The purpose of the article is to tell the reader how to independently connect the electric hob. This is a powerful device built into the countertop, for which you will have to equip a separate wiring line with a special socket (power). Such devices are gradually replacing floor electric stoves due to their functionality and efficiency. It should be said right away: installing and connecting the hob to the network with your own hands is a difficult task that must be performed in accordance with safety regulations.
Main species
Currently, two types of electric hobs are produced:
- Dependent (linked) devices controlled by touch or mechanical buttons located on the front panel. Such models have few advantages: a single style design andlow 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 an electric hob and an oven to the same cable. Therefore, in this case, it will be necessary to lay two separate lines for each household appliance in order to exclude possible network overload.
In addition, electric hobs are classified according to the type of heater (burner) into two main types:
- Rapid with metal disc.
- Induction.
They have a different principle of operation, but they are connected to the power grid using the same method.
Initial stage - panel installation
Any oven must be installed inside the floor kitchen set, and the hob - in the countertop. This household appliance has a small thickness, but the length and width of different models can vary dramatically. As a rule, the dimensions of the hob depend 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, you first need to prepare the following fixtures:
- jigsaw (electric or manual);
- drill;
- masking tape;
- silicone sealant;
- two-legged metal staples;
- pencil.
The installation process includes the following steps:
- Stick masking tape on the countertop to protect it from scratches.
- Mark with a pencil in the selected place, taking into account the size of the hob. However, you can simply trace the outline of the device.
- Make a hole with a diameter of about 10 mm on any part of the marking done so that the jigsaw file can freely enter it.
- Cut the outline along the marked lines.
- Treat the joints with sealant.
- Install and press the equipment with your hands so that it is firmly fixed in the recess made.
- Stap the machine body to the back of the table top with staples.
The oven must be placed inside the kitchen unit. When the described activities are completed, you can start connecting to the network of the electric hob.
Cable selection
There are two key parameters to consider when choosing wire size:
- number of cores;
- thickness.
To determine the first characteristic of the cable, you need to know how many contacts are in the hob terminal block. As a rule, such devices have several connection options: to three or four cores. A three-core 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 a three-phase switchboard is installed in a private house, then in this caseit is better to install the device according to a scheme that takes into account a wire with 4 or more cores. 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 - current strength, calculated in amperes (A).
- P - power of the device (unit - watts), to determine which it is enough to look into the device passport.
- U - mains voltage, in this case equal to 220 volts (V).
By calculating the current strength of the hob and oven, you can determine the cable cross-section using special tables, one of which is shown below.
For example, with a rated current of 32 A, you will need a copper wire with a cross section of 6 mm2. But modern models of ovens consume about 3-3.5 kW, and hobs - 5-10 kW. Therefore, to connect the oven, you will need an electrical cable with a cross section of at least 2.5 mm2. In addition, the wires must be moisture resistant, non-flammable and double insulated.
Outlet selection
This electrical device must be of high quality, since 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. To operate equipment whose power is 3,6-7-5 kW, you will need a 40 A power device.
Hob fork
Reliability of the connection depends on this element. Using an ordinary 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, power parts must be used for these purposes.
The main thing is that the plug is made of heat-resistant material. In addition, to connect an electric hob, it is advisable to make a separate line with a power outlet. Therefore, it is better to buy a plug along with the mentioned device, which will have to be mounted in the wall, since this is the only way to ensure reliable grounding and proper operation of the hob.
Connection diagrams
In the CIS countries, two power grid standards are common:
- Single-phase, the voltage of which is 220 V.
- Three-phase 380 V.
Single-phase network is 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 network of a three-wire type consists of multi-colored wires. In this case, each power line has a certain shade of insulation:
- zero (N) - blue;
- phase (L) - brown or red;
- ground (PE) - green-yellow.
In turn, inthree-phase power supply 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 brought out to connect the equipment have the same color of insulation or they are not marked according to generally accepted standards. In this case, an indicator screwdriver is used to identify the phase conductor, but it is more difficult to distinguish the ground wire from the zero one, so a special tester is used for this purpose.
Connecting to the hob network: step by step instructions
To independently power the mentioned device or oven, you need to follow this procedure:
- Buy a wire of the required section, since it will be used to connect the device to the network. In addition, you need to purchase a suitable electrical 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 has been 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 equipment model and the electrical circuit, which should be shown on the device case near the terminal block. To find out the nominal parameters of a household device, you need to study the instructions. As a rule, a three-phase method is used to connect an electric 4-burner hob 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 leakage due to insulation damage.
- Install the electrical plug, which must be selected taking into account the marking of the wire, mains voltage, plug connector and equipment connection diagram.
- Install a power outlet. Usually, to connect the cooking built-in electrical panel, hidden wiring is used, for which you must first perform wall chasing and make a niche for the mounting box (socket box). You should know: according to safety rules, the socket must be mounted at a height of at least 30 cm from the floor covering.
- Connect the cable on the electrical panel using a difavtomat (you can use a circuit breaker and RCD instead).
Connecting the 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 appliances with a current of 32 A, a 40 A automatic machine is used. Before connecting the hob with an oven, it is necessary to calculate the power consumption of each of the devices in order to determine the permissible cable cross-section. Thanks to this, you can install two sockets at once. The installation sequence ismatter. For example, you can install an outlet from the oven at the back, and from the panel in front, 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 double socket, in the body of which two contact boxes are installed.
Directly connecting a three-phase device to a single-phase network: instructions
In this case, you will have to install special jumpers. To connect an electric hob directly to the mains, follow these steps:
- Find the terminal cover on the back of the appliance 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, you need to connect the electrical wires corresponding to the phases with jumpers.
- Connect one neutral 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 household power supply to the device's contacts. Sockets are not used with this reliable method. 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 cables of the required section are laid, and not copper cables, you will have to replace all the wiring with a new one.
ConnectionBosch electric hob
This device is usually connected using a four-wire cable and terminals, which 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 a power plug to a wire, you first need to carefully study its marking. In a socket in which there are three contacts, it is necessary to connect two cores of the black and brown phases into one. Thanks to these simple steps, you will be able to 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
Connecting an electric hob on your own is a difficult and responsible task. Before proceeding with it, you need to completely de-energize the house or apartment. The main thing is to follow the safety rules, since it is necessary to work with the elements of the electrical network with the utmost care and attention. In addition, you must adhere to the information provided in this article.
