Can I Connect Oven And Hob To Same Switch?

If you have an all-in-one cooker with an oven and hob, connecting it to a power source is fairly straightforward. You can either wire it directly to the dedicated cooker circuit or plug it into the socket of a cooker control unit.

For a separate oven (or a mini oven) and hob however, things get a bit more complicated. You could connect each to its own separate switch but that would take more work and time. In some cases, depending on the wattage of the appliances, you might have to run a connection for each directly from the consumer unit/distribution board.

But what if you already have existing wiring for your old cooker? Can you connect both the oven and hob to the same switch?

As long as it is a dedicated cooker circuit (wired directly to the consumer unit and with its own fuse), you can safely connect both the oven and hob to the same switch.

Note: Never try to wire an oven or any home appliance by yourself. Find a registered electrician to do the installation. Also check whether you need to apply for any local permits before doing any major electrical work in your home.

The Basics of Oven and Hob Installation

Electric ovens and hobs draw quite a lot of power. Ovens fall between 1000 and 5000 watts (1kw-5kw) with most drawing an average of 2400 watts when on medium heat. Electrical hobs also start at around 1000 watts and can go up to 5000 watts.

Note: If it is a gas hob, it will have a much lower wattage because power is needed just for ignition. You can plug it into a standard socket without any problem.

Standard sockets have a maximum draw of 3kw. So in most cases, especially with modern ovens that come with a lot more features, you cannot just plug it into a standard 13 amps socket.

You have two options. The first is to use a cooker control unit with an integrated socket. But this can only work if your oven and hob are integrated.

The second option, which is best if you have a separate oven and hob, is to hardwire it to the cooker control unit with a 6mm cable and 32A MCB (mini circuit breaker).

Wiring the Oven and Hob to the Same Switch

To wire both the oven and hob to use the same switch, you need a dual cable outlet plate rated at 45amp. This allows you to have two outlets for each cable (one for the hob and another for the oven) connected to the same 6mm cable.

Most oven and hob combos should work safely on the same switch. A 6mm cable with a 32A breaker can handle the power draw from both the hob and oven even when used at the same time.

But remember to always consult a registered electrical professional first. He or she will ascertain whether the existing cooker circuit can handle the combined load and will help you set up the connection safely.