Wiring on new oven

[modeltruckshop]

We are putting 4 - 3100watt elements, do you wire one to the next one then straight to the next one and so on? Also what size wire should we use. Thanks for everones help.

[ed_denu]

No, do not wire them in series as this would significantly decrease the heating capacity. I would parallel them. Just make sure your SSR or contactor can handle the load as you have around 52 amps total.

For the wiring I used high temperature wire going to the elements themselves. Look at the Mcmaster-Carr site under 'high temperature wire' for appropriate wire gauges. I used the 842 degree braided MG wire(catalog page 764) going from the elements to a junction box external to the oven. From there back to the SSR I used THHN multistrand within conduit. Each of your elements is drawing about 13 amps so the wire gauge would be dependent on wire type(high temp or not). Outside the oven, 14ga or 12ga would be fine.

[modeltruckshop]

What do you think of this, I bought 5 - 3100watt elements but I was only going to put 4 in but now I am thinking about putting all 5 in. The oven's total size inside is 4'wide X 6'tall X 8'Deep. We bought a 80Amp SSR.

[ed_denu]

You definitely need a good heat sink for the SSR. 80% of load is a good target for any SSR and you will be right at that figure.

Obviously 65 amps will require a new dedicated circuit with probably an 80 amp breaker and appropriate wiring(#2 or #4).

As for the internal wiring if you go by the chassis wiring capacities then you could use 7 or 8 gauge wire as I read it. My only concern is that this size wire is often a little difficult to manage especially withing a control box. It might have been easier by using 2 SSR's and splitting the elements.

Do you have a proposed wiring diagram of how you intend to hook everything up?

Here is a good post from someone who built a large oven. Might contain some helpful hints:

http://forum.eastwoodco.com/showthre...ghlight=wiring

[ed_denu]

Here is a link to my wiring diagram if interested:

http://server6.theimagehosting.com/image.php?img=Oven wiring Model (1)_p02.a78.JPG