Answers to Electrical Questions About Overcurrent Protection for Cooktops and Ovens, Upgrading an Electric Service and Wiring a Hot Tub

Gmoney asks:
I found someone’s electric cooktop and electric oven on one 50 amp circuit. Is this okay , or are they required to be on their own individual circuits?

Answer:
If the cooktop and oven is a single unit, then this is ok. If the cooktop is separate from the oven, then this is not ok. You need to provide overcurrent protection for each unit. The will be a nameplate on each unit with the overcurrent protection requirements. For example, most electric cooktops that I’ve wired are typically on a dedicated circuit rated 30 amps at 220v. This would require a 2-pole, 30 amp circuit breaker.

If the cooktop and oven are individual units, then the single 50 amp circuit in unsafe. The units could potentially start a fire or electrocute someone and the breaker probably won’t even trip. If they are individual units, I would keep the 50 amp wiring and use it for the oven. However, change the circuit breaker to the proper size needed according to the nameplate rating on the oven. This will probably require a 30 amp or 40 amp breaker. Then I would install a new, properly sized circuit for the cooktop.

Dave asks:
I’m needing to change a 100amp service to a 200 amp, how and what do I need to accomidate a 50amp hot tub.

Answer:
The first thing you need to do is talk to your local power company to find out what their requirements are and get on their schedule. At peak times here in Montana, our local power company may need 2 – 3 weeks before they can be their to disconnect and reconnect your power.

The next thing you need to do is determine if you are legally able to do this work and get a permit. Some areas will not allow homeowners to install / upgrade their electric service. If you are able to do this work legally, then most building codes departments and power companies have created some type of documentation with their local requirements.

Different hot tub manufacturers have different power requirements. I wrote Wiring a Hot Spring Bengal Spa / Hot Tub. This article shows step by step instructions with pictures of 1 type of hot tub installation. Your hot tub may have different power requirements than the one in this article.

Upgrading your electric service and wiring a hot tub are not really projects for beginner DIYers. For beginner DIYers, I recommend hiring a licensed / qualified electrician for this work. That being said, this is not rocket science either. I think that if you do your research, pay attention to the details and get an inspection when the work is completed, these projects can be completed by DIYers of all experience levels.

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