Electric Range Replacement

[Wiz02]

Would one of you check the 2017 NEC code requirements when a replacing an existing electric range or do you know offhand? Currently I have a 3 wire feed that is hard wired to the range. Does the 2017 Code require that I replace the feed with a 4 wire outlet/ plug? Thanks.

 

[sparky 1971]

It was supposed to be cord and plug anyway, and if it was, it could stay that way. I'd just put a 10-50R in and call it a day. not much different than replacing the receptacle if it were broken or burned up and in either of those cases, would remain three wire. Just make sure the new range is bonded.

 

[nadogail]

If you are replacing your electric range, I very strongly suggest you consider having an induction cooktop

We replaced our coil burner cooktop several years ago. We have no intention of having any thing but an induction cooktop ever again.

 

[Norcal]

Bonding the neutral to the frame of cooking equipment is still permitted in existing installations, but upgrading is always recommended but not required unless the wiring needs to be extended/ moved.

 

[Wiz02]

Thanks for the response @sparky 1971 and @Norcal. House built in 1990, no receptacle just hard wired and bonded to the range. Not planning on changing the location, so this is not required, but I do like to be code compliant, so I will probably upgrade. (Still not sold on arc fault interrupters though)

@nadogail, range selection is entirely up to the boss. I'm along for the ride. Why do you like induction cook top so much?

 

[nadogail]

Induction Cooking is fire less and efficient.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Thanks for the response @sparky 1971 and @Norcal. House built in 1990, no receptacle just hard wired and bonded to the range. Not planning on changing the location, so this is not required, but I do like to be code compliant, so I will probably upgrade. (Still not sold on arc fault interrupters though)

@nadogail, range selection is entirely up to the boss. I'm along for the ride. Why do you like induction cook top so much?

run a new 6/3 NM-b cable, unbond the range and forget the AFCI

 

[sparky 1971]

If you're really wanting to be code compliant, make sure to install a GFCI breaker if the range receptacle is within 6' of the sink. There is no AFCI requirement for an electric range.

 

[Wiz02]

@sparky 1971 Ugh! A 50A double pole GFCI breaker, I am afraid to even Google a price. The "shock' may kill me (sorry about the bad pun).

My reservation about AFCI was a general one, not specifically for the range. I wonder if there are any stats on the effectiveness of AFCIs at preventing fires in the field.

 

[Norcal]

If you're really wanting to be code compliant, make sure to install a GFCI breaker if the range receptacle is within 6' of the sink. There is no AFCI requirement for an electric range.

That is a 2020 NEC requirement, the OP mentioned the 2017, they are going bonkers at the NFPA.

 

[sparky 1971]

@sparky 1971 Ugh! A 50A double pole GFCI breaker, I am afraid to even Google a price. The "shock' may kill me (sorry about the bad pun).

My reservation about AFCI was a general one, not specifically for the range. I wonder if there are any stats on the effectiveness of AFCIs at preventing fires in the field.

Never mind about the GFCI, I missed the part you were on the 2017. Forget about the AFCI being any good for anything besides nuisance tripping. They don't do much other than make the manufacturers more money.

That is a 2020 NEC requirement, the OP mentioned the 2017, they are going bonkers at the NFPA.

I missed that one. Iowa took out the wording "through 250" in 210.8(A). I don't have to worry about the over reaching in the name of profi...safety, at least for now.

 

[Wiz02]

I agree with you both of you, @Norcal and @sparky 1971 . I think that the NFPA is a little too chummy with the manufacturers. Unfortunately, I belong to the IEEE not the NFPA so I can't look for any studies on the effect of AFCIs in the field. My gut feeling, which I admit, is no better than a coin toss, says no effect except for increased cost and nuisance trips.

 

[ptabatcher]

Induction Cooking is fire less and efficient.

Depending on your income, induction cooktops are one of the items you can get a rebate on through the Inflation Reduction Act. Might be worth checking out.

 

[Wiz02]

Depending on your income, induction cooktops are one of the items you can get a rebate on through the Inflation Reduction Act. Might be worth checking out.

Wow, I didn't know that.

 

[Max]

I agree with you both of you, @Norcal and @sparky 1971 . I think that the NFPA is a little too chummy with the manufacturers. Unfortunately, I belong to the IEEE not the NFPA so I can't look for any studies on the effect of AFCIs in the field. My gut feeling, which I admit, is no better than a coin toss, says no effect except for increased cost and nuisance trips.

