When buying kitchen appliances, the question often arises: how to connect an induction hob? Many turn to qualified specialists for help, while laying out a decent amount. In the capital, for example, they can ask for at least 1000 rubles, or even more, for such work. Home masters prefer to settle everything on their own.
As for connecting the hob, by and large there is nothing complicated, however, there are certain nuances that you would like to know about.
Miracle Technique?
Without a doubt, an induction cooker or hob can be considered a device of a new generation. And to be convinced of this, it is enough to get acquainted with the principle of operation of such a kitchen miracle technique.
Unlike traditional electric or gas stoves, the connected Bosch, Electrolux and other brands of induction hobs work differently. Metal dishes are heated due to the effects of induced eddy currents, which are created by a high frequency magnetic field. Therefore, it is important to use dishes that are made of a material that effectively absorbs the energy of vortex fields.
Ordinary steel is of such quality, and therefore the dishes best suited for induction devices can be checked with a magnet. At the same time, it is impossible to make a mistake with the choice - modern models “know” to recognize suitable dishes, and only then the generator turns on.
A number of safety rules
Induction hob refers to electric kitchen appliances, and in order to connect it to the network, you must follow certain rules. They will be discussed a little later. As a rule, hobs, like many ordinary stoves, go on sale without an electric plug. It will have to be purchased separately.
The connection process itself as a whole is a fairly responsible work that requires maximum concentration. And the operation of the hob will depend on how accurately all the rules and safety requirements are followed.
Before connecting the induction hob Electrolux, Bosch and other companies, you should make sure that the wiring in the kitchen is in good condition. If you ignore this point, then subsequently such a mistake can lead to inoperability of the hob. A conventional circuit breaker (circuit breaker) is not able to provide protection to equipment in case of insulation damage and electric leakage.
The principle of operation of the induction device
The principle of operation of an induction hob is based on the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction, which was discovered at the beginning of the 19th century by a famous person - M. Faraday. Due to a change in magnetic flux, electricity is generated in a closed loop.
The glass-ceramic surface of the hob conceals an induction coil with a copper winding. A current with a frequency of 20 to 60 kHz is supplied to it. Such conditions contribute to the formation of magnetic fields with the subsequent development of induction currents. The bottom of the dishes - this is the conductor with a closed circuit.
Everyone who is interested in the features of connecting a Bosch induction hob (for example) cannot but be interested in how this technique works.
The created vortex flow drives the particles of the bottom of the dishes, which leads to its heating. In other words, heat is transferred directly to the bottom, while the glass-ceramic surface remains cold. Of course, it can heat up, but only from a pot or pan.
The efficiency of induction cookers reaches 90%, which indicates that the power is not wasted. As for electrical analogues, then they have this indicator reaches a value of not more than 60%.
Power Technology
Since the induction hob is a rather powerful household appliance, therefore, it requires a separate electric line. Moreover, it needs a separate circuit breaker. It is not recommended to power the device from a common box in the kitchen or from outlets.
If the panel has a power of 5.9 kW or less, then in this case the cable for electrical wiring should be 4 mm 2 cross-section, and the rating of the machine should be 25 A. For devices with power up to 7.4 kW, the conductor cross-sectional area is already larger - 6 mm 2 , and the rating of the machine should already be at least 32 A.
What to do with old wiring?
How to independently connect an induction hob to an old-style power supply network? As a rule, in the technical passport of this kind of technology, the indicated power refers to the work when all the "heating elements" are turned on. According to the rules for the installation of electrical installations or PUE (Chapter 1.3, Table 1.3.4 and 1.3.5), it is allowed to connect electrical appliances with a capacity of not more than 4.6 kW (220 Volts) to an aluminum wire with a cross-sectional area of 4 mm 2 .
In other words, for apartments with old wiring, you should choose a hob with a capacity of not more than 5 kW. Moreover, during the cooking period, do not turn on the device at full strength.
Electric plug selection
As already noted above, an electric plug is not provided in the delivery set of the hob, and therefore it has to be purchased separately. It should be borne in mind that ordinary sockets and plugs of ordinary purpose for this powerful device are not suitable. At some point, they may simply ignite due to too high an electrical load for them.
An important point! For safe operation of kitchen appliances and to avoid sparking contacts, do not disconnect the plug from the outlet while the hob is operating.
To connect the induction hob, you need a special outlet and plug. In this case, the plug connection depends on the rating of the rated current:
- If the network is single-phase, then the power outlet must have at least three conclusions.
- In the case of a three-phase network, the number of pins is at least 5.
At the same time, such sockets have noticeable differences between themselves. In relation to a single-phase socket, installation is required at 32 A, and for a three-phase socket - at 16 A. As a rule, both sockets and plugs for this kind of powerful equipment are made of special plastic. Some models are equipped with a lid, which is very convenient when operating a kitchen appliance. As for the appearance, there are no special requirements, the main thing is that the case can withstand the corresponding load.
