Built in oven

[rollo]

I intend to replace a built-in single gas oven with an electric oven, but would like to avoid a new circuit to the CU. Some manufacturers, notably Hotpoint/Indesit make ones which are rated at 2.4 KW and will plug into a 13 amp socket. Most, however, are 2.8 KW and the manufacturers say these require hard wiring.

Is this really necessary as 2.8 KW would seem to be (just) below 13 amps?

 

[Steve]

2.8kw can be wired to a 3 pin plug. Many kettles are 3kw, you dont see these wired into the mains.

 

[rollo]

Thanks, crafty, but why do you think manufacturers say hard wiring is required for a 2.8KW or 3KW oven but a 2.4KW oven can be plugged straight into a 13A socket?

 

[TicklyT]

Maybe it's the manufacturers just making sure their backsides are covered.
If the oven is designed to deliver less than 2.8KW at the lower end of the possible range of supply voltage somebody might complain, and if the supply voltage is towards the upper end of the possible range the oven may draw a fraction more than 13A, so again someone may complain.

3KW immersion heaters are wired to a spur instead of a plug.

A 3KW kettle will be running for much less time than a 2.8KW oven, so the fuse may stand any small overload for much longer.

But if you do wire a 2.8KW oven through a 13A fuse contrary to their advice, and things go awry, then here endeth the manufacturer's warranty.