Electric cookers require to be replaced from time to time. Either the life of the appliance terminates or simply because you feel it is about time to modernise the kitchen. Replacing an electric cooker requires a simple wiring job, which you can handle yourself DIY. On the other hand, you may hire a professional electrician and spend a hefty sum of money on electric cooker installation.
However, here’s a word of caution. The job involves legal aspects that you must be aware about before rolling the sleeves up. In the following sections of this blog post let us explore tips to finish the job DIY.
A word on related electric regulations
But first let us have some discussion on electric regulations related to electric cooker installation.
The new cooker model you chose may be more powerful than the existing one. Therefore you may require installing a new circuit to provide the necessary wattage to the device. As per existing regulations only a Part P-certified electrician can install cooker circuits.
But if you can use your own cooker control unit and electric current circuit, then you can wire the newly bought device. It is important to do it carefully because the task can trigger fatal consequences at the slightest mistake.
Make sure your home meets the necessary power requirements
Any electric cooker usually consumes high power wattage. This is because the appliance generates huge amount of heat. You need at least a 13 Amp fuse although the latest range of cooker models is known to feed on 32 Amp fuse. To know the exact ampere rating, go through your product’s specification.
You need a separate fuse and also a separate electrical circuit for the appliance. Isolation of systems ensures the cooker is tapping the necessary quantity of power every time while in operation. This is how you ensure safety on working with the cooker.
Installing a double pole isolating switch
Cookers are power-hungry gadgets. You need employing double pole isolating switches to ‘supervise’ them. This type of isolating switches ensures when a short circuit occurs the wiring of the cooker is NOT carrying electric current. Thus you are saved from electric shock on touching the device in such circumstances.
Here is an important point to note.
A double pole isolating switch is different from the varieties of a ‘switch’ or ‘single switch’. Single switches are only meant to de-energise a live wire. But cookers, as already mentioned before, use very high wattage of power that can even energise the neutral wire in a circuit. Thus you need double pole switches, which are powerful enough to shut off both the wires at the time of a short circuit to cut down all risks and ensure complete safety.
Positioning of the cooker control unit is important
Ideally, a thick wire is supposed to remain connected to your cooker control unit. Place the appliance within 2 metres of the unit. To prevent the chances of electrical fire you should never place it directly below the unit, suggest licensed electricians at Electric Works London. This reliable electrical contractor company offers emergency services 24/7 and has registered address at Elgin Avenue in London.
The latest models of electric cookers have neon lights installed to indicate the unit is switched on and current is flowing through its circuit.
Select appropriate cable to fulfil your cooking needs
When you buy a brand new electric cooker, you get a cable inside the packaging. In case the cable is missing, you need a similar cable in terms of load capacity or thickness. For homes you need selecting a 2.5 mm cable, that is resistant to heat.
The cable must have several wires. A blue wire is to carry neutral current, brown for live current and an exposed wire to carry the residual current inside the earth. This cable is commonly called ‘twin and earth’ or ‘2 core and earth’.
If you are not confident yet, do not hesitate calling a qualified electrical engineer to help you out.
Taking the appliance’s ‘hot zone’ into account
The hot zone of the cooker is the area which is located right above the appliance. Before installing the cooker at the selected spot, remove all inflammable materials from the hot zone. These include wood, wallpaper and even overhanging boilers.
Maintain a minimum gap of 300 mm between the cooker and any other appliance installed in the kitchen.
Connecting the cooker to the home’s power grid
At this stage we will explore the topic of wiring the appliance.
Fusing the cable to the back of the cooker:
- First
locate the terminal outlet box, which lies at the back of the appliance.
- Carefully unscrew the plate.
- Join the brown (or live), blue (or neutral) and the green or yellow (or earth) wires to their respective slots.
- In other words, the neutral wire goes to the left, the earth to the centre and the live wire to the right.
- Secure the wires in their respective positions by tightening the screws.
- Put things in proper order as they initially were.
Connecting the cooker to the cooker control unit:
- Make
sure the cooker cable is properly attached to the appliance.
- Make sure no one even accidentally flips the switch while you remain busy wiring the appliance.
- De-energise the cooker by turning on the double pole isolator switch.
- To avoid any damage to the kitchen floor, place a piece of vinyl or any other covering under the appliance.
- Make sure the cooker control unit is totally dead to ensure your safety.
- Remove the screws inside.
- Push the wires into their respective slots and then place the screws back.
- At this stage remember never to cross-thread the screws.
- Lastly, screw the insulation unit below the wiring to secure the wires in place.
Now you are set to prepare your favourite dishes at home. This way you also save your hard-earned pounds on electric cooker installation cost if a professional were hired. Remember, even a minor electrical job demands lot of research, caution, preparation and patience. You should only go ahead with this DIY project when you are confident you can do it.
