Induction and amperage hobs: our solutions to keep them from breaking down

Despite their practicality, hotplates do not only have advantages. They indeed require specific electrical arrangements which will require rolling up their sleeves for the more DIY enthusiasts.

That's it, you've made up your mind! No more dangerous gas piano or old-fashioned cast iron electric hobs. You have decided to switch to induction with its cohort of advantages: saving energy, time, ease of cleaning, maintenance ... But out of the box, it's a cold shower. As is the case with some ovens, no male plug is plugged into the power cable. But how the hell do you plug this thing in?

What are the best induction hobs?

First of all, we forget the male plug without earthing which is used to connect his bedside lamp, for example, because something much stronger, able to withstand the electrical intensity expressed in amperes (the flow , to take an example that is easier to understand). It is therefore necessary to provide a power supply of 32 amps (A) instead of the 16 A generally sufficient for the other electrical appliances in the home.

There are 32A outlets, but they are rather large electrical components that are difficult to install in tight spaces, such as the backs of built-in furniture. We use 32 A sockets for specific purposes, such as our induction hob tests, for example. In the vast majority of cases, a simple cable outlet fitted with a domino is used. But be careful, to connect this to the cables already present on the plate (if their length is not sufficient, which is very likely), you must also obtain the right material; the electrical standards in force today require a 6 mm² cable (diameter of the insulating copper cable not included).

A 32 A cable outlet plate and its connections. © Legrand - Leroy Merlin

But that's not all. You should also take a look at its electrical panel. Because having the right wall outlet and the right cable is not enough. It is also necessary to have an adequate security installation. It is compulsory to connect the plate to a 32 A circuit breaker, and in this case, to connect it alone. If we want to connect several appliances to the same circuit including the hob, we will take care to choose a 40 A circuit breaker. However, a circuit breaker for the hob alone seems to us the safest solution.

A 32 A circuit breaker, a hob.

In addition to unwanted tripping of circuit breakers (and therefore sudden shutdown of electrical devices), a bad choice in this area risks above all causing damage to the electrical circuit, and potentially fires. This is why, even if you feel like a handyman, we strongly recommend that you seek the advice of a professional electrician before tackling the installation of an induction hob, or even entrust it with this task if your electrical installation is a little dated.

An alternative solution

Some manufacturers of induction hobs have understood that these electrical requirements could encourage consumers not to equip themselves. This is why some models, such as the Candy CIVS677, have an option that can be activated using a combination of keys on first use (or via an app when they can be connected to a smartphone). It is thus possible to adapt to the amperage of the electric circuit already installed. However, there are some limitations to be expected.

Candy CIVS677 Introductory price 399 €

Itopdroid rating Give your opinion read the test In the absence of offers discover

• Skip SPI4361B Best price: 354.35 €
• Skip SPI4367B Best price: 304.98 €
• Skip SPI4664B Best price: 359.9 €
• Whirlpool W Collection SMP 778 C NE IXL Best price: 799 € View
• Siemens EX651FEB1F Best price: 315 €
• Haier HAIPSJ64MC Best price: 499 €

See more Sauter SPI4462B offers

Itopdroid rating Give your opinion read the test In the absence of offers discover

• Skip SPI4361B Best price: 354.35 €
• Skip SPI4367B Best price: 304.98 €
• Skip SPI4664B Best price: 359.9 €
• Whirlpool W Collection SMP 778 C NE IXL Best price: 799 € View
• Siemens EX651FEB1F Best price: 315 €
• Haier HAIPSJ64MC Best price: 499 €

See more offers

Indeed, a very simple calculation (number of amperes possible on the plate multiplied by 230, i.e. the voltage of the electrical network in Spain) allows us to see that if we spend our device in 16 A, the maximum power it can develop only reaches 3 W. However, our tests showed that to take full advantage of their possibilities, they had to reach at least 680 W. The most powerful plate in our comparison (Sauter SPI5B) developed 000 W to make operate all its homes at maximum power.