For the Electricians - Power for Induction Cook Tops

[101RRS]

I am having to replace a basic four spot electric cook top with a four spot Induction Cooktop.

Now the power for the oven and cook top is on one circuit with a 32 amp circuit breaker. Not sure what power the old cooktop used (or the oven) but I assume with oven and cook top on it was less than 32 amps.

The new induction cooktop with everything at max draws 30 amp but with the oven on as well - the circuit probably pulls a bit more than the circuit breakers 32 amps. Though it is unlikely that the oven and all spots on the cooktop will be used at once and of course if drawing to much power the circuit beaker will pop.

In the ideal world I would leave the oven on the current circuit and maybe change the circuit breaker to a lower amp unit and get an electrician to run a separate circuit with maybe a 35amp circuit breaker for the induction cooktop. However the house is a unit in a block of units with double brick/bessor block walls so difficult to lay new cables.

So I would prefer to leave the power as it is on the one 32 amp circuit breaker and accept on the rare circumstance the circuit breaker might pop in heavy use scenarios.

So thoughts, advice from the electricians out there.

Thanks

Garry

[Graeme]

I would have the existing cable checked to establish if it is rated for enough current to supply all elements.

[Homestar]

You'll never get close to drawing max current on the new induction unit - even with all 4 pads on it won't get that high unless there's a large cold pot on each pad and you turn them all on together. I'd first check what the oven is using but my guess is well under 15 amps which will allow you to use the oven and 3 pas on the induction top all at the same time. As mentioned I'd check the existing wiring and breaker/connections but I wouldn't worry about it too much.

I'm looking at putting one in soon and my entire house is on a 32 amp supply and I'm not worried about it.

[Graeme]

Our 4-plate induction stove-top is on a 16A breaker and the one and a half oven is on a 32A breaker, possibly only because that's all the electrician had in his stash.