Breaker size?

[spills]

Ok, I got my double-converted to-single oven ready to wire up. I was at wiring up the wall and realized that the only 2x-throw breaker that was open was a 50a, which I think is a little too high for what Ive got. The oven measures 41"x18"x22" inside with one element on the bottom (I forget the wattage, I meant to get it before I left). Anyways, Im only using one element right now, but I may or may not add one or two more if need be.

Long story short, what is the usual amperage rating for a double-throw breaker for a double oven? The oven as well as the wiring to the breaker box are both 4-wire, I was thinking a 30a should suffice.

[SCOTTRODS]

Originally Posted by spills

Ok, I got my double-converted to-single oven ready to wire up. I was at wiring up the wall and realized that the only 2x-throw breaker that was open was a 50a, which I think is a little too high for what Ive got. The oven measures 41"x18"x22" inside with one element on the bottom (I forget the wattage, I meant to get it before I left). Anyways, Im only using one element right now, but I may or may not add one or two more if need be.

Long story short, what is the usual amperage rating for a double-throw breaker for a double oven? The oven as well as the wiring to the breaker box are both 4-wire, I was thinking a 30a should suffice.

Just trust me on this one.......... Get a 50 amp. You'll thank me later.

[spills]

I have no problem with that, but can you explain why? What are most ovens wired to usually?

[SCOTTRODS]

Originally Posted by spills

I have no problem with that, but can you explain why? What are most ovens wired to usually?

The why,... is this: You will eventually build or buy a much larger oven.... Trust me. ( I think I already said that.... LOL )

[spills]

lol, well ya but it depends on how this one turns out with one element. It's not hard to change out the breakers, so Id like to get one that suits my setup now as-is and change it later if I add another element. And from my math (and assuming that the one element I have is 3100 watts), I would only be using about 13a that seems very low, and I doubt they make a 15a 2x throw.

[baz]

i m no electrician but i can tell you the breaker size has to be matched to the amps that you will be using , and the size of wires between the breaker and the oven elements . i might be wrong but if you have a 50 amp breaker but only have wiring matched to the 13 amp elements then if something goes wrong instead of tripping the breaker you will have a major meltdown or fire in your wiring

[spills]

no, thats not what Im saying. IIRC, the wires are 40-50a (id have to check), and the breaker thats installed now is 50a. 13a is just the number I came up with that I will "supposedly" be pulling with one 3100 watt element (again, Id have to double check, I cant remember what wattage the element is). But either way, I know 50a is way too big, at least it seems that way to me and the home depot guy who didn't really have anything else to tell me

[SCOTTRODS]

Originally Posted by spills

no, thats not what Im saying. IIRC, the wires are 40-50a (id have to check), and the breaker thats installed now is 50a. 13a is just the number I came up with that I will "supposedly" be pulling with one 3100 watt element (again, Id have to double check, I cant remember what wattage the element is). But either way, I know 50a is way too big, at least it seems that way to me and the home depot guy who didn't really have anything else to tell me

Well, I'll re-enter my suggestion....

If you already have a 50a breaker. no need to change anything. That breaker is already there and matches the wiring in the walls. At least it should. I was assuming ( i know that's wrong, but I was...) that you were installing a new electrical box, simply because you were asking about what size breaker tio use. The breaker will protect the house. Not the oven. If you are only pulliing 13 amps across the breaker it can be as large as they make them and no loss will be had. If you go too small, you will throw the breaker every time you turn on the oven. No need for any changes in your outlet. Just plug it in and see how it does.

[ed_denu]

Scottrods, sorry but you are very wrong on this and baz is correct. The breaker needs to match both the wiring and the expected load. The wiring can be increased in size relative to the breaker, but not smaller. Therefore if spills currently has a 50amp circuit wired with 6 or 8 awg wire, then he can safely replace it with a 15 or 20 amp double pole breaker(yes, they do make 15 amp double poles). Later if he increases the oven element capacity, he can swap out the 15 or 20 amp for a larger breaker up to the original 50 amp size.