Unlike GFCIs, AFCIs are a big ball of mystery in exactly what wave forms they are supposed to detect and trigger on. I've done a moderate search for papers on GFCI wave forms and have not found anything. My guess is similar to yours - they are "supposed to work", and in some internal test scenarios they do, so out come the regs and in comes the revenue.

 

[dcg9381]

Nuisance trips with combo GFI/AFCI are common in my house (with the vacuum). I'm not going to post about how I solve it.

OP, we've got induction - absolutely love it.

 

[Zeke]

Coil and halogen burners are the Donald Ducks of the electric range business. Induction is rapid to respond like gas. Will simmer and hold far better than gas.

 

[Wiz02]

Coil and halogen burners are the Donald Ducks of the electric range business. Induction is rapid to respond like gas. Will simmer and hold far better than gas.

Good to know, but even though I know how to cook, the kitchen is SWBO's domain. What she wants in the way of a kitchen range is fine by me. I help out when asked, but mostly I just enjoy the fruits of her culinary skills and I mean that most sincerely.

 

[walta]

Good to know, but even though I know how to cook, the kitchen is SWBO's domain. What she wants in the way of a kitchen range is fine by me. I help out when asked, but mostly I just enjoy the fruits of her culinary skills and I mean that most sincerely.

Convince her to open her mind to the possibility that technology may have improved in the last 40 years because it has and induction heating is a huge step forward.

Most towns will have a kitchen showroom with a working demo unit. Find one and let her boils some water the unit will sell itself and you may find there is very little difference in price from one store to the next for the same items.



Walta

 

[Wiz02]

Great idea!

 

[Metal-Marc]

Go with induction.

 

[RPH]

Convince her to open her mind to the possibility that technology may have improved in the last 40 years because it has and induction heating is a huge step forward.

Most towns will have a kitchen showroom with a working demo unit. Find one and let her boils some water the unit will sell itself and you may find there is very little difference in price from one store to the next for the same items.



Walta

Been around a 100 years plus. One of the first uses of electrical energy in commercial operations.

 

[67carl]

Regarding induction ranges - don't you have to have specific pots and pans for it to work?

ETA - did a quick Google search "your cookware must contain magnetic iron or steel to work on an induction cooktop".

 

[kaymccampbell]

Regarding induction ranges - don't you have to have specific pots and pans for it to work?

ETA - did a quick Google search "your cookware must contain magnetic iron or steel to work on an induction cooktop".

Cast iron works great. Anything else needs to have an induction label on it. I had stainless pans that wouldn't go, and others that work just fine. Aluminum that has a steel disk embedded in it works well.

 

[dcg9381]

Regarding induction ranges - don't you have to have specific pots and pans for it to work?

ETA - did a quick Google search "your cookware must contain magnetic iron or steel to work on an induction cooktop".

Yes, but assuming your standard pots/pans are not aluminum, you'll be surprised how many work.
The reality is that induction isn't only impacted by "is it magnetic" but "how magnetic is it". We have pots that will boil water really fast and a few that take a much longer time.

If you want to know if your pot/pan will work, just check it with a magnet.

Overall induction is great. We're going to be converting our RV to 2 induction burners and one propane.

 

[RPH]

Actually induction can be used to heat things we wouldn’t normally think about.
We have a French company that makes fiber optic cable. Amazing process. A large glass billet is fed into the the induction coil. Glass is an insulator and normally does not interact with the field. The bill it has impurities added during manufacturing. It’s the impurities that induction heats. Watching that fiber stream down over several stories in amazing.
Aluminum closure panels are induction cured at the stamping plant. Car bonding has been in production since the late 1980’s.
Stainless will heat, copper, brass all kinds of things interact with the magnetic field generated.
It’s about power, time, and temperature.

 

[Denwood]

Ya, induction is the bees knees. We switched over in the winter and would not look back. On the pots issue, you'll see a difference in how fast they heat depending on the composition of the pot base. Some pots sold as "induction capable" work, but are noticeably worse than others. The more ferrous material, the better. The right pot will see water boiling (small pot) in just over a minute.

I have a goto cast iron pan used mostly for doing thin "Finnish" pancakes. It's a real treat to use on induction as you have very good control of heat, while the heat distribution is about as perfect as it gets.