Installing an Oven

[rupert the dog]

My current oven has numerous problems and I want to replace it. It's built in to a tall oven unit, can I simply slide out the old one, undo the connections and connect the new one? I'm an electrical virgin, and slightly afraid of things that might go bang and kill me. Thanks

[Wings]

Yes, so long as the dimensions of the replacement oven are okay. When I did mine, after taking off two fixing screws, old oven slid out, the electric wire from the oven was going into a junction box, refitting was just the reversal, took me 10 minutes.

[Laurel Green]

Just make sure the power rating of the supply cable is compatible with the new oven's power consumption.

[RV8]

Is it an electric with a mains switch above the units or gas.

I would advise getting an electrician, it'll probably cost around £50. Nut if you are adamant you want to do it yourself:

You'll probably have a isolation trip in the consumer box for it so make it is safe before you do any work!!!! If you do not know how to isolate it switch off the main power circuit (for the whole house) so you have no risk of power going to the cooker outlet. Check there is definitely no power available at sockets and the cooker etc.
With an Electric cooker the wire is hefty to carry the huge current, it wont just be a plug in the wall the connections will be inside a box to stop you from fannying around with them. You take the cover off (again be sure the electric is off so you know you are safe and no one is around who is daft enough to switch it back on without checking) the terminals inside the cover (3 of them) require unscrewing to pull free the cable, dont lose the fixings. Make a note of which coloured wire goes where (+ - and earth). Once the cover plate is on you can switch the power back on. If you have another electric cooker hook it up the SAME WAY do not mix the wires up and ensure the terminals are done up correctly and tightly with the cover fitted before switching power back on.

If it's gas don't bother get a professional.

[GreenDog]

My electric oven runs off the ring main on a standard 13amp plug. I've been told than many do now.

[jet_noise]

Dear rupert the dog,

I can echo some the above - make doubly sure power is off before you touch anything and connect stuff correctly.
That's Live/Neutral/Earth brown/blue/greenyellow and lastly...
...have an assistant and possibly a table or other stand as close as possible to the height of your oven - they're chuffing heavy!

regards,
Jet

[garycat]

Another tip - tie a loop of string around the mains cable so you can pull it neatly down as you slide the oven back in, otherwise it can get trapped between the back of the oven and the wall/cabinet.

[onomatopoeia]

RV8 said:

With an Electric cooker the wire is hefty to carry the huge current, it wont just be a plug in the wall the connections will be inside a box to stop you from fannying around with them.

True for freestanding electric cookers as the hobs take all the amps. Ovens alone can run on 13A, my dual fuel cooker does (gas hob, two electric ovens) and just plugs in to a normal socket.

[Engineer1]

Flick all your main power switches off when you mess with an electric cooker/ oven as it's the sort of thing that can be run off an additional spur. In my current house the shower is wired in such a way it is still live even if the "main" switch is off.

[Deva Link]

jet_noise said:

...have an assistant and possibly a table or other stand as close as possible to the height of your oven - they're chuffing heavy!

I usually use 2 dining chairs turned sideways - obviously protect the seat covering with something substantial.

Be careful not to bash the new one into the edge of the housing when you put it in!

[netherfield]

RTFM because some require links fitting for different voltages.

[eastlmark]

GreenDog said:

My electric oven runs off the ring main on a standard 13amp plug. I've been told than many do now.

only basic fan or convection single ovens, if it multifunction or a double oven then it must be hard wired to a 45amp cooker point, check the rating plate for the total wattage, if more that 3.0KW then it needs to be wired in.
Beware also going the other way.....replacing a hard wired oven with a low wattage one and hard wiring it in to the existiing cooker point, it means it is unprotected as the lead will be a skinny 13A type yet the fuse/trip will be rated at 30+ amps.

[Simpo Two]

The specification in the back of the manual will show you the rating in amps. Then you will know whether you need 13, 32 or 45 etc.

My new oven works perfectly on a 13A circuit; the induction hob above it uses the old cooker's 32A circuit.