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It's new cooker time and it looks like we'll be going for an induction hob. What do I need to know about power supply and power of the hob? The cookers i'm generally looking at are rated 30/32a, a couple are rated higher at 42/45a. It's a normal domestic kitchen, we cook a fair bit and probably have 2 or 3 pans on the go at once plus oven. Are these cookers powerful enough?
My existing supply is I am sure 13a rated as it was just for the ignition on a previous gas stove, with a normal plug. I have an electrician coming next week to check whats what and advise what needs doing but any info from the forum would be useful - I know very little about wiring. I am assuming an uprated supply from fuse box to cooker will be on the cards?
Definitely need an upgraded power supply.
My new range was rated at 45a but I put it on the existing 32a supply, as I could not see anytime I would be running the thing at more than 50%. However, if I was getting a new supply I would make it a 45a as the cost difference will be minimal .
Firstly, in my experience, induction hobs are great but don't skimp if possible.
Yes I'd imagine you'll need a new supply for the hob.
Had one put in last week.
AEG done as part of a full kitchen and extension rewire.
Big ass cable (10mm^2??) cable off a 32amp breaker
The old cable for the old one on the opposite side of the room -also on a 32 and big cable is now connected to the double oven.
Dont be tempted to buy a 13a one , even the decent ones are sh** if you want to use more than 1 pan at full chat
My new neff hob runs off a normal supply
My new neff hob runs off a normal supply . Plenty powerful with all 4 rings going
We've got a freestanding cooker with induction hob, it's on a 6mm cable.
What you need to know is how superior they are to everything else, well that's what the kitchen dweller told me.
Thanks guys, this is all useful info
@Twinw4ll, that sounds like what we will be going for, freestanding unit. What did you choose?
When I spoke to the sparky on the phone to arrange a site visit he thought the existing circuit might be 6mm already (it was installed in 2014 I think). So is 6mm sufficient? It seems like a big cable to me... Trailrats 10mm must be subsea spec...!
It's not just load distance from the breaker comes into it as well.
It's a fair meaty cable.
The sparkies signing it off so that's all I needed.
Handles all 4 rings at full tilt no bother and heats up rapidly.
Major improvement over the old one.
10mm is standard now for cooker and shower installs.
If you are going for a freestanding cooker I'd think a 10mm 45A supply would be what you need!
We have a 5 ring NEFF induction hob, every bit as controllable as gas.
You'll also most likely need new pots also!
Looking at the maths .... My hobs 32A . With diversity 6mm is technically fine but 10mm is advised over the distance to my hob and it's not unimaginable for you to have all 4 hobs going and making diversity non applicable to the hob imo.
I'd be amazed if the above applies to any half way decent freestanding unit.
Vader, it's a Belling about 10+ years old now, but has held up well and has only needed a new twiddly knob thing replacing.
Don’t get one if you or anyone using it has a pacemaker...
Interesting chat about hobs’n’stuff and wire size
This looks deadly dull but turns out to be really interesting..
It may be obvious as no one has said it yet, so I will.
Not all pans work on induction. They need to be ferrous based.
Aside from that induction hobs are great.
Warn everyone who has a pacemaker or insulin pump that you have an induction hob - depending on the type, if they are in use and you are close by, they can affect the pacemaker/insulin pump.
I can't remember which one is the bad one - I was looking at a new house and it had the bad one, so I was going to take it out and give it to my dad (which does a bit of cooking and would benefit from it more than I would)...ended up not going for the house so forgot all about the induction hob thing.
EDIT - I was thinking of ceramic hobs - which apparently are fine with pacemakers and insulin pumps, all induction hobs aren't good for those devices. Issue is, there is no real guidance on how wide the field is around these units, so if you do have them, it could mean you never have to cook again (or go near the hob ever!).
https://jdrf.org.uk/news/induction-hob-magnetic-field-danger-insulin-pump/
Have you got a cat?
Don't leave any pans on the induction hob, cats paws switch it on as they walk about...
Yeah, I know, cats on worktops... but its a cat after all...
Next time ours needs changed I want induction. It will mean changing our pans but thats life.
Is it true tho that I'll be able to get rid of our electric kettle and use a hob one as quickly and economically?
No idea if it's more economical but mine is definitely quicker to boil water than the kettle.
Most people I know who have had induction cookers are fanatical about them initially, then get the fact that it is just another cooker and many have returned to non-induction hobs.
If they are so amazing and you have already shelled out for all the new pots and pans why would you change back - other than insulin pump wearers?
I fancied a change seems to be the most common answer but that really doesn't make sense to me. Is there a down side to them?
An updated power supply required - would that be considered bad? Will it mean higher running costs of power in house?
I don't cook properly enough to benefit from it, so any job/cooker would be fine for me. Suspect for some proper cooking-type folks it might be better.
The only downside to an induction hob is that there is no additional heat generated from the hob itself. This in turn means there is much less convection effect for the removal of steam etc into an extractor. In reality the only noticeable effect for us is that some of the fat/oil condenses on the extractor fan motor housing & after a month or so will drip back down on the hob. It's easily cleaned & is only a minor problem. I would not want to have any other hob type now. It's so controllable, heats up incredibly quickly & easy to clean as it never is burnt on.
I have a 5 ring Neff hob, it has its own circuit, it says B40 on the MCB which is higher than anything else. I miss having nobs to twiddle rather than selecting the relevant pan from the touch controller but learnt that sliding the pan off then adjusting the temperature is best when something is about to burn.
If anyone can recommend non-stick pans that can go on the hob and the dishwasher that would be great. I've been through 2 sets already despite them having a lifetime warranty.
Remember when you get one to tell everyone and bore them to death
If anyone can recommend non-stick pans that can go on the hob and the dishwasher that would be great. I’ve been through 2 sets already despite them having a lifetime warranty.
Siemens include these with their induction hobs as they got fed up with people saying induction wasn’t very good and it turns out they were just using crap pans. They’re super thick bases that don’t warp and distribute heat really well.
I've Tefal Ingenio pans - seem to work really well on my induction hob (had non-induction ones before i refreshed the kitchen, and bought the same again after...). Removable handles, so stack really nicely/efficiently, and go in the dishwasher with no bother.
in my quest for oven safe dishwasher safe induction hob pans that were not 100 quid each...
i ended up with Cusine:pro Iconx which have a 5mm impact bonded base.
they are probably worth what they are for sale for - never worth 500 quid in any world.
Is it true tho that I’ll be able to get rid of our electric kettle and use a hob one as quickly and economically?
Yes, but an electric kettle switches off immediately on boil, a hob one doesn't so can boil over before you get to it. So, you can't leave it unattended, I gave up after a short time, it's a novelty for about the length of time you realise an electric kettle is actually more practical.
There aren't any downsides to induction as far as I'm concerned. Maybe a few niggles that might be down to the brand/model you choose. Given my time again I'd probably go for zones that have independent controls rather than a single control that you switch between zones. Also mine seems to be a bit fussy about what pan sizes go where, so I'd probably scrutinize that. the big rectangle flexi zones are def more practical than circles IMO. All minor niggles tho
but an electric kettle switches off immediately on boil, a hob one doesn’t so can boil over before you get to it. So, you can’t leave it unattended, I gave up after a short time, it’s a novelty for about the length of time you realise an electric kettle is actually more practical.
We're not frequent kettle users - we have a coffee machine and only make tea for visitors - but a whistling stovetop kettle is working fine for us. doesn't boil over and quick enough to boil that you're not going far.
I’d probably go for zones that have independent controls rather than a single control that you switch between zones.
Made this decision and am glad I did - it cuts one step from altering anything