Replacing old oven with new, not enough wires!

[IONH]

So I'm replacing my old oven with a new one. The old oven has a 3 wire plug but the new one has 4 wires. Upon further investigation, the old 3 wire plug appears to have all 3 wires covered in a black sheath. The sheath looks almost like a nylon or at least stranded.

Since the 4th wire is not a conductor but a ground, would it be legal to run this wire separate to the others so I don't need to purchase an entire length of (6 or 8?) gauge romex? If I can run it separate, would this be 8 or 10 gauge?

The circuit is 50 amps already which is also what the new oven requires.

 

[kert]

If it isn't new construction, I believe you are allowed to bond neutral and ground together at the oven and use a 3-prong pigtail. I believe that my stove came with a bonding tab that could be removed for 4-wire applications. Since I rewired my whole house including 6-3 w/gnd, I broke the tab and installed a 4-prong pigtail.

 

[luvit]

^^^ i'm just vouching that kert is right and it works. i bonded my ground and neutral at the outlet.

 

[IONH]

I'm really surprised that I can just bond the neutral and ground together.

Does it matter that the new unit has an induction cooktop? I'm guessing not since the ground should be for "short circuit" purposes only, right?

Any chance someone can give me the NEC rule number on this?

Also, I may have future plans of basically turning my kitchen appliances 180 degrees. I would need to extend the current 6-3 about 20 feet. Would that then be considered "new construction" and require me to run a new 6-3wg from the panel or could I simply put a junction in my basement ceiling and run the wire across to where it would then be coming up into my kitchen. This will be quite a while from now so your first answer is great for the meantime as I continue upgrading my appliances.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Any chance someone can give me the NEC rule number on this?

It was article 240-140 in the 1999 edition of the NEC; my newer copies are at work so I'm not sure if the exact number has changed in the meantime. It's an exception just for existing conditions - if you remodel the kitchen in the future you'll have to run the proper cable.

 

[IONH]

It was article 240-140 in the 1999 edition of the NEC; my newer copies are at work so I'm not sure if the exact number has changed in the meantime. It's an exception just for existing conditions - if you remodel the kitchen in the future you'll have to run the proper cable.

I looked up the installation manual of the model I want to purchase and it does in fact show that you can bond the neutral and ground together. It actually shows that being done using a wire nut in the box.

Thanks again!

 

[kbs2244]

When I bought a new stove about 8 months ago the sales guy threw in a 4 to 3 adaptor.
It is about the size of a deck of cards.
Plug it into the wall and the stove into it.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What panel is the breaker for your stove located? If its in the service main, then this is negligible cause neutral and ground are bonded in the main service.

But as stuart has said, if u remodel, then it is considered new work and the exception doesn't apply.

Also, for normal 120v outlets, EGCs can be run separate from the circuit conductors. I don't remember if appliance circuits are included under that rule.

 

[IONH]

There is only one panel in my house.