Connection of new Ovens, Stoves and Hobs.
RSA Electrical connects all makes of new free standing stoves, built in ovens and built in hobs. Please note we do not do the cut out of the hob.
Connecting of a stove or oven and hob must only be done buy a registered electrician as stipulated by many manufacturers to keep the warrantee and also required by insurance company.
An electrician can determine the size of the conductors (cables) and the size of the circuit breaker. Then there is the issue regarding the isolator, as the stove is deemed a fixed appliance in SANS10142-1.
With regard to a new installation, the following must be taken int account. The positioning of the Isolator and the size of the conductors and circuit breaker.
If there is a gas hob, the isolator positioning must also conform to the gas regulations.
On average the removal of an old oven and hob and the installation of new ones will take around 2 hours and the cost would be approximately R1200.
Also note that many old apartments have a three phase supply, and some of the old stove outlets were wired for 3 phase. This can be wired to a single phase supply if required.
When it comes to a gas hob it must be noted that power will have to be taken to the ignitor.
6.16.3.1.2 A switch-disconnector for a cooking appliance(s) shall
a) be in the same room as the appliance(s),
b) be at a height above floor level of not less than 0, 5 m and not more than 2, 2 m,
c) preferably not be above the cooking appliance(s),
d) be within 3 m of the appliance(s), but within 0, 5 m of the appliance(s) if the switch-disconnector’s purpose is not clearly indicated, and
e) not be fixed to the appliance.
The code also covers the so called ‘cooker unit/combo cooker unit’ (see Regulation 6.16.3.2).
6.16.3.2 Cooking appliance circuits
6.16.3.2.1 A dedicated circuit(s) shall be provided for cooking appliance(s)
that are rated at more than 16 A.
6.16.3.2.2 One circuit shall not supply more than one permanently connected
cooking appliance, unless the appliances are in the same room.
6.16.3.2.3 A cooking appliance circuit may also supply one socket-outlet if
the rating of the socket-outlet does not exceed 16 A and if the following are
all contained in one control unit (see also 6.15.4.1, which deals with mixed loading circuit).
a) the socket-outlet;
b) an earth leakage protection device including overcurrent protection for
protecting the socket-outlet; and
c) the switch-disconnector required for the cooking appliance (see
6.16.1).
NOTE The socket-outlet has to be protected against earth leakage so, unless the
protection device (see (b) above) is in the control unit, the entire cooking appliance
circuit has to be protected against earth leakage.
6.16.3.2.4 If a cooking appliance is connected by means of a stove coupler
(6.16.3.3.1 (a)) or an industrial type socket-outlet (6.16.3.3.1(b)), the open
end of the connector tube or socket-outlet shall point downwards.
The wiring code also requires that free standing stoves must be plugged in by means of a stove coupler or an industrial socket-outlet (welding plug and socket). The regulations also recommend that these types of socket-outlets (industrial type) should not be used. (See regulation 6.16.3.3)
Discussions with many contractors revealed an ongoing reluctance to use stove couplers or industrial socket arrangement for the following reasons:
Stove couplers
- The high cost of stove couplers.
- The stove couplers are not freely available and there is a long waiting period for them.
- The construction of the couplers is bulky, and the stove cannot be pushed back against the wall.
Industrial sockets
- Stoves tend to generate a leakage to earth, particularly in older appliances and in humid areas causing nuisance tripping, hence there is a reluctance to protect them with earth leakage devices.
- A 45 or 32 Amp single phase industrial type socket-outlets are not readily obtainable; only the 16A socket-outlet is freely available.
6.16.3.3 Stove connection
6.16.3.3 A stove designed to be a free-standing appliance rated above 16 A shall be connected through,
a) a stove coupler which shall comply with SANS 60309-1 and of dimensions as given in SANS 337 (a maximum of 45 A single-phase (figure 4) and 16 A per phase for three phase) (See fig 3), or
b) a socket-outlet that complies with SANS 60309-1 (industrial type) with 30 mA earth leakage protection, however, the use of industrial type socket-outlets is not recommended for stove connections. (See fig 5)
NOTE 1 Earth leakage protection is not required for the stove circuit when a stove coupler is used.
NOTE 2 For a three-phase coupler, the earth connection needs special consideration.
The tried and tested method of connecting stoves via an isolator and cable or other flexible arrangement remains the most practical and popular, though currently illegal (since Amd 1 of 2003) but deserves reconsideration.
To put this into context, it is important to know that, prior to Amendment 1, this is how the regulations read:
SABS 0142-1, Edition 1
6.16.3.3 Stove connection
6.16.3.3.1 A free-standing stove raged above 16 A shall be connected through:
a) a stove coupler which shall comply with SABS IEC 60309-1 and of dimensions as given in annex A, a minimum of 45 A single-phase and 16 A per phase for three-phase, or
NOTE 1: Earth leakage protection is not required for the stove circuit when a stove coupler is used.
NOTE 2: For a three-phase coupler, the earth connection need special consideration.
b) hard wiring to the stove supply terminals, or
c) a socket-outlet that complies with SABS IEC 60309-1 (industrial type) with 30 mA earth leakage protection, however the use of industrial type socket outlets is not recommended for stove connections.
6.16.3.3.2 If a cooking appliance is connected by means of a stove coupler (6.16.3.3.1 (a) or industrial type socket-outlet (6.16.3.3.1 (c)), the open end of the connector tube or socket-outlet shall point downwards.
Risk
Due to this regulation (6.16.3.3) connection to free-standing stoves could place the contractors’ credibility at risk. This regulation needs reconsideration from the SABS 10142-1 working group due t the fact that these parts are difficult to source, making them impractical in today’s installations. The installation of these devices created complications in installations that should not exist. In short, this concern should be raised and taken forward.
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