Connecting the hobs is not a very simple operation, so we recommend contacting certified specialists who will connect the hob with high quality and reliability for several euros, and most importantly, in accordance with all the safety requirements they are really familiar with. only pipeline specialists. If, however, you think an electrician is unnecessary and you can do it yourself, keep a few things in mind. 

Three-phase or single-phase? 

In Lithuania, as in other European countries, electricity is supplied to the house on two lines with a single-phase 230 V voltage or a three-phase 400 V voltage. Is there a three-phase input in your home? Contact your electricity supplier (Ignitis) and check. If so, bring the cord from the switch to the place where you plan to build the hob.
A single-phase electrical input is certainly there, but connecting an extremely powerful hob to it can be tricky. An electrician should be consulted here to see if this is possible in your home. The bottom line is that the hob uses a lot of energy and requires a non-jumping high voltage. If you connect several devices to one input at the same time, current jumps and faults may occur. Permanent "knock-out" fuses in the switch box are definitely not very nice, so the electrical installation should be taken care of in advance. 

Three-phase connection 

There are two ways to connect:

1. Connect the wires directly. Hobs are sold with a "bare" wire. It is usually a 5-core three-phase wire. If you connect only one hob, you need to connect all the wires by twisting them in colors and insulate them properly from each other. Whether it will be insulating tape, special screw-in nozzles or plug-in switches - your choice. It is important that the wires are properly insulated.
2. Connect the wires using a special hob connection box. This is a special box with a pad to which the growing wires are connected. To avoid touching the inlet, it is sufficient to connect the hob cable to the outside of the block and cover the protective cover. No additional insulation is required.

In both cases, safety requirements must be met. Electric leakage of the three-phase input can be fatal to a person, so it is necessary to use special protection - special gloves, footwear. For this reason, it is recommended to hire technicians who have a good understanding of the dangers of electricity and know how to protect yourself and property in the event of a fault in the electrical installation. 

If there is no three-phase inlet in the house, how to connect the hob? 

Electricians know several ways to do this, but such tricks are not always reliable. The easiest way is to buy an induction hob. It is connected to a single-phase voltage network with a simple switch. A three-phase introduction to an induction hob is certainly not necessary due to its operating principles. We remind you that induction hobs do not have energy-intensive heating elements. They heat the bottom of the pot by creating a certain magnetic field rather than heating the surface of the hob. As a result, they are not very powerful and demanding energy. When the power is low, high voltage is also not required, a simple single-phase input is sufficient.

There are also two ways to connect to a single-phase network:

1. Connecting the wires directly. Of course, proper wire insulation is necessary.
2. Installing a simple switch and plugging it into a socket. You will need to purchase an additional plug if it is not included with the purchase of an induction hob. It needs to be connected simply by tightening the contacts.

You may not need the help of an electrician here, as all adults can connect the plug or connect the wires after watching a few educational videos from a popular social network.

The wires are not usually moved for several years, so it is necessary to connect them well to avoid short circuits. Did we mention that we recommend entrusting such things to professional electricians? ..

The connection of the electric hob is also listed in the hob installation instructions. And always only discover gas hobs by specialists, as they make sure everything is done correctly. The cost of the error can be very high, so it is not recommended to work on the pipeline yourself.
 

The selection of the hob should not be a big headache because it is quite different. That's how most people think when they first buy a hob. We'll reveal the mystery - it's much more complicated and you need to turn your head well until you choose the right one. Here are some of the most important moments to consider when choosing a hob.

Hob or stove?

Sometimes words intertwine and sellers no longer know what you really need. When choosing a hob, it is important not to call it the oven. These are two different things. Ovens are usually placed on the floor. Hobs are built or installed in the worktop. It is flat, not large and sometimes cumbersome, like an old-fashioned gas or electric stove.

Gas or electric hob?

