How Many Amps Does An Electric Oven Use? + Amps Rating Effects

Image of an electric oven being turned on

Electric appliance manufacturers list specifications like volts, amps, and watts on their appliances. These are the voltage, current, and power ratings of the device. Before you connect devices like electric ovens to your power supply outlet, you should make sure that these numbers on the device match your power supply. So, how many amps does an electric oven use?

An electric oven uses between 20 amps to 60 amps of current. However, the amount of current that an electric oven will use; depends on its make, model, and features. The exact amount of current that an electric oven will draw is usually mentioned on the device as well as in its instructions manual.

Let’s talk about this in more detail now.

Why Is The Amps Rating Of An Electric Oven Important?

Electric devices like ovens list three main specifications — power, voltage, and current.

These parameters indicate the required power supply of the device.

So, these specifications will be clearly indicated on the device as well as in the instructions manual that comes with it.

Understanding these terms will help you choose the right device for your home.

It will help you to make an informed decision and save money on your monthly electricity bill.

Now, we will not get into the technical details of these terms since it’s very complex. However, here is a quick overview of what each term means.

1. Voltage Rating

Volt is the unit of electrical voltage. It indicates the electric pressure or strength that a device needs to operate.

Most devices will either have a voltage rating of 120V or 240 V. Energy-intensive appliances like electric ovens and ranges will usually operate at 240 Volts.

You must plug a device into a socket of matching voltage rating for it to operate correctly.

2. Ampere Rating

Amps stand for Amperes, which is the unit of current. The Amp rating of a device refers to the electric current it draws from the power outlet when it operates.

So, the Ampere rating of an electric oven will tell you the maximum current it will draw during operation.

Depending on the size and model, an electric oven can draw anywhere between 20 to 60 Amps of current.

Large, commercial-grade ovens can draw high currents over 50 Amps.

Recommended Further Reading:

3. Wattage

The third electric specification is Watts, which is a unit of electric power. Electric power is the product of voltage and power.

It’s the power that a device consumes when it is connected to the power supply to perform the intended operation.

The electric ampere rating of an oven is important because it helps to choose the correct circuit breaker for the device. We will talk more about this later.

How The Amps Requirement Affects Electric Oven?

Electric appliances like ovens are energy-intensive devices.

Depending on the brand and model, these devices draw anywhere between 20 to 60 Amps of electric current for operation.

This translates into a higher power requirement as well.

Before plugging in devices like electric ovens, you should understand how many amps of current they may draw.

If there is a mismatch in the ampere specification of the device and the power outlet, it can cause the following problems.

  • Your oven may fail to work if it doesn’t receive enough current for operation.
  • When the device tries to draw more current than the safe limit, it can overload the circuit breaker and make it trip.
  • It can become an electric and fire hazard.

These potential problems compromise your safety. They can also adversely affect the appliance and damage it.

Hence, it’s essential to match the power ratings of the oven to the power supply before connecting it.

Consult the device manual if you are unsure whether your power supply ratings match the oven’s amperage.

Most manufacturers will specify the circuit requirements for installing an oven. You can simply follow these recommendations.

However, if it’s unclear, consult an electrician who can help you upgrade your circuit breaker if it is necessary.

Related Further Reading:

How Do You Find The Amps Rating For Your Oven?

Your oven will have a label on the back, near the power terminals or where the power cord exits the appliance.

This label will display all the electric parameters for operating the device. Check this label to find the amps rating of your electric oven.

The same information will also be included in the device manual that comes with the electric oven.

Electric power is the product of current and voltage.

So, if you can’t find the amps rating of your electric oven, you can calculate it by dividing the power rating of your electric oven by the specified voltage.

Typical Current Consumption Ratings For Electric Ovens

The wattage and electric power consumption of an electric oven will depend on the make, model, size, and features of the device.

Hence, different ovens may draw higher or lower currents.

1. Standard Electric Ovens

Depending on the size, most ovens used for household purposes consume 1800 to 5000 Watts.

They will usually consume around 2500 Watts of power for operation at a medium setting. This would translate to an Ampere rating of 21A.

2. Microwave Ovens

Standard microwave ovens are rated between 800 and 2000 Watts of power.

Depending on the additional features and power requirements for the display, it may consume slightly more or less power.

On average, a 1200 Watt microwave oven would need 10 Amps of current for seamless operation.

Interesting Further Reading:

How To Choose The Right Circuit Breaker For An Electric Oven?

Electric appliances like ovens demand high power and run on 240 Volts. So, the wiring for these appliances is different from standard wiring.

They will usually need a dedicated circuit with separate circuit breakers.

A circuit breaker is a safety device. It prevents potential fire hazards by breaking the connection between an appliance and the power supply in case of a power surge.

To choose a suitable circuit breaker for any electric appliance, you should pay attention to two factors:

  1. The current drawn by the device, and
  2. The size and thickness of wires to supply that current.

If you live in an old house, the existing wiring should support up to 40 Amps of current.

So, if you have a small oven, this power supply would be sufficient and equipped to handle your device.

However, some modern electric ovens of large size need more than 40 Amps of current.

When the amperage increases, you will need thicker wires for the connection to withstand the higher current requirement.

New residential apartments usually have NEC-compliant wiring that meets this need.

So, if your kitchen has six-gauge sheathed cable wires, it can carry up to 55 Amperes of current.

If the current exceeds 50 Amperes, the circuit will trip. However, if your electric oven draws up to 50 Amperes of current, this will suffice.

Now, electric ovens used for large, commercial kitchens draw higher currents of 50 to 60 Amps at maximum capacity.

In such a scenario, you should be very careful in choosing a suitable circuit breaker.

A small circuit breaker will trip each time you turn on the oven.

However, if you choose a circuit breaker with a much higher rating than the oven, it may not shut down when needed.

This could lead to overheating and a potential fire.

Hence, you must match the size of the circuit breaker to the amps rating of the oven to prevent such incidents.

Reference

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