Before purchasing an oven for personal use, you will need to understand the features of its installation at the installation site. Another important issue is connecting the oven to the mains, which can be done independently. It is recommended to start preparing for installation by getting acquainted with the versions of this sample of household appliances.
Types of ovens
The correct connection of the electric oven is possible if the user has figured out the type of the purchased model in advance. It is often sold complete with a hob, and sometimes sold separately. On this basis, products are divided into dependent and independent samples. According to the instructions, the first of them must be connected to the power source together with the panel, which significantly complicates the forthcoming work. Typically, these two products are located side by side and share a common control panel.
The devices are connected to each other by a separate cable, which ensures their joint commutation during operation.
Independent ovens are completely autonomous devices, the connection of which to the power source is not conditioned by anything. In this regard, the area of their installation within the kitchen can be selected at your discretion, which should be attributed to the advantages of models without a stove.
Seat selection
- First of all, you should decide on the place where you intend to install the product. Its choice depends on the requirements of building codes, as well as on the type of oven purchased (open or built-in model).
- It is necessary to select the area for placing the connecting block or socket (if available in the kit).
- You should also evaluate the possibility of installing the hood in the location chosen for the cabinet.
These factors are important because they indirectly affect the order of connection to the electrical network.
Depending on the location, the length of the power cable laid up to it and the installation area of the socket with a contact for grounding will be selected.
Oven power
Before connecting an electric oven with your own hands, you should know that according to the level of energy consumption, these products are divided into several classes, designated by the letters A, B and C. In accordance with this classification principle, all models belong to different groups in terms of efficiency. The specified breakdown is directly related to the power indicator of the oven, regardless of its size and design (built-in model or not).
The minimum consumption is distinguished by economical products belonging to the classes "A +" and "A ++" (corresponds to an electric power of up to 0.6 kW). Typical value for most models ranges from 1 to 4 kW. Based on these indicators, it is possible to calculate the electrical parameters of the supply line supplied to them, including the cross-section of the cable working cores and the setting of the circuit breaker.
For an ordinary consumer, such a classification is interesting from the point of view of the speed of cooking in the oven. There is a direct relationship between the power of the unit and the speed of cooking. For optimal heating, experts advise choosing models with a capacity of no more than 2.5-3 kW.This guarantees fast cooking at operating temperatures of about 220 degrees, sufficient for high-quality heat treatment.
Features of connecting the built-in oven to the mains
For installation, you will need the diagram provided in the instructions attached to the product. In it, all contacts are color-coded, according to which it becomes clear where the phase wire should be connected, and where the neutral wire should be. Jumpers are also marked there, allowing you to form the necessary power supply circuits of 220 or 380 volts.
Choosing a power cable and machine
To understand how ovens are connected to a 220V outlet, you first need to deal with the issue of connecting power to it. When studying her scheme, it is important to consider the following points:
- To supply power to the oven, you will need a separate line with an automatic machine for a rated operating current of at least 32 Amperes.
- The cross-section of the conductors of the wire to be laid is chosen so that it does not overheat at maximum load (at least 4 square millimeters).
- To power the oven, you need a three-wire cable with a grounding bar.
- When laying it, the requirements of the PUE are taken into account, which indicate the permissible distances from the elements of the structure and other communications.
The requirements of the PUE must be followed, even if a two-wire wiring is provided in the apartment. This will allow in the future (when installing a new electrical network) not to update the oven power line.
After solving the issues with the eyeliner, it is important to figure out how best to connect the oven - using an outlet or using a block. The choice of inclusion option depends on many factors, as well as on the preferences of the owner. On the one hand, a block mounted on the wall and covered with a lid provides a more reliable contact than the most powerful socket. However, in terms of the simplicity of connecting the wiring and disconnecting it from the network, it clearly loses to the outlet connection, in which you just need to remove the plug.
The use of a shoe is justified if there is a separate machine with which the oven is turned off manually.
Another case when you can't do without a shoe is if the purchased model of the oven is designed for three-phase power supply. This option is more suitable for owners of private houses in which it is possible to connect a three-phase power cable only through terminal contacts.
Testing
Before finally installing the oven in the workplace, it is recommended to test it for functionality. To do this, turn on the machine supplying it with power and check the voltage at the block or the socket terminals with a tester. The device should show a value of 220 volts or a little more, which immediately disappears after turning off the machine. Upon completion of testing, you can safely turn on the oven and then try to cook something in it.
Operational safety
For the safe operation of an oven that has been built into kitchen furniture or placed separately, it will be necessary to protect the user from accidental contact with dangerous potential on its body. For this, a special terminal is provided in the switching products, which has an electrical connection to the protective grounding system.
Some experts advise including a residual current device in the power supply circuit that is triggered by the slightest leakage currents. The option of protection with an RCD makes sense to use in cases where a two-wire power cable is brought into the apartment, that is, there is no reliable and full grounding in it.
