electrician this question.

"Can we change the 10A circuit to a 32A - plug the boiler into the main Downstairs sockets circuit, and give the cooker its own dedicated circuit?".

Is this a really ridiculous question?  Is the electrician correct that the oven can simply be plugged into the main socket circuit?  Does the boiler really need its own dedicated circuit?

Hi ad1927.
What your sparky has proposed is fine.
However, if what you are saying is correct, that your boiler has its own dedicated circuit (which can be considered a good move if you have enough spare MCBs, as it means it'll keep running if other circuits trip), then what you feel more inclined towards doing is - imo - an understandable wish.
Ie, feed the boiler - which typically only consumes around one amp - from a FSU off the main kitchen socket circuit or any other ring, and then use the old boiler circuit to supply only the new oven - assuming it has adequately sized cable, say 2.5mm. You wouldn't make it a 32A circuit, as this wee oven doesn't need that - you could just fit, say, a 16A MCB to it.
It certainly wouldn't justify running a new cable.
To be clear, this isn't necessary at all, but I agree with you - I'd much rather have a highish power device like the oven draw from its own MCB, than share a circuit which is likely to be having a kettle, toaster, air fryer, and gawd knows what else running from it at some of the same time. 
You only have 6 circuits, so it seems indulgent to use one for just the boiler. I have 18 MCBs, but the boiler is still spurred off one of the sockets circuits...
But, what your sparky says is ok. It is not unsafe.

FreeBear

My induction hob & oven both run on the same circuit, and there is an additional 13A socket on the isolator switch. Load diversity means I should be OK running the whole lot on a 32A circuit. If there were any doubts, it could have been upgraded to a 45A circuit.