cooker electrics

[Fred]

Hi,

I started to think about refurbishing my kitchen but then it stalled. I've started thinking about it again ;)

At the moment, the hob and oven are next to each other and a radial runs to a cooker switch and thence to the hob and from there to the oven.

My latest idea is to have the oven on the opposite wall, which will necessitate a second wire. So which is the best way to proceed:

1. two separate MCBS one for each radial (probably the best but requires space for another mcb in the CU)

1. as now run the radial to the hob and then to the oven's new position, providing that the increase cable length does not cause any problems (voltage drop? - but the kitchen isn't that big!)

2. run two radials from one mcb. Is this allowed? I don't like this because someone looking at the cu might see two cables and think it is a ring. If it was clearly marked as two radials though, would it be ok? My instinct is that this is not the best way but IANA Electrician.

TIA

[meow2222]

If its a single cavity oven, put a plug on it

NT

[John Rumm]

What's the power consumption of the oven? (many single ovens can be plugged in)

Voltage drop is unlikely to be a problem, although you may need an extra switch to keep the isolation switch within 2m of each device.

Remember in a domestic situation you can apply quite generous diversity allowances...

For cookers its 10A + 30% of the remainder. Add on a further 5A if there is a socket on the cooker point.

[Fred]

Hi. I don't know as SWMBO hasn't chosen the oven yet! A built-under oven would give us more space but it seems to involve a lot of bending down to use. OTOH we don't have any problems bending to use the under counter fridge, dishwasher, etc. Does anyone here have a built-under oven; what do you think of it?

I did think that, which is why I put in the comment about the kitchen not being that big but I wasn't sure if there were other electrical considerations I hadn't thought of that might apply.

I didn't realise I could connect both radials to one MCB. I wasn't worried about overloading the MCB, more that I thought two wires going into the MCB might be mistaken for a ring.

Thanks again.

[Dave Liquorice]

No trouble bending, yet, none of us are getting any younger.

Also it tends to many small light things being lifted into/out of those appliances not a 5 kg roast at 150 C... And check which way the door hinges, many (most) oven doors these days seem to hinge along the bottom edge so you have this large hot thing keeping you away from the oven cavity when trying to pick something hot and heavy up from the cavity.

[Andy Wade]

Actually you would be installing one radial circuit that just happens to branch at its origin.

(a) That's not very likely since the cables will (presumably) be 6 mm^2;

(b) Your Electrical Installation Certificate will make matters clear :~)

[Fred]

Yes, I thought that shortly after posting it. A competent person would realise that rings don't come in that size.

[John Rumm]

We have one at the moment... I think on balance I would prefer a "higher" one, but swmbo is not particularly fussed

Radial circuits can branch any place and any way you fancy - that includes at the CU. I have a ring circuit here with three cables at the MCB! (i.e. a spur at the origin)