14,400 VA Range Circuit on 50Amp Breaker

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Ravenvalor

Ravenvalor

Senior Member
Location
Piedmont region of NC
Hello,

Today I came across a new stand-alone GE double oven with range that was rated 14,400 VA, 240-volts and the installation manual recommended either a 40-amp or a 50-amp circuit for the range. I called the manufacturer and the rep said to follow the installation manual's instructions. I called the electrical inspector and he said the same thing, put it on a 50-amp circuit. I installed the range and measured the amperage and it was over 50-amps. Now I have a customer who is afraid of using too many items on the range at one time. That was the first time I had ever encountered a contradictory instruction from a manufacturer. I am sure there is a good explanation but I can only assume that GE has enough lawyers to get away with this and they can't resist the temptation to sell a stand-alone double oven with range that will operate on a standard range circuit.
Corporism, you gotta love it.:)
 
C

curt swartz

Electrical Contractor - San Jose, CA
Location
San Jose, CA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
Tell your customer not to worry. Ranges have been installed with smaller branch circuits than their nameplate rating forever. You might want to review 220.55
 
S

suemarkp

Senior Member
Location
Kent, WA
Occupation
Retired Engineer
The burners cycle on and off, even when turned on full, so the conductors don't overheat.

See table 220.55, Column C.
Note 1 tells you what to do when the range is over 12KW. So its demand load would be 8KW + 10% = 8800W. This comes to 36.6 amps.
Note 4 says you can use this table for the branch circuit load as long as you have a cooktop and one or two ovens on the same circuit.

210.19(A)(3) says ranges over 8 3/4 KW must use a minimum circuit rating of 40A.

So a 40A circuit would be code legal and most likely work just fine. A 50A should not be a problem at all.
 
Dennis Alwon

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
It would be very unlikely that the home owner would turn on all eyes on high and the oven at the same time.

Look at T. 220.55. Basically any range from 9kw to 16 kw can be wired on a 40 amp circuit. 16kw range-- 8kw up to 12kw unit and multiple 5% for each kw over 12kw. 5% x 4 = .2 .2 x 8kw= 9.6kw 9.6/240=40 amps
 
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