Electric stoves are a great way to cook, but they can be dangerous if you don’t use the correct size of wire. The best thing to do is know what wire capacity your stove needs and buy the right size of wire that will fit installation requirements.
In general, electric stoves require a #6 gauge-#8 gauge size wire for an electric stovetop. They plug into a 120/240-volt circuit, requiring a reliable and balanced wire cable with the right electric flow capacity to match their size.
Overall, the electric stoves generally come with varying electric ratings, therefore, the ratings on your cooking appliance will determine what size of wire you are getting between the 6 gauge wire or the 8 gauge wire cable.
A #6 gauge wire will work for most electric stoves, especially if your stove is rated between 30 amps and 50 amps. For those who use a larger 60 amp or 70 amp stovetop, the 8-gauge cable should be used.
If you need an extension cord for your stove, measure the distance from the outlet to the stove and add an extra 10 feet to ensure you have enough length.
To measure your wire properly:
- Use a measuring tape and divide the distances in half to find your center point for your stove.
- Remember that you do not want any excess wires hanging out of the box or anywhere that could cause exposure or shock hazards.
- Make sure you buy a wire that is UL-listed and not an imitation.
Many stove manufacturers will provide you with the correct wire gauge for your appliance [if it isn’t already attached to the unit].
The most important thing about shopping for stove wires is to make sure that they are a quality product and functional for your needs.
Always check the manufacturer’s specifications regarding appliances, especially if this is a replacement part.
As long as you follow all of these guidelines while buying or installing your wires, then installing an electric stove should be no problem at all.
If you’re not sure what size your electric stovetop is, there are plenty of easy-to-use electric wire calculators for this as well!
Let’s face it, electric stoves are quite popular nowadays, as they don’t require storage space and can be moved from one place to another effortlessly.
Unlike gas cooking range, electric stoves can be moved around by any DIY enthusiast as long as they are aware of the wiring standards and wire cables suitable for the electricity capacity needed by the electric stove and not use any other type of wire cables.
In addition, you can cook a wide variety of foods on them. However, if you have recently purchased an electric stove, chances are that your home wiring is not wired for an electric stovetop. It is vital to determine the suitability for your appliance and the wire size used to supply electricity to the socket it plugs in.
Electric Range Power Requirements
The electric range you buy will have a rating in kilowatts (kW). The power requirements of your new range will be based on the capacity.
Before you bring your appliance home, make sure that the electrical service in your property must have the capacity to handle the additional load.
Refer to your owner’s manual for information on how much extra wattage you can add without upgrading your electricity service, or call an electrician if you’re unsure about these capabilities.
The required wire size is determined by taking into consideration the power consumption of each appliance and adding them together for a total load requirement.
For example, a 30 amp breaker would require a minimum wire size of #6 AWG copper wire in a house not located more than 12 miles from the substation.
In addition, there are four wires that will be required to complete the hookup, a line (L), neutral (N), ground (G) and an equipment grounding conductor (EGC).
The NEC [National Electrical Code] lists specific requirements for each appliance based on what it draws.
Generally, if the power requirement is between 6 kilowatts and 50 kilowatts, one 30 amp breaker should provide adequate protection. Larger ranges may require two separate breakers.
The size of the wire must be calculated so that currents are limited to 90 percent of the rated amperage of the wire or less.
Calculations are often required when adding circuits in older homes with outdated wiring which does not have enough capacity to handle new appliances.
In this case, the two breakers on 50A would not be big enough and it would be necessary to upgrade them to 100 amps each which would then accommodate a range with a higher wattage requirement.
Those who want to know how to choose the right diameter of a wire for their electrical ovens or other appliances that use electricity as a source of power should follow these simple steps:
Size up the wire with which you would like to work.
If it is a household circuit you want to put in, it will most likely be 14-gauge wire. However, a general rule of thumb for this type of job is that the larger the wire, the less current will be able to flow through it at any given time.
Thus if your oven or stove calls for 10 amps and you are planning on putting in 12-gauge wiring, do not go overboard with confidence thinking that more current means better conductivity. Because you could end up burning out your oven’s electrical system very quickly.
Electric Oven Amp Requirement
The amp rating is typically displayed on the front of the oven near the plug. Some models will list amps only; others will have a voltage rating as well. If your model does not have an amp rating, it is probably safe to assume that it draws about 10 amps.
The NEC [National Electrical Code] requires that the wire size be capable of carrying 125 percent of the listed appliance load or at least 14-gauge wire.
For example, if you are using 12-gauge wiring and your oven calls for 10 amps, then you’re in luck because #12 AWG copper wire can handle up to 20 amps. That should provide more than enough electricity to power your new range with ease!
This wire must be run directly to the circuit breaker box without going through a switch box or anything else. You should see two white wires (neutral) and two black (hot) with a ground wire in between them when done correctly.
The next step is to turn off your current circuit and test it for power. Make sure to test both the line and the load wires (the ones with screws on them).
Once you’ve determined that there is no electricity running through this line you can remove the panel and proceed to wire your new range.
Proceed by attaching one wire from your range cord (make sure it is long enough) to each of the two circuit wires using wire nuts (or crimp-on connectors if such are used in your installation).
At this point, connect the oven’s ground wire to its corresponding screw on your wall outlet and connect the neutral wire to the neutral bus in your breaker box.
