The purpose of the article is to tell the reader how to independently connect an electric hob. This is a powerful device that is built into the countertop, for which you will have to equip a separate wiring line with a special outlet (power). Such devices are gradually replacing floor electric stoves due to their functionality and efficiency. It should be said right away: to install and connect the hob with your own hands to the network is a difficult task that must be performed in accordance with safety regulations.
Main types
Currently, two varieties of electric-powered hobs are produced:
- Dependent (connected) devices controlled by touch or mechanical buttons located on the front panel. Such models have few advantages: a single style design and low price, when compared with the option when you need to buy an oven and hob separately. However, repairing this type of equipment is more difficult, since in the event of a breakdown it will be more difficult to find the cause of the malfunction.
- Independent (unrelated) devices are installed separately and have their own control panel. You should know: it is forbidden to connect the electric hob and oven to one cable. Therefore, in this case, you will have to lay two separate lines for each household appliance in order to exclude a possible network congestion.
In addition, electric hobs are classified according to the type of heater (burner) into two main types:
- Rapid with a metal disk.
- Induction.
They have a different principle of operation, but they are connected to the mains by the same technique.
Initial Stage - Panel Installation
Any oven must be installed inside the kitchenette, and the hob - in the countertop. This household appliance has a small thickness, but the length and width of different models can dramatically differ. As a rule, the size of the hob depends on the number of heating zones. Popular models are two- and four-burner. To perform installation work, the essence of which is to install the panel in the countertop, first you need to prepare such devices:
- jigsaw (electric or manual);
- drill;
- masking tape;
- silicone sealant;
- two-valve metal staples;
- pencil.
The installation process includes the following steps:
- Stick masking tape on the countertop to protect its surface from scratches.
- Mark with a pencil at the selected location, taking into account the dimensions of the hob. However, you can simply circle the device.
- Make a hole with a diameter of about 10 mm with a drill on any part of the marking so that a jigsaw file can freely enter it.
- Cut the contour along the marked lines.
- Seal joints with sealant.
- Install and press the equipment with your hands so that it is firmly fixed in the recess made.
- Attach the brackets to the back of the countertop.
The oven must be placed inside the kitchen. When the described activities are completed, you can start connecting to the electric hob network.
Cable selection
There are two key parameters that you need to consider when choosing a wire cross section:
- number of cores;
- thickness.
To determine the first characteristic of the cable, you need to know how many contacts are in the terminal board of the hob. As a rule, such devices have several connection options: to three or four cores. Three-wire wire is used when you need to connect the device to a single-phase network, the operating voltage of which is approximately 220 V. If, in a private house, a three-phase switchboard is installed, then in this case it is better to install the device according to the scheme taking into account the wire with 4 or more wires. An additional cable will reduce the voltage in the line and, accordingly, increase its efficiency.
To determine the thickness of the cable section, you need to know the power of the hob. To determine this indicator, you can use the classic Ohm formula: I = P ÷ U, where:
- I is the current strength calculated in amperes (A).
- P - device power (unit of measure - watts), to determine which it is enough to look into the device passport.
- U is the mains voltage, in this case, equal to 220 volts (V).
After calculating the current strength of the hob and oven, you can determine the cable cross-section using special tables, one of which is given below.
For example, at a rated current of 32 A, you will need a copper wire, the cross section of which is 6 mm 2 . But modern oven models consume about 3–3.5 kW, while hobs consume 5–10 kW. Therefore, to connect the oven, an electric cable with a cross section of at least 2.5 mm 2 is required. In addition, the wires must be moisture resistant, non-combustible and have double insulation.
Outlet selection
This electrical device must be of high quality, as cheap models are often defective. The power of the outlet directly depends on the model of the hob. For example, if a household appliance consumes about 3.5 kW, you will have to buy a socket with a rated current of 16 A. For operation of equipment with a power of 3.6-7-5 kW, you need a power device of 40 A.
Hob fork
The reliability of the connection depends on this element. Using a conventional plug to connect the hob is a bad idea, as they will quickly deteriorate, and this will lead to a deterioration in their technical parameters. According to the recommendations of electricians, for this purpose it is necessary to use power parts.
The main thing is that the plug is made of heat-resistant material. In addition, to connect an electric hob, it is desirable to make a separate line with a power outlet. Therefore, it is better to buy a plug with the aforementioned device, which will have to be mounted on the wall, since this is the only way to ensure reliable grounding and proper operation of the hob.
Wiring diagrams
In the CIS countries, two electrical network standards are common:
- Single-phase voltage of 220 V.
- Three-phase at 380 V.