If there is a chef at home, the hotplate is probably gas. Yes, the chefs appreciate the living flame because they know how to curb it. If you are still up to the chef of the restaurant and do not like the open fire or you have small children, the choice of electric hotplates is obvious. Gas hobs usually have four holes, but there are smaller holes - 2 holes. They are connected to a gas or gas cylinder. It is not recommended to connect the gas hob itself - it must be done by gas supply specialists.

It is also advisable to entrust the electrical hob connection to specialists, as it does not have a standard socket as other household appliances.

How do hobs work?

Standard gas hobs have a special cast iron or other metal frame over the casing on which pots and pans are placed. Gases are released through special heads. The valve can be used to regulate the flow of gas and thus increase or decrease the fire.
The traditional ceramic hob works in a similar way to an electric stove - it has round heating elements in its casing that heat the ceramic surface in the place where it is installed. This is how the bottom of the pot is heated.

Induction hob has no heating elements. It emits a special magnetic field that heats metal surfaces. So the bottom of the pot or pan should be iron rather than aluminum. In this way it heats and heats food. The sides of the pot get warm from the bottom as well as the special ceramic coating on the hob. It does not heat enough to burn your hands, but be careful when touching the pot itself.

Hob security - priority No. 1!

If there are small children in the family or have to be in the near future, you need an electric induction hob. Usually the hobs can be ceramic and inductive. Ceramic has a heating element that heats not only the pot or the pan, but also the ceramic coating itself. Most modern ceramic hobs have even a special feature that turns off the hob if nothing happens on it for 2 hours. This is to protect it from overheating and fire. Also, the hobs turn off if you feel that the liquid has spilled, whether it is from the pot or from the sponge you clean, the hob just switches off for safety reasons. The induction hob is much safer because it does not heat the coating, and the magnetic field only heats the bottom of the pot. As a result, even after removing the pot from the hob, you can boldly put your hand – you will not burn your hand, neither you nor your children. True, the pot will be hot, so "experiments" with the hob should not be very common.

Hobs extension zones

The traditional hob has 4 holes. But not always "holes" correspond to the size of the pot. It is now possible to cook in large pans of 32 centimeters (standard in large pans of 28 cm diameter). There are also square utensils - usually stewers, which, when placed on a round "hole", will not heat all the bottom. There are hobs for this purpose. With a few clicks, you can expand your heated area and prepare your food evenly.
By the way, the holes are gradually replaced by crosses marking where the pot or pan should be placed. This is true for induction hobs, because the ceramics still have marked circles that represent the boundaries of the heating element.

Electricity consumption

The ceramic hob is usually connected to a three-phase power line ("three phase"). A simple one-phase line is sufficient for an induction hob. Obviously, this can be a good way to rent a modern apartment in a rented apartment. Electricity savings are also on the side of induction heaters, as their efficiency coefficient is higher. This means that less energy is released from the wind. More precisely heated air, which is immediately discharged through the hood.

Hob size

When choosing a hob, attention should be paid to its dimensions. There are now very small two holes for small kitchens just 30 cm wide. Traditionally, 4 "holes" will require a 60-80 cm tabletop width. When buying a hob for an existing kitchen, be sure to
measure the hood. It is recommended that the width of the hob should be less than the width of the hood. This will generate more steam.

How do I increase my hob so big? In addition to the standard square 4-hole hob, purchase an additional 2 holes and install it in the sidewalls. This will give you 6 holes for cooking. Or alternatively, portable induction mini hotplates. It costs little and can be one or two holes. Obviously, the hood must also increase accordingly.

Whether the hob is built or in, with a frame or without, touch control and other things may seem more important to some of our listed ones. The most important advice on choosing a hob - use common sense and always imagine all the pots stacked on the hob. If you handle it, the hob will handle.

By the way, the price is not specifically included in the choice arguments - it depends on the ability of each buyer to count. And calculating payback is quite individual, because it all depends on how often you produce the food and what quantities it will need.