Software
Houzz Logo Print
lovinlife06

dedicated circuit for induction cooktop?

18 years ago

Is there a way I can on my own determine if my home is already equipted with adequate electric supply to change my Kitchen from LP range to a new Induction cooktop and electric oven? I have an electrician I can call, but wonder if this information is something simple I should know how too assess myself.

Comments (4)

  • 18 years ago

    if your breakers are labeled just see if it has one labeled for the cooktop area. you also need to pull up your existing one and see if an outlet is there. it is common now to run both gas an electric to the cooktop/stove location, but used to they ran only one or the other.

  • 18 years ago

    I should have been more clear in my question.
    Even though my house is 60 years old and has always had a LP gas range the woman who built it did a fabulous job and did have a 220Volt 50 amp breaker and outlet installed behind range. But I want to add a cooktop and a separate oven which I would need 2 separate circuits also the oven and cooktop require different amps which would total more than 50. Any thoughts?
    ALso my breaker box is a Bulldog pushamatic, do you know of an online place I could buy a replacement breaker for this panel? I live in a rural area and have limited shopping choices.

  • 18 years ago

    You may be able to use the existing range outlet for the new cooktop - induction cooktops are usually 50 amps. I'm assuming that's where you want to put the new cooktop. Then you'll just have to install a second line to the new wall oven location.

    You absolutely can not use the existing single electric range circuit for BOTH - however, you can probably use it for one or the other.

    The complicating factor is that 60 years ago, range circuits were run three-wire (no ground). Four-wire (with a separate ground) is required now, and is required if you move the existing outlet at all. If you keep the existing outlet exactly where it is, and either use a cord-and-plug connected cooktop/oven or your AHJ doesn't mind you connecting a hardwired cooktop to a three-wire circuit, you could reuse the line. Also, some induction cooktops require 240 ONLY, no 120V needed unlike a range, so the three-wire could be hooked up as hot, hot, ground instead of hot, hot, neutral as it is now.

    Google "pushmatic breaker", there are lots of stores out there that provide these.

    In any case, yes, call an electrician and get the final answer. Best "over the Internet" answer is that you are going to have to run more wire in any case, and whether you will be able to reuse the run that is there now depends on a number of factors that really need to be assessed in person.

    Here is a link that might be useful: One source for Pushmatic breakers

  • 18 years ago

    Thank You for your input.