help on wiring a cooker?

[Alee]

i've just ordered myself an electric cooker but it doesn't have a plug. apparently its supposed to be hardwired into a circuit. i dont really understand where im supposed to wired it to because i only have a plug socket. i googled about attaching a plug to it and apparently it can be done. was just wondering if anyone has done this before and what type of wire would i use?
might seem a stupid question, but i've never had an electric cooker before.
thanks in advance x

 

[gdavies]

i would not wire that to a plug in no terms would i ever wire it to a plug a cookers current draw is far higher than that of a plug socket, an electric cooker goes on a wall panel

 

[henryscat]

Definitely do not plug an electric cooker with a 13 amp plug! It needs to be wired in properly to its own circuit.

 

[Alee]

but there isnt a wall panel..what do i do?willl an electrician fit one?i seriously havent got a clue.
the plug socket is behind where oven goes and its got a big red switch further up wall, if that helps

 

[henryscat]

but there isnt a wall panel..what do i do?willl an electrician fit one?i seriously havent got a clue

Yep, an electrician would be able to sort it. In your fuse board is there a fuse or circuit breaker labelled for a cooker? If there is there might be a connection lurking somewhere. If not then it will need to be wired back to the fuse board I would guess as cookers are normally on their own circuit because they draw a lot of current.

 

[henryscat]

the plug socket is behind where oven goes and its got a big red switch further up wall, if that helps

Sounds like it might be it... at the moment does the red switch have any function? Wonder if the plug socket has been put onto the cooker connection? If there's a cooker fuse / breaker in your fuse box and switching that off (or pulling the fuse out) cuts power to that socket then I would imagine getting the cooker bunged in is a fairly simple task. I'm fairly certain in my parents kitchen the electric socket the gas cooker plugs into (for the ignition etc) is actually using the cooker circuit.

 

[tek-monkey]

I'd hate to offer advice unless I was wrong, electricity is unforgiving. In my experience built in ovens sometimes have plugs but the hobs are nearly always hardwired. I've never seen a freestanding cooker on a plug.

 

[Alee]

i don't know about fuse board, its in my new house and im at old house for next few days. will have a look next time im there. Either way im still going to need heat resistant cable, any ideas where i would get one from?

 

[gdavies]

plug something into that socket ie a toaster or a lamp and then switch the red switch and see if the lamp or toaster goes off, but dont just wire the cooker to it without finding out if that plug socket can handle 45 amp

 

[henryscat]

but dont just wire the cooker to it without finding out if that plug socket can handle 45 amp

Even if the socket is on a proper stand alone cooker circuit it still can't be plugged in / connected using a 13A plug! The socket would need to come out and the cooker hard wired in with a properly rated cable.

 

[henryscat]

Either way im still going to need heat resistant cable, any ideas where i would get one from?

If an electrician bungs it in they'll have the correct cable. It needs to be correctly rated for the current most importantly.

 

[Alee]

yes the switch controls the wall socket.. i've already tried that. its pretty much the same setup as i have in my kitchen at eh moment ..but i have a gas cooker and the plug is only used for igniting. how would i find out if socket could handle 45 amp?

 

[Alee]

i decided on an electris cooker because i thought i could just plug it in...i was definatly wrong.....sounds like its probably going to cost me more than what it would cost to get a gas one installed

 

[henryscat]

yes the switch controls the wall socket.. i've already tried that. its pretty much the same setup as i have in my kitchen at eh moment ..but i have a gas cooker and the plug is only used for igniting. how would i find out if socket could handle 45 amp?

If you look in the fuse box and there's a separate cooker fuse / breaker then the circuit should be fine for your cooker. It should be labelled with how many amps it is rated for.

 

[wmrcomputers]

If you've read google results about people using a plug, then that only applies if the mains is purely for the fan (on a fan assisted gas oven), or just for the ignition of a gas oven.
If it's a full electric cooker then it needs doing properly. You said there's a red switch on the wall higher up, which would tell me that there is a high current cooker connection there usually. Does the switch turn on the plug socket below? (try it using a table lamp or your miscrowave). If it does then it's most likely not what you need. If the switch DOESN'T turn the plug hole on / off then I'd say there's a hidden connection point somewhere close to that socket.

Does the cooker already have a heavy duty type of mains cable attached? If it does I'd be happy to drop by and assess the situation for you - if you have a cooker connection hiding there I can safely wire it in for you (for a small fee)
If there's no cable attached to the cooker at all, and/or there's no connection present then it's a job for the professionals.

Before anyone tries to tell me off, you do not need to be a qualified electrician to wire in a cooker to an existing cooker point, just be competent to do so. Only wiring prior to the consumer unit requires a qualified person.
(If I'm incorrect do tell me)

 

[Alee]

so if the fuse is seperate and can take 45 amp ...could i then put a plug on cooker ands just plug it in?

 

[gdavies]

from your info you have provided contact a sparky and dont do it yourself

 

[Alee]

cooker does'nt have a wire on it :/

 

[wmrcomputers]

so if the fuse is seperate and can take 45 amp ...could i then put a plug on cooker ands just plug it in?

NO

A mains plug (and socket) is for 13 Amps MAXIMUM!

 

[wmrcomputers]

As for the gas cooker scenario, most properties now have a special gas fitting on the pipe. It pushes and screws on just like putting a lightbulb in a socket - simples! Fitting a gas cooker is then something so much simpler than electric ones.