Hard Wired or Plug in Electric Oven

The Main difference between a hardwired oven and a plug in Oven is the energy consumption rate during its peak performance i.e Max Usage. A Domestic plug in Oven normally has basic operating functions like a fan and a grill with low energy consumptions not exceeding 3000Kw so in most cases these type of ovens are ok to have on a plug as the Maximum Amps a normal 3 Pin Plug Can carry is 13A... Also worth mentioning that these types of oven can also be hardwired. A Domestic Hardwired Oven would typically have a lot more features than a basic oven and these features would include things like a Double Oven, some will also have self cleaning functions or assisted cleaning functions. These types of Ovens would generally Consume more energy as more power is required to operate normally at peak performance so they would in most cases need to be hardwired to a suitable outlet with the correct fuse size. Always check the installation guide for best practise or consult with a Qualified Electrician

The difference is the amount of electricity they consume; the load. A plug in oven will be under 13amps whereas a hardwired oven could be 15-20amps. As you have a dedicated cooker circuit you can fit either but always follow the manufacturers instructions with regards to fuse and cable sizes.

If your current oven is hardwired then you will require an electrician to either connect the new hardwired oven or convert the existing outlet to a socket in order to connect the plug in oven, unless you also have a socket in place to plug it into. A hard wired oven is connected directly to a cooker outlet while a plug in oven is simply plugged in to a socket. In terms of how they work, you’ll notice very little difference, it refers to the installation method.

Hi, the only difference is the method of installation. Arguable the hardwired version is safer due to it being wired into its own breaker circuit. In your case, as your existing appliance is hardwired, I would recommend sticking with that set up. The installation is very straightforward.

An oven supplied with a standard 13A plug can be plugged in to a standard 13A socket (single or double), whereas a hardwired oven is not allowed to be plugged in because its rating is higher than 13A (3kW) so it exceeds the capacity of the socket. Hardwiring is a term which means connecting a wire directly from the appliance to an accessory. Normally the wire will be either connected to an outlet plate, or, connected to a switch, or, connected to a fused switch. Thats the difference. Yes, hard wired appliances are generally rated at more than 13A (3kW) but not always.