As for the cable, one thing can be said - it is necessary that its length is enough to reach the outlet. It should also have sufficient flexibility and contain the required number of cores in accordance with the wiring. To fasten small wiring, use a sleeve insulated pin tip.
Features of the installation of the hob
A plug-in induction hob is usually classified as a built-in household appliance, so the general installation rules apply to it. In particular, we are talking about the following:
- All saw cuts that are made in a wooden countertop need to be treated with a sealant in order to provide protection against moisture.
- Make sure that the panel and the surface of the countertop are sealed. This will prevent moisture from entering the electrical part of the device. For this purpose, use gaskets (gaskets), which are just included in the scope of delivery of the hob. In the case when the panel is fixed on ceramic tile, the resulting gap should be sealed with tile adhesive.
- The use of additional liquid sealants to seal the gaps between the countertop and the panel is not welcome, since it is quite problematic to remove it.
Subject to all the operating rules of the hob, its electromagnetic energy will only work on heating dishes.
Hob connection diagrams
The technology for connecting induction-type kitchen appliances is directly dependent on the electrical network of the apartment building. Typically, in buildings erected during the Soviet era, single-phase wiring with a voltage of 220 V is used, while in modern apartment buildings there can already be three-phase networks with a nominal value of 380 V.
However, connecting an induction hob yourself should not be a problem, since many models can work both from single-phase and from three-phase electrical wiring. The only prerequisite is that you must make sure that the chassis is properly grounded. Some devices are supplied to the world market with integrated tires - all that remains is to connect them with the appropriate conductor.
Single phase mains
Typically, hobs come on the market with a wire, but this does not apply to every model. Then, in addition to an outlet with a plug, you will have to purchase a network cable in accordance with the power of the kitchen appliance. As a rule, this is a wire with a cross-sectional area of 4 or 6 mm 2 , and the latter option is more reliable.
If the kitchen appliance is equipped with a cable with three wires, then there should not be any special difficulties when connecting. In this case, it is enough to adhere to the marking, which is generally accepted throughout Europe:
- L1, L2, L3 - this is the phase.
- N - corresponds to zero. In some cases, there are two such wires.
- PE - grounding conductor.
In this case, the phase is indicated by green / red / yellow or brown / black / white, zero with a blue or blue tint, and the earth is mainly yellow-green in color.
There are only three contacts - 1 phase, 1 zero and 1 earth. The grounding contact in the plug is located as if in a distance from the other two in the upper or lower part of the housing (but most often at the top). As for the phase and zero contacts, they are usually located nearby, parallel to each other.
Features of connecting the induction hob "Electrolux"
Some models of Electrolux, Bosch, Hansa, Gorenje firms are equipped with four-wire wires. This circumstance for many home masters can cause certain difficulties when connecting kitchen appliances to the electrical network.
4 veins are nothing but two phases, zero and earth. But in order to connect the equipment correctly, you need to know some nuances. Electrolux hob installation is as follows:
- First you need to find a place where the terminals are located. As a rule, they are located in the back of the plastic case of the device. To open the cover, just pry it with a screwdriver.
- Then it is worth finding a way out "earth" - usually it is marked with a yellow-green color. Nearby is a jumper designed for two wires - for phases. These conductors are black and brown. The jumper is just installed between the phase contacts.
- When connecting the plug, only the brown wire should be used, and the black one must be insulated with a heat pipe or electrical tape.
The use of any adapters or extension cords is strictly prohibited!
And if there are 6 wires?
What to do in this case, when the induction hob, connected to the mains, has as many as 6 wires (single-phase 220 V network)? The problem is solved again using the same special jumpers that were described just above for Electrolux hobs. They combine all the phase and neutral terminals of the device.
Some models are already equipped with jumpers, which greatly simplifies everything. However, in their absence, they can be made independently.
Three Phase Power Network
In this case, there are as many as five wires in the cable - 3 phases, 1 zero and 1 earth. There is no need for jumpers, since each phase wire is connected to its terminal. The only thing where the jumper is still needed is the combination of two zero terminals in the device body.
In some cases, it becomes necessary to connect the hob to a two-phase electrical network with a nominal value of the same 380 V. Then you will have to combine the two phases and both zeros. And since all power is distributed evenly between the two phases, you can combine them by means of a tip or simply isolate one of the cores. The remaining conductors are connected to the contacts of the plug, observing the polarity.
It is worth noting that a three-phase network is considered a more economical option in terms of energy consumption.
Conclusion
If there is no self-confidence, then it is better not to take on the connection of the induction hob. After all, there is a risk of doing everything wrong, and then all sorts of consequences simply cannot be avoided. In this case, it is advisable to contact a qualified specialist, whatever the cost of his services. Human life has no value, which should always be remembered!