Electric stove in pre-war apartment
I’m almost in contract for a pre-war apt with an electric stove, but there are two issues that concern me. There’s a dedicated 40 amp line for the stove with an (old!) fuse panel containing two fuses (see photo). Concerns: 1) Stove is GE Hotpoint 30″ freestanding electric range model RB540SPSA. Specs here: http://products.geappliances.com/ApplProducts/Dispatcher The…
I’m almost in contract for a pre-war apt with an electric stove, but there are two issues that concern me. There’s a dedicated 40 amp line for the stove with an (old!) fuse panel containing two fuses (see photo).
Concerns:
1) Stove is GE Hotpoint 30″ freestanding electric range model RB540SPSA. Specs here: http://products.geappliances.com/ApplProducts/Dispatcher
The specs say Amp Rating at 208V is 40 amps, but Kw rating at 208V says 9.9. That’s 9900 watts / 208 = 47.6 amps. My electrician feels based on this, a 50 amp line is the safest min line. But the manufacturer specs say 40 amp rating for stove. Should I be concerned there’s not enough power in the 40 amp dedicated electrical line if the stove could draw as much as 47.6 amps? Seller insists the 40 amp line is sufficient. All stoves in the building have a 40 amp dedicated line.
2) The fuse panel for the stove contains the two fuses in the photo. I could not tell what they were but the super say my apartment and all the apartments in the building have a 60 amp fuse on the top and a 40 amp fuse on the bottom. I talked to my electrician about this and he says they both need to be 40 amp fuses because it’s a 40 amp line. The super could be wrong, but I don’t think so. It seems to me there should be 40 amp fuses so the fuse would blow if the stove uses above 40 amps. If the stove was able to draw up to 60 amps before the 60 amp fuse blew I thought it could cause an electrical fire. But maybe there’s some reason a 60 and 40 amp fuse work together?
Appreciate your input!
aother possibility is that it is indeed a 40 amp line and someone replaced the 40 amp fuse with a 60 because it kept blowing…kind of like sticking a penny in the old glass fuse box…have your electrician take a look as this could be a red flag
I suspect the super means that it’s 60 amp service to the apartment.
You should be fine with a 40A line to the stove but yes, if it is the case, BOTH of those fuses need to be 40A or you’re inviting trouble since it’s most likely 40 A wiring.
This is not something to worry about. 40 A will be enough for the stove but if there’s a 60 A fuse in there, replace it.
A 60 amp fuse on a wire rated for 40 amps is a very bad idea. Have your electrician look at it. You may have 2 different size wires. Or take a better picture and send it to him.
You will be fine thats what fuse & breakers are for.