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, for such work they can ask for at least 1,000 rubles, or even more. Home masters prefer to settle everything on their own.
As for connecting the hob, by and large there is nothing complicated here, but there are certain nuances that it is desirable to know about.
Wonder technique?
Without a doubt, an induction cooker or hob can be considered a new generation device. And to be convinced of this, it is enough to familiarize yourself with the principle of operation of such a miracle kitchen technique.
BUnlike traditional electric or gas stoves, connected induction hobs from Bosch, Electrolux and other brands work differently. Metal utensils heat up due to the effect 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 has this quality, and therefore dishes that are best suited for induction appliances can be checked with a magnet. At the same time, it is impossible to make a mistake with the choice - modern models "know how" to recognize suitable dishes, and only then the generator turns on.
A number of safety rules
The induction hob is an electrical kitchen appliance, and in order to connect it to the mains, certain rules must be observed. They will be discussed a little later. As a rule, hobs, like many conventional stoves, go on sale without an electrical plug. It will have to be purchased separately.
The connection process itself as a whole is a rather responsible job that requires maximum concentration. And the performance of the hob will depend on how accurately all the rules and safety requirements are observed.
Before you connect the induction hob of Electrolux, Bosch and others, you should make sure that the wiring in the kitchen is in good condition. If aignore this point, then subsequently such an oversight can lead to the inoperability of the hob. A conventional circuit breaker (machine) is not able to protect equipment in case of damage to the insulation and leakage of electricity.
The principle of operation of the induction device
The principle of operation of the 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 the change in the magnetic flux in a closed circuit, electricity is generated.
The glass-ceramic surface of the hob hides an induction coil with a copper winding. It is supplied with a current with a frequency of 20 to 60 kHz. Such conditions contribute to the formation of magnetic fields with the subsequent generation of induction currents. The bottom of the cookware 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 generated vortex flow sets the particles in the bottom of the dish in motion, 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.
Efficiency of induction cookers reaches 90%, which indicates that power is not wasted. As for electrical analogues, this figure reaches no more than 60%.
Power supply equipment
Because the cookingan induction type panel is a rather powerful household appliance, therefore, it requires a separate electrical line. Moreover, it requires a separate circuit breaker. Powering the device from a common box in the kitchen or from sockets is highly discouraged.
If the panel has a power of 5.9 kW or less, then in this case the cable for the electrical wiring should be 4 mm in section2, while the rating of the machine itself should be 25 A For devices with a power of up to 7.4 kW, the cross-sectional area of \u200b\u200bthe conductor is already larger - 6 mm2, and the nominal value of the machine should already be at least 32 A.
What about old electrical wiring?
How to independently connect the induction hob to the old-style power supply? As a rule, in the technical data sheet of this kind of equipment, the indicated power refers to work when all the "heating elements" are turned on. According to the rules for the installation of electrical installations or PUE (chapter 1.3, tables 1.3.4 and 1.3.5), it is allowed to connect electrical appliances with a power of not more than 4, 6 kW (220 Volt).
In other words, for apartments with old electrical wiring, you should choose a hob with a power of no more than 5 kW. Moreover, during the cooking period, do not turn on the device at full power.
Plug selection
As noted above, the hob is not supplied with an electric plug, and therefore it has to be purchasedseparately. It should be borne in mind that ordinary sockets and plugs for ordinary purposes are not suitable for this powerful device. At some point, they may simply ignite due to too much electrical load for them.
Important moment! For safe operation of kitchen appliances and to avoid sparking of contacts, do not disconnect the plug from the socket while the hob is running.
To connect an induction hob, you need a special socket and plug. In this case, the plug connection depends on the rated current indicator:
- If the network is single-phase, then the power outlet must have at least three leads.
- In the case of a three-phase network, the number of outlets is at least 5.
At the same time, such sockets have noticeable differences between themselves. With regard to a single-phase outlet, it is necessary to install at 32 A, and for a three-phase one - 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 using a kitchen appliance. As for appearance, there are no special requirements, the main thing is that the case can withstand the corresponding load.
One thing can be said about the cable - it is necessary that its length is enough to the outlet. It must also have sufficient flexibility and contain the required number of cores in accordance with the wiring. To fix small wires, use a sleeve insulated pintip.
Features of installing the hob
A plug-in induction hob is commonly referred to 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 wood worktop need to be treated with sealant to ensure protection from moisture.
- It is necessary to ensure a tight connection between the panel and the surface of the countertop. This will prevent moisture from penetrating into the electrical part of the device. For this purpose, you should use gaskets (seals), which are just included in the delivery of the hob. In the case when the panel is fixed on a 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.
If all the rules for operating the hob are observed, its electromagnetic energy will only work to heat the dishes.
Hob connection diagrams
The technology for connecting induction-type kitchen appliances is directly dependent on the electrical network of a residential building. Usually in buildings erected in the times of the USSR, single-phase wiring with a voltage of 220 V is used. While in modern apartment buildings there may already be three-phase networks with a nominal value of 380 V.
However, with the connectionan induction hob on its own should not be a problem, since many models can operate from both single-phase and three-phase electrical wiring. The only prerequisite is to make sure that the case will be properly grounded. Some devices are supplied to the world market with built-in busbars - it remains only to connect them with the appropriate conductor.
Single-phase electrical network
Normally hobs are supplied to the market already with a wire, but this is not applicable to every model. Then, in addition to the socket with a plug, you will also 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 mm2, the latter being more reliable.
If the kitchen appliance is equipped with a cable with three wires, then there should not be any particular 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 how the phase is designated.
- N - corresponds to zero. In some cases there are two such wires.
- PE - ground conductor.
In this case, the phase is indicated in green / red / yellow or brown / black / white, zero blue or blue tint, and the earth is mostly yellow-green.
There are only three contacts - 1 phase, 1 zero and 1 ground. The grounding contact in the plug is located, as it were, at a distance from the other two in the upper or lower part of the case (but most often at the top). As for phase contacts andzero, they are usually next to each other, parallel to each other.
Features of connecting the induction hob "Electrolux"
Some models from Electrolux, Bosch, Hansa, Gorenje are equipped with four-core wires. This circumstance can cause certain difficulties for many home craftsmen when connecting kitchen appliances to the electrical network.
4 conductors are nothing more than two phases, zero and earth. But in order to properly connect the equipment, you need to know some of the nuances. Installing an Electrolux hob is as follows:
- First you need to find the 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 you should find the exit "ground" - it is usually marked in yellow-green. 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 wire 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?
How to be in this case, when the induction hob connected to the mains has as many as 6 wires (single-phase 220 V)? Problem solved againusing the same special jumpers as described above for Electrolux hobs. They combine all phase and neutral terminals of the device.
Some models are already equipped with jumpers, which greatly simplifies everything. However, if they are not available, you can make them yourself.
Three-phase electrical network
In this case, there are already five wires in the cable - 3 phases, 1 zero and 1 ground. There is no need for jumpers, since each phase wire is connected to its own terminal. The only place where a jumper is still needed is the combination of two zero terminals in the device case.
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 the power is distributed evenly between the two phases, you can combine them with a tip or simply isolate one of the cores. The remaining conductors are connected to the plug contacts, observing the polarity.
It is worth noting that a three-phase network is considered a more economical option in terms of electricity consumption.
Conclusion
If there is no self-confidence, then it is better not to take on the connection of an 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 noprices to keep in mind!