You do not want to oversize the breaker as it protects both the wiring and the device attached to it. If the oven were to overload or short out you want the breaker to trip the circuit, not continue to power a device which could lead to a fire or safety situation.

[SCOTTRODS]

Shaking my head......

I'll just say I know what you are saying is true, Ed, with the exception of preventing fires with the oven.... we'll just have to part ways here. He's already altered the UL listed properties of the oven. His 15 amp breaker is no safer than the 50 for the oven's sake..

My Ted's oven is not UL listed/rated. It only draws 27 Amps according to Ted. I have a 50amp circuit (as most homes do for the electric ranges, when installed) for the original Range I have and still use. I am running 6 guage from the box for a 28 foot run. So If I plug in my oven (granted I'm not running the oven and 4 burners at the same time), I'm not safe from fires unless I change the breaker down to a 30 amp?? This doesn't compute to me. ( funny thing is, I removed all the top burners and wires to protect me and others from accidental burns, or grease fires, on top of my range) The safety of the range is how it's built. There shouldn't be a bunch of combustible materials in it to allow a huge fire before it throws a 50amp breaker. If there is, we need to go back to the drawing board. Even the wiring is actually over-rated if done properly. (by a percentage if I'm not mistaken) If you have a short in your oven drawing 13 amps, it's gonna smoke something. It won't be your house unless you aren't paying attention. It'll be the oven. And once that dead short occurs, it will trip a 50 amp breaker before the wiring gets too hot and combusts construction materials in the walls.

Plain and simple. Just because I have a 50 amp circuit (or even you have one) doesn't mean I need to have an appliance rated at a full 50 amp draw to use it. Lets compare... I have about 40 15 amp rated outlets in my house, most are on 15 amp circuits. I often times have just one lamp on in the whiole house or an alram clock and the VCR (yeah, I still have one), and I'll be damned if I'll de-rate the breaker to accomodate a 1/4 amp draw. Don't think I can get anything less than a 15 around these parts.... That'd be weird even.

The Breakers in a home are designed to protect the wiring, in turn protecting the home from "un-see-able" issues. Not to protect the person from making a bad decision and starting a fire using whatever means, be it homemade ovens or curling irons. Ever heard of a grease fire? No Breaker can prevent it. Users can though.... and it don't take many watts to create that grease fire.

A simple 40 watt light bulb can burn down a house if used improperly, so I'm not buying the "protect the oven" approach.

If your wiring is rated for 50 amps, then I suuggest you use a 50 amp breaker. PROTECT THE HOUSE AND THE WIRING, not the oven.

Now for the other side of the story.... If you want to downgarde the breaker it won't hurt a thing, but you're wasting money and time. The circuit was designed and protected as it should be by CODE. Also if you use the proper Wiring connection to the wall, it would be good, and advised. If you go to Home Depot, the Connectors(plugs) have ratings also. Get the one that matches the circuit you're using (not the appliance). If it's a 50 amp rated connector, it will be a particular contact arrangement. a 60 amp is different, a 40 also, and so on.... The receptacle should be proper too. There are so many variables here, we could say you need or don't need....... OVERSIZE if there's any doubt. (well, oversize anything but the appliance)

I am not an electrical engineer, nor a licensed Journeyman electrician. I'm not even a good speller. Ol' Ed may be. But I'd suggest calling one of the two professionals and get local code and opinion that's dealing with YOUR area too. Code may say you cannot de-rate a breaker. It may not. There are national guidelines for electrical wiring, and there are local codes that should be followed too. most of us are doing all this stuff (on the cheap) and want to be relatively safe without doing "the correct thing", that's why you asked, but it's obvious there are conflicting opinions offered on this..... So take all the free advice and make sure you get your money's worth..... Money back garanteed...