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| Subject - Range hookup? | |
| cfoley | Morning everyone. I'm a first timer here and I hope that there is a good electrician out there that can help. I've asked 4 or 5 people this question and they all seem to have a different answer. Hopefully someone here can give me a detailed answer that even an idiot like me can follow, here goes. I am replacing my old wall mounted oven(s) and electric cooktop with one unit/range. The wiring enters the room through the floor into a metal box and was then split to both appliances. The wires are 6 gauge aluminum, with a 50 amp breaker in the service panel and there are 3 wires all together. One of the wires is all black, the other is black w/red stripes and the 3rd is bare stranded aluminum and they are all enclosed in black plastic sheathing. I've already checked with the manufacturer of the new range and they said that aluminum wire and a 3 wire hookup are okay. Exactly how do I make the connections to the new range? I've been told so many different things my head is going to pop. One guy said I should directly wire into the new range, another said to use the old metal box setup, another said to use a receptacle and cord, and one said to replace the entire line with copper - which would mean running almost 100 feet of wire through a finished basement! They all seem to have a reason why the other guys idea is at fault and they all sound plausible to me. Are any of these guys right? Are all of these guys right? Can anyone please give detailed instructions or is this that complicated that I should call an electrician? I've done plenty of light electrical work around the house in the past and have always been able to get concise accurate answers, until now. Thanks for any help. |
| wireman | Cfoley Hi this is a relatively easy job. you can use the existing #6 wire If it is in good condition. Have a qualified electrician install a new range receptacle and buy a "pigtail" cord to attach to your new range(If it doesn't already come with one). New ranges have the option (usually) you can use 3 wires or 4. when you use the 3 existing wires you need a 3 prong receptacle. the bare wire is the ground wire. It connects to the ground(green inside the stove) and the netural(white). The other wires, Black and black/red, are hot. each wire carries 120 volts. Together they provide the 240 volts required to run your range. 120 + 120 Hope this helps. |
| cfoley | Thanks Wireman. And yes, the #6 wire is in very good shape. I've seen the 3 prong receptacles at Home Depot, is there a special one made for aluminum or are they all the same? Grounded or ungrounded for this situation? If at all possible I would like to save myself the expense of an electrician unless there is more to it than you describe. Thanks again. |
| JimmyDee | quote: Most of them will say on the box if they are good for aluminum and copper and most of the new ones are. I would also buy some of the grease (Penatrox or equal) that is made for these terminations which will eliminate most or all of the problems that come from using aluminum. Jim |
| cfoley | Jim, I hate to be a pain but just one more thing. Does it matter if the range receptacle is rated as grounded or ungrounded? I'm guessing it doesn't make a difference in this case but better safe than sorry. Can't thank you enough. Bye. |
| JimmyDee | I'm going to show my ignorance here, but I didn't know there was a difference. For 3 wire existing circuits, (prior to 1996 code) I just purchased a 3 prong cord and 50 amp range plug and for the new installations a 4 wire, 50 amp range plug. If they are any different than that I'll learn along with you.  My illustrated code book for residential wiring doesn't differentiate between the two.Jim |
| David Hyatt | Yea I agree with these guys. Use your exsistng wire, purchase a surface mount three wire outlet and a three wire stove pigtail. If you have to exstend the wire to a new location do it in an approved jountion box use big blue wire nuts and anti-oxident at terminations. |
| Electricman | quote: The 4 wire receptacles have a grounded conductor(neutral) and the 3 wire ones dont. The ground and neutral are bonded together at the range on 3 wire systems. There is a difference between the grounded conductor and the grounding conductor, is this where your confusion is?Prior to 1996 on new installations it was permissible to bond the neutral and ground together at the range,but now the code requires that the 2 be seperated. Use the 3 wire cord and receptacle set up with an anti-oxident on the terminals and all will be fine. |