Built-In Oven, Breaker/Fuse Size?

[Andyf]

I just bought a new Electrolux/Fridgidaire build-in oven and a new counter top range of another brand. The range has a panel where there are the standard 25A fuses for the elements.

I was studying the schematic to get a fuse size for the oven. The info is unclear. There is an informative note to electricians that the new type of wiring insulation can carry much more than calculated current capacity for the wire gauge. There is also given a power draw @ 220V for each element and from that I was able to calculate up with 33A total for all elements lit at one time, (excluding motors and relays).

The problem is the wiring gauge for the oven is #16 wire (black/red/white). That worries me a bit. If I fuse this to 30Amps I'll have the wiring itself glowing like a range element!. You will recall a #10 wire is used on a 30A fuse for a dryer.

The 3 wire oven wiring is stamped:

EXL 150, AWM Style 3321, 150 deg C, 600V #16

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Another question. My current breaker (220V/40A) is for an older combined stand alone range and oven unit
which I'm throwing out. Using the same breaker, can I tap the new counter top range and the oven on the same
breaker.?

Thanks for the help.

[imported_joed]

This is internal wiring to oven and is a high temperature insulation short run wiring. If the oven is UL approved you have no worries. It is also inside a metal cabinet so it is a very low hazard to start your house afire.

[Wgoodrich]

Joed is right the small wiring you are worring about is integrated wiring approved by UL as appliance wiring of the oven or cook top within those two appliances. Notice you have more than one smaller wire. The wiring must split somewhere to go to each heating element etc. If you traced these smaller wires within the oven or cook top you should find each smaller wire to serve only one element each. The wires are sized by the manufacturer as an integrated system within that appliance only carrying certain components of that oven or cook top. This is normal.

You house wiring travels much further and is within combustable walls requiring larger wires carrying the entire load of each applaince.

I suggest you install a new branch circuit to each appliance.

If you oven is a single oven then a 10 awg wiring 10/3wGrnd red, white, black, and bare in that cable is what you should be running. 30 amp 240 volt breaker.

If your oven is a double oven then you should be installing 8 awg copper wiring. 8/3wGrnd black red, white, bare in that cable serving a double oven. 40 amp double pole breaker

If you run power to the cook top you should be fine with 12/2wground black white and bare if you have all 220 volt components and no 120 volt components in that cooktop on a 20 amp double pole 240 volt breaker, or better yet 10/2wGrnd black white and bare on a 30 amp double pole breaker.

If your cooktop has 120 volt components then you need a cable with black red white and bare to serve that cook top.

Hope this helps

Wg