separate dedicated circuits induction cooktop & convection oven

16 years ago

Up front let me say that I know nothing about electrical wiring so I'm basing my question on the common English meaning of the words in the installation manuals. We had our GE monogram ZET1 convection oven and 36" induction cooktop installed yesterday. Despite the fact that I had told the electrician several times that I wanted separate breakers for each appliance the installer told me that the electrician had "pulled" 2 separate 50 amp wires but connected them to the same breaker. Both the installer and the electrician said that this was "acceptable" under the code and would not cause a problem as long as I didn't turn both appliances on at the exact same time. I have not been able to reach GE customer service yet to get their opinion but as I read the installation manuals the oven guide says "dedicated circuit" and the cooktop guide says "individual circuit." As I interpret the English language this means separate breakers to me. Aside from the fact that the electrician did not do what I had asked, will I have a problem with this wiring and should I insist that it be changed? Or am I worrying about nothing? Even if it is okay for these appliances what if I want to switch out in the future. This is new construction and it would not have been a problem to do what I asked from the beginning. We installed the appliances despite my worries because we need to get a c.o. soon in order to get our mortgage before our construction loan expires. Any insight you have will be greatly appreciated.

Featured Answer

Ron Natalie

16 years ago

Tell him to put things in with regard to code. Even if GE hadn't stated the cook top "requires" a 50A circuit, the NEC forbids what he did based purely on the load requirements of the respective appliances.

You can tap off a cooktop and range like that, but only if you don't exceed the branch circuit size. That induction top sucks down 50A on it's own.

By the way, you're going to really like that cook top. My neighbor has one and we're probably going to get one in the next kitchen.

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Comments (6)

pharkus
16 years ago
I doubt you will have a functional problem with the current wiring. IF you did (which is HIGHLY unlikely), it would just consist of the breaker tripping and needing to be reset.

If the two "50A wires" that the electrician "pulled" do, in fact, go all the way back to the panel, rather than to a junction box somewhere, it would be extremely easy (assuming there's space) to seperate them, either now or in the future.

I wouldn't worry about it. I've seen these things hacked in a LOT worse (some jackass built a "splitter" to install seperate units where there was only one existing 240V 50A receptacle. I'm not sure this is a bad idea in and of itself, but the 'splitter' was homemade and not very ... nice.)
Ron Natalie
16 years ago
If the instructions require dedicated circuits, then that is what the CODE requires as well. If it's just a recommendation, then it's not a code requirement.

The ZET1 only RECOMMENDS a 20A circuit by the way for the single oven. If the cooktop is the matching ZHU36 it REQUIRES it's own 50A circuit.

If he did pull two wires and there is room in the panel, the addition of the second breaker is going to be trivial as PHARKUS said.
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brickeyee
16 years ago
ronnatalie is correct.

RECOMMENDS is optional, REQUIRED is just that, required.

I would demand they install the breaker for free.
flseadog
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you all for your responses. We finally go GE on the phone last night and they said definitely 2 separate breakers. DH who was the one who actually talked to the electrician and installer said that I also misstated what the electrician did. He only "pulled" one 50 amp line from the breaker to the cabinet and then split it into two receptacles which sounds much worse than how I originally stated the problem. Lucky for the electrician I'm 200 miles away right now so I'll probably calm down before I see him. Lucky for me he hasn't been fully paid yet. Thanks again for all your help.
flseadog
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, ronnatalie. I can't wait to try out all the new stuff. Once we are moved in I'm going to learn how to post pictures and I'll show you how it all turned out. It's just so frustrating to have this happen and now I wonder what other things this guy did that aren't right that I may find out about the hard way.