Can You Plug An Oven Into A 13 Amp Socket? Pros, Cons & Advice
Are you looking for a built-in 13 amp electric oven? Maybe you’re replacing an old gas oven and don’t want the hassle of installing a new dedicated cable to power a higher-amperage electric oven.
Can’t you just get a new oven that can plug straight into the 13 amp socket you have?
In this post, I’ll explain if you can get a 13 amp oven as well as answer some common questions about the topic.
Let’s get into it!
Can You Get A 13 Amp Oven?
Yes, 13 amp plug-in electric ovens are available on the market.
Although there is more choice than there used to be, there is still a much smaller choice compared to their higher amp rated counterparts.
Also, you’ll likely find that there are not as many features available on 13 amp plug-in ovens as they lack the power to perform certain functions.
If you are specifically looking to buy a 13 amp oven check that the electrical connection required is less than 3KW. Or the manufacturer states that the oven comes with a 13 amp plug attached to the oven.
What Is A 13 Amp Oven?
A 13 amp oven, sometimes called a plug-in oven, is an electric oven that comes with a standard three-pin 13 amp plug attached to it (or one that can be attached to it).
You can plug them directly into a normal UK socket and they don’t need to be connected by a professional electrician.
Just to clarify, I’m talking about built-in single ovens. Not anything that sits on your countertop.
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Can You Plug An Oven Into a 13 Amp Socket?
If the oven or cooker is under 3kW then yes, it can run off a 13-amp plug and be plugged directly into a regular normal 13 amp socket.
Why Would You Want A 13 Amp Electric Oven?
The most common I come across is because you don’t have the correct wiring in place to be able to install a more powerful electric oven.
Many electric ovens require over 3KW to power them, which will be more powerful than your normal 13 amp plug socket.
Therefore you need to have a separate dedicated cable from your fuse box to the oven, which can carry a greater electrical load. This is often referred to as hardwired or hardwiring an oven.
Installing that dedicated new cable can be very difficult and/or costly. Usually, you encounter this scenario if you are having a kitchen refurbishment and don’t want to carry out any major building work but you want to install a new oven.
Advantages Of A 13 Amp Oven
- Easy Installation: 13 amp ovens offer hassle-free setup, eliminating the need for specialized wiring or dedicated circuits.
- Increased Flexibility and Cost Savings: These ovens are more flexible to install and usually don’t demand a professional installation service.
Choosing a 13 amp oven can save you from additional expenses tied to building and electrical modifications, like installing a dedicated higher-rated cable and circuit. - Energy Efficiency: With their lower power consumption, they can be gentler on both the environment and your energy bills.
- Cost-Effective Choice: Generally, 13 amp ovens tend to be more wallet-friendly than their higher-rated counterparts.
Disadvantages Of A 13 Amp Oven
- Fewer Model Options: With fewer 13 amp oven models available on the market, choices can be somewhat restrictive.
- Limited Features and Functions: 13 amp ovens might not offer the same amount of features as their higher-rated counterparts.
Settings like pyrolytic cleaning and rapid heat-up may not be available. The sheer power these features require typically exceeds what a 13-amp fuse can handle.
If you’re considering buying a 13 amp oven, make sure to check the power requirements of the oven against the features you would like.
Which UK Brands Make 13 Amp Electric Built-in Ovens?
- Bosch: Offers a variety of self-cleaning and steam function ovens.
- Neff: Features innovative Slide and Hide doors.
- Zanussi: Provides ovens with convenient timers and multiple functions.
- Beko: Includes the AeroPerfect AirFry oven for healthier cooking.
- Hotpoint: Known for energy-efficient and budget-friendly ovens.
- Indesit: Offers a range of affordable and reliable ovens.
These brands offer 13A built-in ovens that cater to a variety of cooking styles and kitchen needs.
Is It Better To Hardwire An Electric Oven?
If possible, I’m of the opinion it’s better to hardwire an electric oven.
It should be hardwired into a higher-rated dedicated circuit with a separate cooker isolation switch (the big red switch). Rather than plugging it into a socket that’s part of an existing circuit. Even if the oven says it’s 13 amp rated.
Ovens are often used for long periods of time and demand a high electrical load. If you also use other appliances that are plugged into the same circuit you could cause that circuit to become overloaded.
For example, even small appliances like a kettle, although not used for long periods of time, can demand a high electrical load. If your oven is running and you have several other items all powered from the same circuit, turning the kettle on could be the thing that pushes the circuit to become overloaded.
That’s why, if possible, I think it’s better to hardwire an oven on its own separate circuit to avoid this type of situation.
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Can You Get A 13 Amp Double Oven?
No, you can’t get a 13 amp electric double oven.
I’ve never come across one in my 10+ years of being a kitchen designer and after lots of additional research, I still couldn’t find one.
Simply put, the power required to run two ovens (albeit smaller sized) is greater than a 13 amp plug can provide. Because of this, a double oven will need hardwiring to a suitable higher amp supply.
However, you can get a gas-powered double oven (rather than an electric one). This would only need a 13 amp socket to plug into as the only electricity it really needs is to power the display/timer and for the igniter to spark. All of these can be powered by a lower amperage 13 amp plug/socket.
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How Many KW Can A 13 Amp Oven Be?
As a general rule, 13 amp plugs can take a maximum of 3KW (3000 watts).
Working out the amps needed to power an oven is a quick and easy calculation.
Amps = Watts / Voltage.
Example: A typical 13 amp oven will be 2990 watts (2.99KW).
So, 2990 / 230 (voltage in the UK) = 13amps.
Therefore, you would need a fuse that can carry 13 amps or more to be able to power the oven. The closest fuse would be a 13-amp fuse.
You can test out what amp fuse/breaker you will need depending on the kW power of your appliance in my handy calculator below:
KW to Amps Calculator
FAQs
Can a plug-in oven be hardwired?
Yes, but if the oven’s supplied cable has a plug, it’s best to use that plug for installation. If it only has leads for hardwiring, then hardwiring is the recommended approach.
Do all electric ovens come with a 13 amp plug?
No, not all electric ovens come with a 13 amp plug. The type of plug or hardwiring required for an electric oven depends on its power rating and design.
- Lower-powered ovens, typically under 3kW, may come with a 13 amp plug that can be connected to a regular wall socket.
- More powerful ovens, usually over 3kW, will not have a 13 amp plug and must be hardwired directly into a dedicated cooker circuit with a higher amp rating, typically 32 amps, by a qualified electrician.
Are 13-amp ovens any good?
Yes, especially in the right circumstances. 13 amp ovens can be suitable for many cooking needs and are often easier to install. However, individual performance may vary based on the brand and model.
Final Thoughts…
There you have it! The 13 amp oven explained.
I hope this post has helped answer any questions you may have had about the topic.
If at all unsure, ask a qualified electrician to check your situation before you purchase a new appliance.
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Author
Michael is a kitchen designer from the UK. He's been designing and project managing new kitchen installations for over 10 years. Before that, he was an electrician and part of a team that fitted kitchens. He created Kitchinsider in early 2019 to help give people advice when it comes to getting a new kitchen.