A single-phase network can be of two types: two-and three-wire. The peculiarity of the first option is that it uses wires of the same color, so you will have to use an indicator screwdriver to detect the phase. A single-phase three-wire network consists of multi-colored wires. In this case, each power line has a certain shade of insulation:
- zero (N) is blue;
- phase (L) - brown or red;
- grounding (PE) - green-yellow.
In turn, in a three-phase electrical network, the wires have a standard color. But in this case, the cable corresponding to the phase can be green, red and yellow, so a multimeter is used to find it. However, it often happens that the wires that are connected to connect the equipment have the same color of insulation or they are marked not according to generally accepted standards. In this case, an indicator screwdriver is used to identify the phase core, but it is more difficult to distinguish the ground wire from the zero wire, therefore, a special tester is used for this purpose.
Hob network connection: step-by-step instructions
In order to independently power the mentioned device or oven, you need to follow this procedure:
- Buy a wire of the desired cross section, since it will connect the device to the network. In addition, you need to purchase a suitable electric plug, socket and differential machine. If the old electrical wiring is laid in the house, then you will have to lay a new line using a powerful copper cable. However, people living in new buildings should not have problems connecting the hob, since high-quality wiring was carried out in such houses.
- Select the method of connecting the device (single or three phase). It is necessary to focus on the characteristics of the home electrical network, the model of equipment and the electrical diagram, which should be depicted on the device casing near the terminal block. To find out the nominal parameters of a household appliance, it is necessary to study the instructions. As a rule, a three-phase method is used to connect a 4-burner electric hobs with a power of 7 kW or more.
- Lay the wires to the switchboard.
- Install a differential circuit breaker, the purpose of which is to protect the wiring from short circuits, overloads and warn of current leaks due to insulation damage.
- Install the electrical plug, which must be selected taking into account the marking of the wire, the mains voltage, the plug connector and the equipment connection diagram.
- Install a power outlet. Usually, a concealed wiring is used to connect a recessed built-in electric panel, for which it is necessary to first grind the walls and make a niche for the mounting box (socket box). You should know: according to safety rules, the outlet must be mounted at a height of at least 30 cm from the floor covering.
- Connect the cable to the electrical panel using a difavtomat (instead of it, you can use a circuit breaker and an RCD).
Connecting an electric oven and hob
In this case, one line can be drawn to connect the sockets to the shield, but it must be protected by a difavtomat. At the same time, for devices with a current of 32 A, a 40 A automatic machine is used. Before connecting the hob with the oven, it is necessary to calculate the power consumption of each device in order to determine the permissible cable cross-section. Thanks to this, two sockets can be installed at once. The installation sequence does not matter. For example, at the back you can install the outlet from the oven, and in front - from the panel or vice versa. In addition, they can be parted on different sides. But, according to the masters, the ideal solution to this problem is the installation of a dual outlet, in the housing of which two contact boxes are installed.
Directly connecting a three-phase device to a single-phase network: instruction
In this case, you will have to install special jumpers. To connect the electric hob directly to the network, do the following:
- Find the cover on the back of the appliance that covers the terminals and remove it with a screwdriver.
- If a single-phase three-wire network is installed in the house, and there are six or more terminals in the device, then you will have to dock the contacts. To do this, connect the wires corresponding to the phases, with each other with jumpers.
- Connect one zero cable to another. The result should be three lines.
Some models are already equipped with copper or brass jumpers, so to connect an electric hob, you just need to connect the wires of the home electrical network to the contacts of the device. Sockets with this reliable method are not used. But in the event of a breakdown of the front button or touch panel, it will be difficult to de-energize the equipment. And if you need to install the device in an old private house, in which aluminum, and not copper cables of the desired section are laid, you will have to replace all the wiring with a new one.
Bosch electric hob connection
This device is usually connected using a four-wire cable and terminals that are located in a box on the back of the hob. In addition, there must be a special circuit on the surface of the device. To avoid errors, it is necessary to connect the device taking into account the information indicated in the above figure. If you need to connect the power plug to the wire, you must first carefully study its marking. In the outlet, in which there are three contacts, it is necessary to connect the two cores of the phase of black and brown in one. Thanks to these simple steps, you can connect the Bosch electric hob.
However, the device can be connected directly to the shield. The main thing is to carefully study the instructions and determine the number of phases in the home network.
Conclusion
To independently connect the electric hob is a difficult and responsible task. Before proceeding to it, you must completely disconnect the house or apartment. The main thing is to comply with safety regulations, since you need to work with elements of the electrical network extremely carefully and carefully. In addition, you must adhere to the information provided in this article.